Anyone already thinking about labor and delivery?

[Terangela]

I am kind of freaking out about something so far off already.

My situation is it is my 3rd and I tend to have shorter labors. I have been told by my delivery Dr at my last delivery to expect it to take about 3-4 hours from first signs to delivery this time. My OB has said much the same. I don't want to deliver in the van on the way... The time line would be as follows: Either my water will break or I will start contractions, I will call my mom to come it will take her about an hour at best if not 1 1/2 hours to get here in winter driving. Then getting to the hospital takes 45 min from our house to the hospital labor and delivery floor. That is already either an hour and 45 min or 2 hrs and 15 min. That is with out bad road conditions and no snow storms. That is if I can get in touch with my mom right away and if I don't mistake the first few contractions for BH. So I am a little concerned as I do get BH on a regular basis from about week 34 on.

Not so worried about the pain. I know what to expect pain wise. I think if it goes as fast as they are expecting I can do another med free birth. I am just concerned about delivering on the highway on the way to the hospital this time. Who knows, maybe they are wrong and it will be my longest labor yet.

Anyone else worried about labor and delivery yet?

 

[M&S+Bump]

A little bit, I'm just trying not to think about it.

Thankfully we only live about 20 mins from the hospital and we both drive and have a car, so getting there shouldn't be a problem. I'm just worried about what to expect lol because it's my first and I haven't heard great reports about the hospital!

Reading birth stories on here doesn't help

Is there no way your mum could maybe come and stay with you for a bit around the expected date? Just to cut down a little of the time!

 

[mariposa31]

I get sweaty when I start thinking about it and then I go on to visualise it and I wanna cry!!

 

[lizardbreath]

how had a little whine about it the other day not because im afarid its actually the easy part Pregnancy is what is horrible for me. But I was saying how I dont want a shorter labour I want time for my drugs and to get OH home and to get Jaymee to a grandparents I just feel like im going to end up being rushed this time

 

[Terangela]

A little bit, I'm just trying not to think about it.

Thankfully we only live about 20 mins from the hospital and we both drive and have a car, so getting there shouldn't be a problem. I'm just worried about what to expect lol because it's my first and I haven't heard great reports about the hospital!

Reading birth stories on here doesn't help

Is there no way your mum could maybe come and stay with you for a bit around the expected date? Just to cut down a little of the time!

I tend to go a little early and just how early is the question. I don't want to inconvenience my mom too much. She doesn't sleep too well when she isn't in her bed, so we will see.

Don't worry about the birth stories on here. I had great experiences. I followed my birth plan 100% with my first and honestly although it hurt, the good thing is you forget about the pain not too long after. If you are lucky you will get a break in between contractions. I have heard horror stories too ones about tearing and stitches and intervention and vomiting and screaming... I didn't have any of that except a few stitches which she wouldn't have had to do but she couldn't get it to stop right away and had to rush to the other room to deliver another baby. If you are high maintenance in a normal situation and have big reactions to normal things expect it to be exaggerated in the delivery room. If you are pretty even keel and calm normally expect it to be much the same in the delivery room. I am usually a very calm person and my DH is super mellow so I was pretty calm in the delivery room. No screaming and even joked around with the Dr and nurses in between contractions even when pushing. My first Dr I had for my first asked me how I was feeling when pushing and I said "it hurts like hell!" burned like the dickens. But felt bad about saying that since he also went to our Church. I was thinking that it must feel what hell feels like the burning sensation with out actually being on fire. (only a short lived feeling) and in the heat of pushing couldn't express that fully so it didn't come out so graceful. LOL! My second I got an epidural and didn't get the urge to push so I just asked the nurse to give me a Que as to when to push. Much better. Think I might get an epidural again, we'll see as I would like to go drug free.

If you have had a kidney stone or even an abscess tooth with constant pain that doesn't go away and is extreme, you may have already experienced something worst than labor. My kidney stone attack (still have the sucker in there) was worst than labor. I was vomiting, dehydrated, in so much pain that never subsided that I remember thinking it was worst than labor. The same with my tooth... ended up having to get it pulled even after a partial root canal was done on it. I had to take 3 T3's and an anti inflammatory medication to bring down the swelling I was in so much pain, again remember it hurt more than labor and delivery.

