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...

Hey h love it's demoralising isn't it - but what someone said above still stands, each contraction is one less until it's all over.

Have they checked baby's position? It wasn't until I was at the pushing stage they realised DD was back to back with me, which explained the pain and very slow progression.

Hope things are moving along swiftly for you now.

Hope everything is going well 😊

With my first I dilated from 4-10 in under two hours
Second not much longer
Third I was in second stage labour ( over 5cms ) for all of five minutes.

With my first two with contractions I stood up with the Gas and air and did figure of eight movements through my hips. I closed my eyes and with the second one pictured my first child’s face. With my first I imagined what he was going to look and smell like. That visualisation really worked. And being quiet. I just trusted myself and those around me and sort of zoned out. I tried to think pain for a reason

No time for that with the third one 🤪

You can do it.

Awwww OP I just logged on hoping to see you had baby overnight!
It’s so tough

Also, as someone said above, it is possibly for things to speed up suddenly (which I hope it has done since your last post!)

You can do this OP, sending you strength 

I wonder if your baby is back to back

Ds was. I went into labour with ds on Monday afternoon. He wasn’t born until Wednesday evening and I was in an incredible amount of pain. Had the terrible urge to push even though I wasn’t fully dilated. Wasn’t until he was coming out that they realised he was sunny side up and thats why it was hurting so much and had the terrible urge to push

You're being so brave! Hope it's all progressing well for you now XXX

What pain relief are they offering you? Might be wise to consider something like pethidine now since it’s unlikely you’ll be in the second stage before it wears off - might enable you to get some rest. Hang in there x

Pethidine can slow down labour but it will give you pain relief enough that you might be able to sleep for a few hours

Hope the pessary helps OP. I remember thinking I never felt anything like it when I started having contractions. But it was all worth it in the end.

My first was back to back, was fucking horrendous and progression mostly non existent!

Hoping this one behaves better.

How are you getting on OP?

This terrifies me a bit - I'm 19 weeks with my first and a total wimp!
Hang in there OP, it will be worth it in the end 💕

Hang in there OP! With my second they wanted to induce as I wasn’t dilating as fast as they wanted. Checked and I was only 2 cm. half an hour later and the contractions were horrendous, I didn’t feel in control at all. They didn’t believe me and kept talking about putting me on the drip. An hour after that I had the urge to push and then 20 mins later had baby! Went from 2cm to fully dilated in about an hour and a half - no wonder they flipping hurt!

Trust your body, things can move very quickly.

Hope you soon have your gorgeous baby in your arms.

Sending lots of positive squishy yummy baby thoughts!
Remember, the pain is temporary, the love you gain from the end of it is forever 💖

I went from 3-10cm in about half an hour with both of mine. Trouble is they would only check me every two hours despite contractions being back to back. I was so desperate I ended up having a shot of pethidine two minutes before I got the urge to push, so the first few hours of DD2's life I was so spaced out I couldn't even hold her!

Have you asked for an epidural?(Pethidine is not a great drug,it spaces you out a bit but only slightly helps with pain.)
Ask as it sounds as if this is what you need.

I'm guessing it's all a-go-go given the silence! You can do this OP!!!!

Oh, OP I really feel for you.. I was similar with DC1 - was in so-called pre-labour, having minute long contractions every 4-5 minutes for around 56 hours, went back and forth to the birth centre and all they would offer me was aromatherapy oil for pain relief If I'd known any better/had been in less pain/less sleep deprived I would have demanded they do something..

If

I hope so! Sending positive labour vibes OP! You can do this! X

He's here! Thanks all for your support. I'll be back with a proper update later :) 💕🌷

Congratulations!

Oh congratulations!!!

Congratulations!!💙💙💙💐💐💐

Congratulations!