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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Transistion! Scared after this week's OBEM

42 replies

cocoachannel · 16/02/2011 08:44

Hi everyone,

I'm 39 weeks today and until watching this week's OBEM I have been relatively naive calm about my baby's birth. I am now however terrified about the transition stage and losing control!

I realise the programme is edited for dramatic effect and that I was daft to watch...but I wonder whether anyone has any advice or tips either for me or my husband (only birth partner) to use during this particular stage or even more generally.

Many thanks!

OP posts:

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Bicnod · 16/02/2011 14:27

I didn't recognise it as transition with DS1 but looking back it definitely was. I was calm and in control until that point and then it just became a lot more intense and I wasn't sure how to handle it. I didn't lose it though. Didn't last long thankfully and then I could start pushing.

Sufi · 16/02/2011 15:21

For me it was the point at which I told DH and the MW I didn't think I could do it. I didn't lose it - I was very quiet in labour - but I did feel really scared & wobbly for a bit. MW was brilliant, & MW & DH told me how well I was doing, which is exactly what I needed to hear. And then I started mooing like a cow and it was time to push - which was a blessed relief! This time round (I'm 39wks) I'll know what it is and so may well feel encouraged that the end is in sight!

FWIW, I love OBEM. Seeing different women giving birth in different ways is fascinating - and what gets me every time is that you'll see these women 'losing it' in transition (and they're not losing it at all; it's just their way of dealing with childbirth) and then the next minute you see them with their baby & instantly they are transformed - it's amazing.

naturalbaby · 16/02/2011 15:33

i've had 3 natural homebirths and had no real idea about transition before my 1st labour - i had a waterbirth with ds1 and didn't notice transition at all.

dc2 & 3 were very quick and i did have a minute or two thinking/feeling 'i've had enough, i don't want to do this anymore' but i didn't loose the plot or scream or shout. i only realised it was transition after dc2 arrived and with dc3 i was much more aware of everything cause i was on my own and knew once i got to that bit i would have a baby within minutes. i did hypnobirthing and describe it as very intense but not painful. i had no gas&air or any other 'pain' relief.

systemsaddict · 16/02/2011 15:50

No transition 1st time round 'cos was all epiduralled-up by then and it had taken a long time. Second time I was only a couple of hours in then had a sudden panic, the classic 'I can't do this' moment, and I just remember the midwife insisting on examining me (for the first time) and thinking that's the last thing I can cope with right now! it took her and dp a lot of persuading to get me up on that bed - but 2 minutes later when she told me I was 10cm and got another midwife in because it was nearly all over I was like this - the shock of being nearly there cured the transition!

Good luck, you are better prepared than many (I had never even heard of transition first time round). Hope all goes well!

Paula30CWR · 16/02/2011 16:55

I'm also in my 39th week. I'm due next week and I'm honest with you, I'd sue that program. It put me off at the beginning of January when they showed one woman screaming as she was being killed...but later on I calmed down.

Now, i'm relaxed because I want to meet the baby but at the moment, my tummy hurts a bit and I have no idea if these are contractions or not... the idea of transition scares me as well, but I just want to be calm as I'm quite hysterical! :)

You'll be fine. I have no idea what it is like as this my first one but I'm sure we'll be fine and we'll cope with the awful pain!

All the best

TheSecondComing · 16/02/2011 18:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SummerRain · 17/02/2011 10:34

Paula... don't worry.... when it starts there's no mistaking it and it's very unlikely you won't get plenty of time with a first labour.

Contractions are waves of pain that intensify and then fade away.... 'tummy hurts a bit' sounds more like the general achiness of having a full term baby lodged in your abdomen

BelieveInLife · 17/02/2011 12:59

Disagree guys - my "tummy hurt a bit" so I went for a walk, came home, waters broke and baby arrived soon after. First labour and was only a few hours :)

octopusinabox · 17/02/2011 19:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

systemsaddict · 18/02/2011 10:17

Yes, understanding what's going on definitely helps. I have seen a theory that it's related to an adrenaline surge to help give your body more strength to push - but of course adrenaline causes that fight-or-flight panic feeling. So at least it has a purpose!

SingingSands · 18/02/2011 10:34

Transition for me was kneeling over our bath wailing to DH "heeeeeelp meee". When he asked what he should do I wailed "i don't knooooooow"!

This was 40 minutes before DS was born.

slowangels1 · 18/02/2011 13:26

Interesting reading. I'm wondering if you still get the transition style panic/out of controllness if you have an epidural (and so hopefully don't get the same increase in pain). Anyone??

lovingpickles · 18/02/2011 14:45

Slowangels1 you don't experience transition when you have had an epidural. When you have had an epidural you don't even know when you are having a contraction - you are told by the midwives who watch the monitor.

Paula30CWR · 18/02/2011 15:53

TheSecondComing...you are hilarious!

I can imagine the whole situation with the MW and your partner...hehehe

I'm 40 weeks today and there are no signs of baby boy yet...I'm done with the pregnancy.

Last night I had a very strange dream. I ended up punching my DH in labour! :o
The funny thing of all this is that I'm a calm person...so I got scared! Poor him!

He asked me about the Transition stage and I said: All i know is it's the most interesting bit! So we'll see nice everything is...

slowangels1 · 19/02/2011 08:46

thanks lovingpickles

tubbyglossop · 19/02/2011 11:05

I didn't notice mine at the time.

I was in a birthing pool, and thinking "Not sure this pool malarky is all it's cracked up to be - I can't seem to get comfortable", and wanted out of the pool. The midwife helped me out, and said she thought she'd heard some pushing (I'd done a groan with a bit of a grunt in it) and measured me up - 10cm, and all ready to start pushing.

In retrospect, the pool had probably been quite helpful!

Twit · 19/02/2011 17:01

I get 5 or 6 really strong way more painful contractions, usually say something like 'ooh that one hurt'. (Understatement.)
Then I go to sleep shivering for a few minutes before pushing.
I didn't know this was transition until I googled it just now.

Good luck, and try to stay calm and positive, this is when it's about to get exciting!

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