To dread having this baby!

[DuelingFanjo]

If it's born at night or at home apparently there's more chance of intervention or something going wrong.

Once it's born there's a high chance that I won't find breastfeeding easy and I will have cracked nipples, poor latch and mastitis.

Random people will shout at me in the street for breastfeeding and if I do decide to use formula people will look down their noses at me.

Arrrghhhh! make it stop!

Aw thank you all.

If I had to choose tho, I'd miss the being handed baby after the birth moment to experience the first time baby really, really smiles at you moment. Your heart will melt.

Lovely thread - keep 'em coming!

But missed What about all those times in the first day or so when you just can't stop looking at that perfect little bundle snuggled up beside you??

One of the hardest things I've done

BUT

easily the best thing I have ever done.

And certainly the happiest times of my life have been since having my children. That is no coincidence.

Wishing you all the very best. It is magic.

When I was pregnant with dc1 although on one level I knew there was a baby coming, on another level I felt like I was role playing being a pregnant woman! . The realities only hit me, a bit at a time, as I was going along.

And when they were helping me on to a bed in the hospital to actually give birth I felt so terrifed. I wanted to yell "cut! I'm not really an actress"

Ay Valium, I had that feeling too.. when they said there was only a few minutes left I thought "Hold on..."

Valium, I've felt that way about almost all aspects of my adult life so far

glad it's not just me!

Have you heard of orgasmic births. Check them out on YouTube!!

Mamsnet they didn't let partners on the bed in my hospital. Unless you meant the baby?

oh I don't think so! sounds wierd

hmmm, I had the other kind of birth

All my labours started at night (ish). First started at 9 pm, born at 11:35 pm. Second started around about 1 am, born at 3:59 (ish, can't remember exact time), third started at 4 am and born at 8:07 am.

You will be fine!

All mine born during the night (ish) and were very good sleepers from a very early age.

to follow on from what missed said about the first smile.........the first time I heard my babies laugh was just amazing. Truly the most magical and beautiful sound I have ever heard. One little laugh makes the whole process worth it.

Oh and btw both my labours were at night......no intervention. Labour 1 was 6 hours, labour 2 3 hours. Told you it was a doddle.

Well, I had crap births, with all of the stuff mentioned in the OP, but I still would go through it again for my two DS! The hugs, smiles and raucous laughter make my heart melt! And walking into their room and watching them sleep at night??? Just can't ever get over how utterly gorggeous they are.

well, if and when I'm lucky enough to get preggers, I'm going to put 'orgasmic birth' on my birth plan LOL.

realise that although I've been at a birth I've never actually given birth, and should therefore shut up about orgasmic birth

Hey Duelling. I gave birth for the first time 2 weeks ago, and I was petrified. i was scared of it hurting, scared of stitches, terrified DH would go off me if he saw all that, and scared I would not deal with the baby well as I have never been 'maternal. I also had a bit of childbirth phobia that meant I had nightmares about labour and anxiety attacks about it all.

Had a fairly rough labour, thanks to serious old injuries courtesy an accident (i.e. the difficult labour was unique to me, you may well have an easy one) despite hypnobirthing and a birth plan that said I wanted to labour without intervention, i ended up having everything going. And you know what, it was bloody fabulous. Seriously, the best thing ever. I even loved it at the time, despite the problems, and the help I really needed, including stitches. I am taking things one day at a time.... doing the best I can each day. And it is just great. Seriously wonderful, and I feel so excited, so happy, so lucky. I guess, what i am trying to say is that rather unusually, alot of my fears did come to pass, and it STILL was bloody brilliant.

I had DC5 in April. I am broody already

So it cant be that bad (or I am mental)

Forgot to add..... for various reasons, we plan only on having one child, and i am actually a little bit sad now. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Another one here who actually quite enjoyed giving birth! I was on such a high from it for weeks afterwards.

I have to say breastfeeding was no picnic at first but there is loads of support around. Yes I had a cracked nipple, latch was wrong, but it got better. The constant feeding was a real shock (someone should have warned me!) but I got past it. When I look at DD now, I am so proud that she is all nice and chubby from my milk!

From my experience at baby groups etc, other mums are really supportive of however you chose to feed your baby.

DD is three months now and I admit it's not all been easy (in fact just came on mumsnet for a moan) - but I have the most beautiful baby in the world so it's worth it.

Congratulations and good luck - you will be fine!!!

DuelingFanjo I had DS at 4.20 in the morning. We had two ob-gyns, a peadeatrician, 3 midwives and a couple of other people in the room (they all introduced themselves - very civilised, but I forgot most of their name) when he was born. All on the NHS. It was an emergency, but we are all fine thanks to these wonderful people. So I would not generalise and say all night births go wrong. You will just be fine.

It is a bit weird, though, when people introduce themselves and you shake hands between your legs in stirrups. It did not even seem strange at the time.

I think a bit of dread is a good thing. You are being realistic about some of the challenges you might face. I breezed into pregnancy and motherhood totally emotionally unprepared and expecting that our experience would be all as happy and flowery and confident as that of a good friend who was 5 months ahead of me.

Needless to say it wasn't but, having eventually learned how to just _enjoy DS1 and 2 I'm loving being their mum.

My neighbour calls the bit when you're getting used to being a parent 'the portal' and I think I know what she means. It doesn't happen overnight for everyone!

Good luck [waving]