i'm a mum of 3, soon to be 4. I have read a lot of posts with panicking first time mums about childbirth. I just wanted to give my advice and see if any other mum's learnt any good tricks in coping with the pain.

My worst birth was my second. He was prem, i was stressed and he was back to back. I fought against every contraction by tightening up all my muscles and often holding my breath- DON'T DO THIS!!!

My best birth was my third. I concentrated on keeping AT LEAST the bottom half of my body completely relaxed, i just let all my lower half muscles go limp. The other thing i did was i breathed deep. You have to breath from low down in your diaphragm, not just in your chest and you should work out how to do that before you're in labour. The other thing is i was calmer..i was trying to see the contractions as positive- as in productive and opening my cervix, rather than the things making me wish i could vacate my body completely.

My last baby was born in 1 hour, despite being back to back and me being stuck on a bed being monitored. Anyone else have something they intend to do again this time after their last labour? or not do again?

I second this. My baby was back to back and distressing as her head was showing and going back.... I tensed and tensed and ended up havin forceps and a 4th degree tear which I may add is now AGONY!!!

I think i will change position a bit more.... last time LO was stuck with shoulder dystocia but i was not in great positions so will move around more...i had 3rd degree tearing as a result. Dont think i would change much else.

Thanks some helpful advice. I am a second time mum but had a early c section so did not experience labour at all and i am terrified of labour. Definately need to work on trying to stay relaxed!

Thanks ladies for advice, I am worrying more and more about the birth as time looms closer but I hope to try and concentrate on meeting my baby and hoping my husband will keep me relaxed. I suppose its the unknown that scares you more, but as they say women have been doing it for years so it cant be that bad! Fingers crossed anyway! x x

With my first I had all the pain relief, 2 pethedenes (sp)?, gas, ending with epidural, went into labour on sunday night, had him Tuesday morning 3rd degree tear.

This time I wanna have no pain relief as I believe it slowed everything down, I wanna only have gas and air towards the end. Hopefully! I really hope I can stick to my plan and not cave and have something.