Birth = I'm Petrified.

[Nel.B]

I was just watching a documentary on pregnancy which I found quiet interesting as I am going through everything they mentioned.

Then they focused on the birth. They showed a woman giving birth and I burst into tears. I am convinced that I can't do it! I start antenatel classes in a few weeks and have been told that they focus on the birth in the second week. What if I burst into tears there too? Don't know if I can handle it.

 

[kmac625]

Oh hun, you just have to remember what the end result of labour is...a sweet little baby in your arms. Also try to keep in mind that fear=tension which helps to cause pain. If you try to relax it won't hurt as much. I know, easier said than done.

 

[SRTBaby]

That is why i will need epidural

 

[calais]

You'll be ok. I was worried most of pregnancy but when i went into labour id had enough of being pregnant and just wanted him out. I wanted a drug free labour and done it YAY but i think it would have been much more pleasant having drugs.
I needed an episiotomy and vacuum extraction and loads of stitches but i honestly forgot ALL the pain once i held my baby boy

When your in labour just try and focus on having your baby in your arms once its all over and drugs are available if you cant cope. Just remember to ask early on cos sometimes its to late.
Im much more nervous this time as i know what to expect but im hoping things go much more smoother this time. Ive been researching different positions as i had back labour and might again who knows. I also did more research on drugs but really not interested but going to give the gas and air a go though

 

[LeanneS177]

hi hun, i was the same as you were with my DD, but for me I found that as I had imagined the worst pain possible the actual labour wasnt so bad. i know everyone has different labours and as your due date approaches it seems like everyone has to share their horror stories with you - as if you arent scared enough! but for me it was true that your body takes over whether you want it to or not. a friend who has 4 kids told me to imagine a flower opening up as i was in labour to help imagine what your body should be doing, and it sounds strange but it helped me. although gas and air helped out too lol. and as mentioned before, the end result is you have your beautiful baby safe in your arms. before you know it you'll forget all about the labour and be ready to have another one, like me!! and remember, if it was so bad all women would only have 1 child as we'd be too scared to face it all over again. good luck hun, you'll be fine

 

[JASMAK]

I was like Calais...didn't care HOW or even WHERE my baby came out...I just wanted it OUT. I was so huge, uncomfortable, swollen, itchy...the heartburn was terrible. Anything was easy compared to keeping the baby in longer. Maybe nature does this on purpose??? LOL! I know some woman sail through until their baby comes out....happy as can be...but, the last few weeks for me...are way worse than any delivery. I think for me, that is a good thing. I am scared now..but, I won't be later. I could cut my baby out with a dull kitchen knife if I had too. (ok, kidding...but you get what I mean). LOL! Ready or not...that baby will come...and somehow, you will make it through.

 

[calais]

I was like Calais...didn't care HOW or even WHERE my baby came out...I just wanted it OUT. I was so huge, uncomfortable, swollen, itchy...the heartburn was terrible. Anything was easy compared to keeping the baby in longer. Maybe nature does this on purpose??? LOL! I know some woman sail through until their baby comes out....happy as can be...but, the last few weeks for me...are way worse than any delivery. I think for me, that is a good thing. I am scared now..but, I won't be later. I could cut my baby out with a dull kitchen knife if I had too. (ok, kidding...but you get what I mean). LOL! Ready or not...that baby will come...and somehow, you will make it through.

I was told to expect my son by 37 weeks so once i hit 40 weeks and he still wasnt out id really had enough. I had him at 40+5 and wasnt even scared walking into the hospital lol I think this time i will be though cos i know what to expect but i know its all over within a few hours. I rather labour then 9 months of pregnancy anyday haha

 

[HeidiLSparks]

I hear you hon. I was SO scared with my daughter. I had her at 39 weeks, got induced (which SUCKED), and was in labor for 16.5 hours. I, like the others said was just so uncomfortable and big and done being pregnant that I was pretty much willing to do ANYTHING to get her out! It hurt, very bad..I had no pain medication but only pushed for 45 minutes and she was out, and the second she was out, the pain was gone. I recommend a very strong support system, my spouse and my mother and sister were all in the room and I loved it. Having someone (your spouse, etc) support you and get you through it is so nice. It's scary, but you don't remember the pain, if I did..I wouldn't have gotten pregnant right away haha.

 

[Nel.B]

I am imagining the worst pain ever.... I would rather imagine that than go in there thinking it will be a breeze. I'll try and remember that flower idea. I'll have to get through it, there's no other option, LOL.

 

[carmen]

I was the oppsite with my baby boy, I had such a relaxed pregnancy that I thought I would have a nice birth ...hahaha.
Well I am small and he was a large baby almost 10 lb, My contractions were every two minutes but not strong enough, it took me 16 hours to get to 8 cm,so it ended after 20 hours in vacuum and eptisomy. But when he was out the pain had gone, well apart from the UTI, I had from the catather.
So this time I am even more nervous of giving birth than the first time, I think the contractions are the worst pain, so if you can be strong and go through them. Then teh pushing is the easiest out of it all.
I am opting for totally natural this time, as they put me on a drip last time to try and increase the strength of the contraction and help me dilate and it made it longer.
I know how you feeling and like someone already mentioned, when we tense we have pain so the more we relax maybe it will be easier!

 

[babythinkpink]

I know it sounds strange, especially for your first, but honestly the more scared you are the more tense you are and it can slow things up, and make it harder to get baby out, try and listen to the breathing advice, try to relax as much as possible, and although its really hard to relax when you are in pain, the pain comes in waves, you can rest in between, and the more you relax the more your body can get on with things and get baby out!
I did yoga, and learnt relaxation for my second birth after my first was not good!
My 2nd, 3rd and 4th were all different, all good births, all no stitches and i used my breathing and relaxation methods in them, and will be doing next time.
One last note on epidurals, the body is very clever and the pain is there for a reason to help you push baby out, and i would never suggest being in pain for huge prolonged periods and getting exhausted for the birth, but on the other hand when the pain has been blocked the body can be much slower to labour, and if the epidural is still working when it is time to push it is very difficult to feel how to and help can be needed at this stage.

Knowledge is power in this case, see as many births as you can until it is not frightening any more, just something to do to have your beautiful baby in your arms. It also means as every birth is different no situation will scare you because you will know it is something that can happen not something just happening to you!

 

[ProudMum]

i'll just be happy to get to 35 weeks- im not too fussed about giving birth- aslong as theres no risks im cool.