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Childbirth

other people are nervous about labour right?

35 replies

Ladypug · 12/10/2015 12:13

Hate not knowing what to expect or when it will happen. Seem to hear lots of horror stories! Any advice for getting through it very welcome :-)

OP posts:

Report

Stampynono · 12/10/2015 12:40

How far along are you?

I find the further I get, the more I am desperate for it to happen and the nerves are more secondary.

Ladypug · 12/10/2015 12:54

I'm almost 39 weeks and only just started getting nervous! I am ready and tired and excited too but really starting to think now it could happen any day and I'm not sure what I'm walking into...

OP posts:

imnottoofussed · 12/10/2015 12:57

I wasn't nervous until I got to the hospital after my waters broke at home, the nurse asked me to go with her to the delivery room and I burst into tears, I think I was actually in denial up until that point pretending I wasn't actually going to have to get the baby out

Ladypug · 12/10/2015 13:00

Haha how was the birth imnotfussed?

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Focusfocus · 12/10/2015 13:13

First baby (as you will know from pm!) started getting what may or may not be bits of a show.

Curious? Yes
Focused? Yes
Open minded? Yes
Aware of the gamut of possibilities from hypnobirth to caesareans? Yes
Nervous? NO.

Of all that above, I'd say it's the curiosity that is the most powerful. I am genuinely curious about this experience, how it shall unfold, what unanticipated things it might or might not bring, and how we shall all respond to the moment.

Childbirth is intensely physiological, intensively visceral, yet it's an interesting emotional and social moment, so many actors, two lives at the heart of it all. Very curious about how it will all unfold, yes.

Ladypug · 12/10/2015 13:33

Wow focus, so not nervous on your first? Just me then!

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Parsley1234 · 12/10/2015 13:40

I was terrified ! Out of our NCT group I had been a birthing partner at a straight forward birth I was still terrified! I was the only one who was going for full medical intervention epidural pethidine gas and air everything ! However as it turned out I had the easiest and quickest about 3 hours from dilation 1 cm to delivery in water no pain relief as gas and air didn't work my labour was too fast so just keep positive. It cd be like mine or even better good luck you'll be just fine xxx

spanisharmada · 12/10/2015 13:47

Yup 39 weeks tomorrow and nervous as hell. And this is my 4th.
Still can't wait for it to start though.

IamSantaClaus · 12/10/2015 14:02

I was nervous for both of mine . In fact for dc2 I denied labour was starting and ordered a pizza

You'll be in great hands and ultimately it won't be anything you can't handle . Best of luck

Ladypug · 12/10/2015 14:13

Thanks guys, wow Parsley that makes me feel better :-) Hehe pizza sounds good Santa!

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Focusfocus · 12/10/2015 14:23

Of course not just you!!! It's extremely normal to feel nervbous - so much (everything!) is unknown - including when, where, how, what way.

I merely said - for some reason - I'm not feeling nervous.

Of course - now I could start feeling nervous that I am not nervous! arrrgh.

Ladypug · 12/10/2015 14:27

Hehe I wish I didn't feel nervous, I think it's just the unknown. I have no concept of when it's happening and how it will feel. I would feel better if it hurried up, I hate the waiting!

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RolyPolierThanThou · 12/10/2015 14:38

I maintained denial until well into labour

I'd get a contraction but as soon as it eased I'd think: 'oh I'm not really in labour. See? It's stopped' until the next one.

I've been through labour three times and was nervous each time. My first was the hardest but it changed me the most. I became a mother but I found a new sense of my own strength and power. And babies are brilliant.

RolyPolierThanThou · 12/10/2015 14:41

Oh and labour isnt necessarily suffering. My second and third labours were brilliant and I enjoyed the whole experience even though I had only gas and air with my second and not even that for my third. I felt bloody amazing during and for days afterwards.

Ladypug · 12/10/2015 14:47

Aw thanks Roly, that sounds really empowering!

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Fishboneschokus · 12/10/2015 15:01

Of course you are nervous!
I used to look at everyone on the packed tube and tell myself they all survived the birth.
Best advice is to have a 'birth partner who will obey you when you have contractions.
Also, I don't think that midwives are in the job for the money!
Plan the aftercare.

If you can, trust the midwife.
Trust the birth partner.

It doesn't matter how it gets out.

Breathe.

I only did home births but that was luck.

Ladypug · 12/10/2015 15:07

Wow thanks Fishbones!

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lilac3033 · 12/10/2015 16:47

It's totally normal to be nervous! I was but managed it by keeping busy and getting as much info as possible. I am a planner so I like to know as much as I can, even though you obviously can't plan for everything! Once it started I was so focused on getting through each contraction, I didn't really worry about what was coming next! I was pretty relaxed really and managed with just a TENS and some G&A during transition!

Ladypug · 12/10/2015 17:05

Thanks lilac, good to hear. I'm a planner too which is why I hate it so much - I want a time and date scheduled! lol

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Runningupthathill82 · 12/10/2015 18:43

I wasn't remotely nervous during my first pregnancy, just curious really as to how it would unfold.

A shedload of hypnobirthing mantras and regular yoga meant that, until I went into labour, I was entirely calm, relaxed, and confident thst my body could do it.

When I actually went into labour I thought "great - bring it on!" and ran a bath, where I laboured on my own for a couple of hours before bothering to tell DH.

It was a very serene start to proceedings!

Cuttheflannel · 12/10/2015 20:18

I didn't get a cup of tea!
I was dying to try the laughing gas but they just handed me a healthy baby.
Hashtag robbed.

Cuttheflannel · 12/10/2015 20:21

(Antenatal classes clashed with Stenders)

You only hear, and doctors only see the complicated births.

Yay to birth partner being trained to point of absolute obedience.
If you want drugs, you get drugs.

:)

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Cuttheflannel · 12/10/2015 20:26

Pp who pop them out unhindered tend to have the tact to keep quiet.

Breathe.

Remember, the goody bag contains a bub

Congratulations

mappemonde · 12/10/2015 20:31

Completely normal to be nervous about the unknown.

Fwiw, labour doesn't always = awful. I've had 2 at home with no intervention and I can honestly say I've enjoyed the process of labour and birth. Both times I've been on a massive high afterwards too.

I found hypnobirth CDs and 'mantras' and visualisation massively helpful.

Good luck!

hearthattack · 13/10/2015 15:21

Ah, Ladybug. I keep seeing your posts as I trawl, bored and inpatient, through the threads on here waiting for d-day. I basically second everything you've said in the last fortnight. Not easy this waiting game eh?

Hang in there.

Flip

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