I've still got 17 weeks to go yet until my due date, but lately i just can't stop thinking about giving birth and how terrified i am I always watch programmes like One Born Every Minute, which probably dosen't make things any better but every time i thik about what ill have to go through, i literally feel sick and feel like crying.

I really don't have any pain tolerence at all so ill probably be a complete baby and cry throughout the whole thing, but i really am soo scared I think the thing im most afraid of needing stitches afterwards as ive heard that really hurts? And also the second part of labour, the placenta, just freaks me out!

I know ill have my LG with me which will make up for all the pain but i just cant get these thoughts out of my head. I know some of you girlies might feel the same, or have already been through it once, so someone please just give me some advice on how to cope etc? Much appreciated xxxxx

I felt like this my entire pregnancy, until I hit third trimester. The closer I got the readier I got. I also tried my hardest to get used to the idea by doing things like touring the hospital, watching videos, and taking a birthing class. Plus I also love knowing I'll be hyped up on pain meds, considering I'm a wimp too.

She's gotta come out one way or another hun or she might burst out of your stomach like on the film Alien. At the end of the day, its one day, yeah its gonna hurt but it'll be so worth it afterwards.

labour is painful..

im not trying to scare you, just being totally honest as i felt exactly how you did, and i HATED being lied to. the best advice i can offer is just to go with it. im a complete fanny with no pain tolerance AT ALL. i went in with the mind set that id take the pain relief i needed and i wouldnt feel bad about it afterwards. i got to 6cm without even a paracetamol (and considering i was in back labour thats pretty damn good) so it isnt ALL that bad and then i couldnt cope, so i got an epidural (i was also tired as i hadnt slept so i really needed that relief).

the epidural doesnt hurt at all infact your dont really feel anything when they put it in, and once its in you just feel what feel a bit like BH's nothing more. so if its the pain your worrying about, if it really does get too much, there ARE options.

but basically, you need to remember that your body was designed to do this. women laboured for centuries without any pain relief at all, so even if it hurt like hell, youd get through it. your body sort of takes over during labour, and honestly you dont have time to be scared. although its the loss of control that many women fear, it should be just that that reassures you you will be ok just remember that labour pain is GOOD pain. it means your body is doing what it is meant to be doing, your body is not damaged or hurt, it is simply doing one of the most natural things your body can do, labour a child.

also focus on the end result, as soon as your little girl is out, the pain goes instantly, your filled with a sense of almost euphoria and you honestly couldnt care less about anything other than your child. i couldnt tell you wether i agreed to the injection to speed up placenta delivery, i couldnt tell you when it came out (although OH says i was told to push so its not like they did it without me knowing) and it was only when i asked OH that i knew that the placenta was all in one piece.. honestly your so focussed on your new LO hun your wouldnt know if a tornado blew through the room!

try to relax, it will be ok also stress can actually delay and prolong labour in the later weeks, and bring it on in the earlier weeks.. so try to chill out a little. when the time comes, just listen to your body, it wont let you down! x

it's what we're made for at the end of the day. millions and millions of women have done it and if it was really that bad, surely we wouldnt keep having kids? labour is a tiny part of your whole life that has to happen hun.

GemmaLeanna - couldn't have put it better myself

To be honest - its such a natural feeling to be scared. Something so big coming out something so small is such a daunting thought! I'm not gunna lie, its is really painful. Listen to your body, have whatever pain meds you need, try not to stress out and remember that without some kind of pain process - you can't meet your princess! Oh and DON'T let anyone make your desisions for you (within reason of health of LO e.g possible c-sec) - only you know what's best for you in regards of being comfortable. Epidural is a god send - it doesn't hurt and makes everything so much more managable.

When LO is born - nothing else in the world matters. I don't remember my placenta being delivered..

Speak to your mw hun. I'm sure they have ways to help sooth prenatal anxieties..

Best of luck sweetie xx

It's natural to be scared It hurts like hell but trust me you get through it. You find a way to get through each contraction, for me it was kicking my legs and waving a sick bowl around using it as a fan til they let me have has and air. you will be fine, just get an epi if it hurts too much you won't have failed for getting one, I was begging for one but they wouldn't let me. LO is your prize at the end of it all. I can tell you now the moment they plonk your baby on your chest is the best moment of your life,

I sometimes get worried, but the way i look at it is that it's a teenie tiny amount time compared to your whole life. As someone else said, this is what your body is designed for. You've still got a while before you have to go through it, so put it to the back of your mind and just enjoy your pregnancy.

child birth is the most natural thing ever, your bodies built for it, and yeah its painful, but for me personally, even without drugs... i kinda just lost my fear and went into this "just get the baby out" mode and let my body do what it was wanting to do, sounds really wierd but our bodies just know what to do, and whilst your heads like "omg whats going on what do i do?!" your body just does it. and even though its painful its not like stubbing your toe pain or paper cut pain, its a whole new kind of pain, and it doesn't last forever.
the reason i liken it to other pain is because i find paper cuts and stubbing my toe more painful because it was a surprise or shock at the time where as labor you kind of brace yourself for. Plus you get (at best) a plaster after youve stubbed your toe or cut yourself.
like others have said there are pain relief options, and you don't get a medal for going through labor with out any pain meds. everyone ends up with a baby at the end of it, and there truly is no better reward. so take what pain relief you can get! its a free legal high... why say no?
also, what i found help was to think about other animals and child birth lol... just be grateful you aren't a cat or a dog... they have litters of babies, and they go through labor with out any pain meds... and then they're back to popping them out almost instantly if given the chance lol. so just remind yourself that you just have the one coming out and it doesn't last forever! ... but the child does, thats the painful part lol, (in the sense that you have to watch them grow up and go through pain themselves)

just go with the flow and let your body control you. don't fight it. give it 14 weeks and you'll be begging for the child birth! the fear will disappear then lol

best wishes

I haven't been scared at all.. the only thing I'm nervous about is afterwards when they hand me my baby and say, "well.. see ya later!" - haha. I just hope I'm a good mommy.

birth will be done and over with before we know it