it's my due date :-O

[babyblues19]

My due date is today and its only now I'm starting to feel really scared of labour!! As a first timer I have no idea what to expect, can anyone tell me about there first childbirth?? I don't mind how gruesome it is, I need to prepare myself!!

[Dixiechick17]

Whilst childbirth hurts, it's a different kind of pain, because you know that it will end at some point and then your baby will be in your arms. I used hypnobirthing techniques and told myself that each contraction was bringing me closer to meeting my baby.

I was lucky in that I had a very straight forward labour, I breathed heavily through contractions. I used the birthing pool in the beginning and pushed on all fours, as remembered being told that gravity helps. Didn't have pain relief and from waters starting to go and my DD arriving it was just less than six hours.

In usual circumstances I am a massive wimp and I do not deal well with pain, so I really surprised myself. Helped that I was in a nice birthing room and didn't want to be moved to the labour ward which is what kept me from asking for an epidural. Had I been in labour for longer I would have probably asked for one :)

Best bit of advice is to go with it and ask for whatever you need to make it a better experience for you.

[wolf14]

You'll be fine. Not knowing is a good thing too as you go with it more. It is a different kind of pain...it hurts so much you think you won't be able to take the next contraction as it will be stronger and hurt more everytime. Then when it comes along you just think the same again and again...that you can't take it but somehow you just do. Your body will cope. With mine I zoned out too...like it was all happening to someone else. Nurse said it was just my way of my mind coping with the pain. .your mind will find its own way too do don't worry.