Any tips for keeping my stress levels down during childbirth??

[Honeymoonmummy]

Hi all,

I'm 37 weeks PG with my second and my first labour was very traumatic, long story but I had an induction, continuous monitoring which they said I had to be on my back for (much more painful and this is what started my stress levels going up - I know this doesn't have to be the case now), epidural failed twice ... basically I ended up with a top line BP of 190 and a threat of a stroke/ seizure which meant forceps delivery and post partum hemorrhage of 2 litres.

I only found out this morning that my high BP was definitely NOT pre-eclampsia which I always thought it was but instead due to the stress.

To cut a long story short too late I need as many tips as I can get in how to chill out during the labour this time - things DH can say/ do to me to calm me, things I can do to stay calm, smells, sounds, anything you can think of that kept you calm during your labour. To be fair, hopefully things won't go quite as wrong this time but I want to be prepared!

I had my partner and the midwife talk about random crap to each other through my birth and not interrupt me too much through the pain, it really helped me to have something else to concentrate on, and I got through it (induced labour) on only gas and air :) I lost it when I got to 9 and half cm though x

Have a lovely epidural. I had a great one, zero pain, lots of pressure and sensations, totally felt baby being born but was completely in control and stress-free. For me, feeling the pain is traumatic, so it was the best way.

Zombi thread alert although for anyone else looking try here
tell me a good birth story

I didn't notice the date! Wonder if OP is less or more stressed now with her 2 yr old!

I imagined labour as a steeplechase, every contraction was another fence down and one jump closer to the finish line.
I also got oh to read poetry, words with rhythm weirdly helped.