38 weeks with DC3 and having tearful wobble... tell me to get a grip!

[sydenhamhiller]

I think it must be hormones, as this is DC3, and previous 2 births reasonably straight-forward and quick. Episiotomy (sp) 1st time, and slight tearing 2nd - no repercussions.

Just been on another thread (about remaining a member of NCT), and someone wrote:

"Please note these statistics:

1 in 4 British women suffer birth damage.
UK has the most birth-damage repair obgyn consultants in the world."

I am usually very practical and hard-headed, but reading that has really freaked me out.

I think also the fact that I am 6 years older than last time, and have suddenly developed (sorry TMI) horrible piles for first time pre-birth has really scared me: someone said that if you have very bad piles, midwives are loath to have you push and would rather cut. Suddenly fixated on stories of double-incontinence, terrible birth-damage...

Have been very zen, and booked to have home-birth with gas and air (like DC2), but suddenly just want to book in to whichever hospital will have me, and dreading birth...which makes me feel so sad, because I found it amazingly-hippy-ishly empowering last time.

So, someone give me a shake and tell me to man up...

stop reading stuff like this,

your just going through the bit, where it suddenly occurs to you that you have to get the thing out,

try to relax, bath and put your feet up, it will be fine,

now brace yourself, HARD SLAP,

sorry but you were hysterical, only thing to do really.

I know exactly what you mean. I had my 3rd dc 7 months ago. Dc1 I had an episiotomy which was pretty horrid to recover from. Dc2 I had a slight tear which I barely noticed. I became fixated that I would have another episiotomy or a really bad tear and just like you, became convinced that I would end up incontinent etc.
I was doubly worried as I knew dc3 was going to be big. I begged asked my consultant for an ELCS as I was so worried. He wafted me away and told me it would be fine.

It was totally fine, dc3 was big (10lb 6oz), I did tear and need a few stitches and again barely noticed. I do think that by dc3 your body does know what to do and even with a gigantic larger baby like dc3 I was more able to cope with her exit....

Good luck!