 

[dd29]

yeah me im dreading it because my last labour was awfull and my baby was 9 pound outch so dreading it this time i just prey 4 a healthy baby but only a little one like my first she was only 7.5 just dont want another 9 pounder because that really hurt and im only petite xxx

 

[Shrimpy]

yep! my last little one's labour was 1hr 40mins start to finish ... I got to the hospital and had her 20 mins later. I hope I make it this time Also worried as I may need to be induced this time which I'm terrified about as my other 2 were natural and came when they were ready.

 

[dd29]

i was induced with my son the 9 pounder lol because i was late and i didnt find it much different from my last naturel labour with my daughter i was in labour for 8 hours with my daughter with my son it was 2 hours 45 i may have to be induced this time to because my body didnt cope very well with the 9 pounder and i had liver and kidney falure 2 years ago so im preying they start me off at 38 wks its well naf going past ure due date xxx

 

[skydragonfly]

It is such a worry isn't it. I'm probably going to be induced at 38 weeks due to having fast labours, my 3rd and 4th children were 40 minutes and 35 minutes respectively. Apparently there is a bigger risk of haemorrhaging with a 5th and subsequent child so they want me in prior to delivery so they can give me the anti haemorrhaging drugs before it happens.
Although I don't want a induction at least the stress is off getting to the hospital in time and arranging emergency childcare for the 4 children I have already.

 

[TattooedMama]

I'm getting a bit anxious about the labor and delivery as well. I feel like I didn't fully get the experience with my son as I did not go into labor on my own so I'm scared I won't know when the contractions start with this baby.

With my son my waters broke while I was in the hospital doing a non-stress test. I had group b strep with my son so they had me go upstairs immediately and admitted me to L&D. I didn't feel any contractions and they started me on piticon but I still didn't feel the cintractions for another hour or so. When they did start they were horrible and all at once one on top of the other. When you're induced your body doesn't get the chance to build up the contractions like you normally would if you went into labor on your own so I literally felt nothing then intense terrible pain. I did get an epidural and luckily I could still feel some cramping on one side when I contracted so I did know when to push. I am just scared I will miss the signs of me going into labor or think I am and not be and make an ass out of myself when I should know better as its my 2nd time.

On top of that my son was an 8lb baby and I think this baby has a chance of being just as big if not bigger


Is there any way that you could talk to your dr about looking into inducing you around 38wks if you're starting to dilate and your cervix is shortening. I would relay your concerns about the drive distance and the fact that the closest person to drive you lives an hour to an hour and a half away and that you are really worried about making it to the hospital in winter with such a history of short labors. if you don't mind my asking, where will your DH be that your mom has to drive you?

I'm sure we will all be fine!!

 

[vicky84]

I LOVED it! I was 5 hours from first sign to delivery - obv im wary of weather and getting to hospital in time. but i cant wait

 

[Terangela]

I'm getting a bit anxious about the labor and delivery as well. I feel like I didn't fully get the experience with my son as I did not go into labor on my own so I'm scared I won't know when the contractions start with this baby.

With my son my waters broke while I was in the hospital doing a non-stress test. I had group b strep with my son so they had me go upstairs immediately and admitted me to L&D. I didn't feel any contractions and they started me on piticon but I still didn't feel the cintractions for another hour or so. When they did start they were horrible and all at once one on top of the other. When you're induced your body doesn't get the chance to build up the contractions like you normally would if you went into labor on your own so I literally felt nothing then intense terrible pain. I did get an epidural and luckily I could still feel some cramping on one side when I contracted so I did know when to push. I am just scared I will miss the signs of me going into labor or think I am and not be and make an ass out of myself when I should know better as its my 2nd time.

