If there's no Murray, it ain't rugby ...

This is apparently good also for bringing on labour if you're overdue.

Porn movies work for this - as recommended by my very knowledgeable midwife, who also provided said video at about 10 days overdue. Worked a treat ... gets all the right hormones working apparently.

Makes me crazy that there are such high expectations of the whole experience that anything that deviates from perfect is seen as a "bad" birth experience.

With you on that. My judgypants experience came from the nurses at National Womens after my son was born. After c20 hours' labour at home with a lovely home birth midwife and my very switched on GP, the GP finally made the call that baby had turned and - despite me literally hanging from the ceiling (fascinating rope contraption!) - was not 'progressing'.

So from a planned home birth, it was a - luckily - quick race to the hospital. Epidural ended up not working properly. A c-section was proposed with the lovely young registrar earnestly explaining my options and me screaming "just get it out!" at her. Which they duly did. The actual op was more of a problem for my partner than me. Bonded beautifully with my bonny boy - which was lucky, because I've never forgotten the reaction of two nurses doing rounds later that day.

They peered in the open door of my room and consulted their clipboards - one said to the other, "That's the failed home birth." They shook their heads and moved on!

I lay there thinking .."Failed? How could I have failed - just look at this gorgeous boy!"

It was a while ago ... I hope attitudes have changed.