OBEM

[Pickles77]

One born every minute- its like a horror movie. Im terrified now.
Is it really like that? Im panicking :(

Which one are you watching?

Every birth is different.

The one with the 20 year old first timer and the Thai lady. It's on more 4. I am biting my lip frantically writing down pain relief names

Ah. The 'whole hand' lady?

Iirc she had a long drawn out labour.

They certainly aren't all like that.

I'm going to see what one it is now.

Hi Pickles, looks like I'm just following you around MN tonight!

Don't watch. Just don't. I watched the last series, I was 37w at least, and half the births made me think 'yep, I can do this', while the other half made me determined to just cross my legs and refuse to let LO out...

I don't know if its really like that though! I felt as though I was completely out of it, even before I got to the gas and air.

Pah. OBEM is shite.

No - I have had two babies, no pain relief needed either time, it is really not as bad as OBEM make out.

'

It's very scary. I won't sleep tonight
But if all you MNs can do it, I'll give it a go. no choice now anyway

Right. No they are not all like this.

I can only tell you about my own labours.

They were all (3) calm and quiet. It bloody hurt and there were times I felt I couldn't do it. But I did. And so will you.

Yes, some people scream and shout or cry. Do whatever gets you through it I say.

When are you due?

How long do you have to go? Trust me, if you go over your EDD you suddenly start viewing imminent labour in a very different way! (Just get OUT!!)

Hahaaa
Im nearly 31 weeks

I was absolutely bloody petrified of giving birth. But in the end it was ok. Gas and air is amazing! You can scream and swear if you want to, you can get an epidural if you want to... There's no right or wrong way to give birth!

I think it's pretty realistic actually. Most of the births seem easy compared to my experience, it always makes me wish l could have gone into labour naturally rather than be induced on the drip two weeks early (shudder).

Oh, and the young girl is not a 'normal' labour (no disrespect to her at all, its bloody painful and everyone reacts how they react!) so don't be too scared by her

I did wonder if she was being extreme?

I'm sorry you didn't have a nice experience mary

Pickles

Remember, if it all gets too much, there is always the epidural to take it all away. It did for me and it was the right decision for me.

And gas and air is BLOODY FAB! It makes you feel stoned off your face but dont tell my mum I said that

A bit extreme, but I can vividly recall being quite like that for the time it took to get the epidural in - sitting on the side of the bed was the single worst position for me, it was honestly the worst part of my labour sitting still. I nearly broke the mw's wrist clinging on to her! But then the epidural worked, and all was lovely again...

Phew your bringing me down off the ceiling guys

Any specific questions? (Am now stuck in front of OBEM!)

Nope, just wanted to check reality but thank you

Pickles don't watch it. I'm pregnant and I refuse. Watch it when your baby is thirty with a cup of tea and a hobnob.

Ps I'm the biggest biggest wussy wuss ever and it was ok. I had one last year too!

Damn you for telling me this was on - I forgot, I'm not very good with the end of the episodes because they always show mums having a lovely skin-to-skin cuddle but DD was rushed off to NICU so I never got that . So don't watch it after birth either!

It's edited to maximise the drama. If they showed all the women getting on with it a bit quieter it would get boring. So they show the "best" ones. Also, I always think that sometimes while a woman may sound distressed, sometimes it's her coping technique and that to her it's not as bad as how it's perceived by an outsider.

Aww im sorry. I just ended up blubbing at it

Lol everyone is different ! I agree gas and air is my fwend ! It can be scary but the midwives are super ! So encouraging and really put me at ease bless em !