On top of that my son was an 8lb baby and I think this baby has a chance of being just as big if not bigger


Is there any way that you could talk to your dr about looking into inducing you around 38wks if you're starting to dilate and your cervix is shortening. I would relay your concerns about the drive distance and the fact that the closest person to drive you lives an hour to an hour and a half away and that you are really worried about making it to the hospital in winter with such a history of short labors. if you don't mind my asking, where will your DH be that your mom has to drive you?

I'm sure we will all be fine!!

My DH will drive me, but we will need to wait for my mom to drive here to look after the kids. It is about a 1/2 hour drive on clear non rush hour drive time for her to get here. If it is rush hour then it is about a 50 min drive if there is ice or blowing snow it can be almost an hour and 15 min drive. If it is the middle of the night and I have to call (like the last time) 5 times for someone to answer the phone and then has to splash some water on her face to wake up... it can take about 1 1/2 hours. I need her to drive here. My DH would drive us to the hospital which is about 45 min away... longer if it is rush hour or the roads are bad. I guess I wasn't clear about that... She needs to watch the kids so we can leave the house. Most of my close-by friends have hubby's that work out of town or are just as far away of a drive time.

 

[Rachx]

I'm really nervous as this is my first so don't know what to expect! Xx

 

[M&S+Bump]

I'm pretty level headed and calm about most things, and have a high pain threshold lol so I guess I'll be ok then if all goes well.

What you said about joking with the doctors and stuff, that sounds like something I'd do

I haven't ever had a tooth abscess or kidney stones, but I was in agony with my wisdom teeth coming in (rolling about the bed in the middle of the night, crying, swearing I was phoning first thing in the morning to go and get an emergency dentist app to get them ripped out, even though I'm deathly afraid of the dentist!)

I've got no qualms about taking all the drugs they can give me either - an epidural slightly gives me the fear because of the needle in your spine thing but I figure if it'll hurt less than the labour then if I need it, I'll do it. I'm positively looking forward to the pethidine lol - that stuff sounds amazing (coming from the girl who takes dihydracodeine for a headache - pre-pregnancy of course lol - cos you get the warm and fuzzies)

 

[readynwilling]

I think about it all the time. I have ZERO clue as a first timer but i can't get enough of the birth stories and the natural birthing section of the forum.

I do feel extremely lucky i live 10 min's away from the hospital.

 

[Sakura-chan]

I can understand your fear about giving birth in a car! I almost did with my 1st because things progressed very quickly and I wasn`t expecting it.

He was born 5 hours after first sign of something (although in hindsight my water broke a bit the night before but I didn`t really know what it was I guess?) and by the time I got to the hospital contractions were 1min apart and I was already 10cm dilated and we only live 45 mins drive from hospital (but we live in Japan and have no need for a car so we were waiting for MIL and FIL to come pick us up)- he was born an hour after we arrived at the hospital in the end but I was pushing for 50 mins (quite long I understand!)

Do you have someone you could stay with closer to the hospital closer to the time and perhaps get your mum to watch your other kids instead?

I have a friend who just had her 3rd and it was the longest of her 3 labours though. I think her first was 12 hours, 2nd was 5 hours and then her last was 14 hours! So doesn`t always mean subsequent bubs will come quicker.

Try not to stress too much!

 

[goddess25]

I am a little for various reasons... we live here in Canada all our family and good friends are in the UK so when I go into labour and need to give birth i have not quite worked out what we are going to do with my son yet... we have some friends here lots of people that i have play dates with. go out for lunches and nights out but no one that i can rely on to be there as soon as i need them to be no questions asked.

I am planning a homebirth but last time i had such extensive tearing i am worried about that happening again..

Apart from that i am not concerned just yet.

 

[blessed]

Please dont remind me... labor freaks me out... lol

 

[goddess25]

you know what though blessed and to everyone else that is scared before my first i was terrified but it was absolutely fantastic the most amazing experience of my life and its amazing to me as women what our bodies can do...

 

[blessed]

Thats what I'm told goddess25!! I really need to get over my weirdness about it... it will be an AMAZING time.... I just wish I could fast forward through it... lol I want to go into the hospital, and then automatically have baby in my arms, is that too much to ask? ......... yes, I believe it is! haha

When it actually happens, I KNOW i'll feel differently