to suddenly be scared to give birth now my contractions have started?

[ActiveBlend]

I'm 38 weeks pregnant and have recently started having what I think are pre-labour contractions. They're a lot more painful than I thought they would be and I'm now dreading active labour. I've always weirdly looked forward to childbirth but now I'm starting to experience it, I feel a bit freaked.

Sorry for posting in AIBU. I know I'm not BU, but was wondering if anyone else experienced the same? A pre-labour freakout?

All of a sudden very scared about the pain and how I'll get through it...

@minmooch I thought so but now haven't had a contraction for 26 minutes. The last one was huge and lasted 2 mins. Thought I was going to be sick. Then, nothing...

@ActiveBlend I went in after about 6 hours of I thought pretty bad contractions & being very brave! I was not 1cm dilated - they sent me home, I cried. 4 hours later I went back, 4cm dilated! Thank F**K! Do do do try & sleep if you can! You'll need the rest (potentially not gonna get a full nights sleep for the next 2 years now ) & if you can sleep through some of it, why not!! Good luck

I didn't like the pain but then I was getting double contractions according to the midwife when I got wired up in the maternity unit, but the joy when I held my beautiful baby girl was wonderful. Good luck and hope the labour is not too long.

Honestly it's not always bad.

I've had periods that hurt more than giving birth.

'M@E20mom just had a contraction that reduced me to tears. And I have a high pain threshold. My god, not what I expected it to feel like at all! I honestly feel like I need proper pain relief as that was agony. So sad I can't go in until contractions every 3 mins apart!

Have you tried getting in a warm bath? What have the midwife's said you can take fir pain relief?

I've just had a bath but I might have another one. I need sleep but don't think I'm going to get much...

I have this awful anxiety that I'm going to leave it too late to go to the hospital and give birth in the car!

Good luck op! My contractions were so painful and lasted about 8 hours before I gave in and went to the hospital, no way I could have slept through them! Wishing you lots of luck how exciting!

Awww good luck op!

I was terrified about giving birth when pregnant with my first, I have a very low pain thrash hold, but when they started I was very calm, woke my husband after an hour of them and we sat for a couple of hours before phoning our parents, his mum came straight over to sit with us so she could take us to hospital, they told me to go in early as I started to be sick with the contractions. I managed to do it all on just gas and air and didn't find it too bad. I arrived in hospital at just gone 10am and my DD was born at 5.25pm. Was actually looking forward to it with my DS but had to be induced which hurt a hell of a lot more than natural labour, but I was only in active labour with him for an hour and a half.
You will be fine and you have got this.

Just chiming in to say best of luck OP, my thing would be nobody gets a medal for going without pain relief. If you need it, ask. Or yell where's the fucking anthesitist like ahem, I may have

Is it normal to suddenly feel like baby's head is in your vagina?

When I was having my 3rd I went around for the last month feeling like that

Oooh I love this thread! How exciting! (Sorry you're in pain tho, obviously!)

I'm 36 weeks today and I'm finding it exciting and nerve wracking following your story!

Keep us up-to-date on your progress 😊

I'm amazed so many people are interested! Thank you so much all! Contractions are all two minutes long now and 10 mins apart. Omg!! It's happening!!

How exciting!! Good luck you'll be amazing!

Good luck and all the best OP. So excited for you!

You are going to be JUST FINE. Once your baby is born, all of the pain is forgotten. Congratulations!

Another one rooting for you OP. A live birth thread is always exciting!

It took me 4 labours to work this out, but if you lie in as hot a bath as you can bear, and, during contractions, get your partner to direct the shower onto where the pain is strongest in your stomach, that helps a lot with the pain. In fact, I stayed in the bath (in hospital) just managing the pain like that until I was ready to push, with No 4. If you can sleep, that will be better for you in the long run, but if the pain is too great for sleep, you might as well be in the bath.

Oh god!
If it feels that low, you may have moved to transition, get up and walk around, if your instincts tell you to get to hospital, get in the car ASAP.

I was told first babies would be at least a 12 hour labour, I was all ready with my movies and meditation music.

It was a lie! I made it to the hospital after a horrendous car journey with 40 minutes to spare. 5 hours from start to dismiss, I skipped pre labour 

If everything has stopped, that's usually a good sign you are moving to the transition phase, the body will allow you to rest before you start active labour, please go to the hospital!

Thinking of you!!!

And whatever happens in these next few hours. The most important thing is for both of you to be OK.

Try and relax and go with the flow. You've got this. You rock!

You are doing amazing! Stay mobile and upright as that will help active labour progress, take paracetamol if you need it and try a warm bath if you’re still struggling.

Not an awful lot you can do about it now!!!

Good luck OP

Good luck, OP! Sounds like tonight's the night!