39 weeks - nervous

[Llouh]

Hello :)

My first baby is due on Friday... I'm fed up and can't wait to meet him but I'm also terrified. I've read books about positive thinking and all that but I'm just so nervous about labour and birth.

I had a type of OCD when I was a teenager which gave me an irrational fear of hospitals and medical things which I think is not helping now I'm stressed and hormonal.

How can I calm down and convince myself that I can do it?

Might be worth going on Youtube and listening to some hypnotherapy relaxation tracks or hypnobirthing and spending an hour each day listening to them. I found them great for relaxation in the lead up to birth.

It is hard, but try to tell yourself that you can do it. It's difficult because everyone is different. The thing I took from my two births (last one on Saturday) was to 'accept' the contractions rather than tense against the pain, of that makes sense.

I found it helpful to think of contractions as waves, rising, peaking then falling.

Best of luck!!

Definatly try a mindfullness or hypnobirthing app. I found it brilliant on dd1 and on dd2 hadn't used it and felt I didn't cope as well because I didn't have it looking back.
It s helpful too if you can have a tour of the labour ward or meet with a midwife and explain your anxieties - where I attended I met one of the midwives and she did the antenatal classes we did a tour of the labour ward and after the class I explained to her my fears she listened and put a note in my chart for the labour ward staff.
Break labour into stages- at home -managing the contractions, when in hospital - listen to relaxation or hypno on way in and when you get there to settle you, para croc deep breathing and positions to keep you confortabke and manage pain.
Look up your pain relief options and know what you think you would like to try for labour.
Consider a birth plan signed off by your Obs or midwife (so they agree to it and it s realistic for you and your provider)finally accept you cannot control labour but that your body is designed to birth your baby and you can do it. The hospital and everything else is just external to you and your baby and just another 4 walls. You can do it and you will do it, focus on the lovely baby you re going to meet at the end of the labour.

hello,

I am a first time going to be mother, my baby boy's due this sunday 25th and im very nervous.. I cannot wait to hold him as im sure all the pain goes away..
Ive been looking at videos and reading alot about pregnency and labour and giving birth.. Im worried about loosing control of contractions, only pain relief ill be having is gas and air. I feel the urge to wee more than ever now a days...

Hi Louh and Sally,

Not much to add as I'm due the same time as you guys but just wanted to say I feel the same and I think it's pretty normal (not making any of us feel any better here) we just got to hang in there and think of the end result!

Yeah I suppose the more we worry, the more paranoid we will get about giving birth.. Our bodies our made to give birth aren't they so good luck ladies.. I'm just focusing on not fighting the contractions and just letting my body go through it then know that I'll be holding my baby in my arms that will get me through it.

Exactly - think of all the women who have done this before us - we've got this :-)

Good luck ladies. hopefully our babies come on there due date too lol

Ladypug-

Do u get Brixton hicks or sharpe pains recently...

Hi Sally, yes both - v intense Braxton Hicks usually followed by sharp vaginal pain! Do you? Not sure if it means we're close!

Feeling the exact same as all of you ladies, also due a baby boy on Sunday
You'd think I'd feel a bit more prepared because I've done it before but I'm as nervous as ever! Argh!

I also recommend natal hypno or hypnobirthing - books and CDs if you can. Instilled in me a strong belief that I could 'do it' and also a much better understanding of what goes on during birth (in terms of the hormones and why, for eg, we're instinctively drawn to birth in darkened places, etc)

Ladypug yes I've been getting sharpe pains, makes me gilt most the time when I get them, uncomfortable pains but only last 2 seconds..

& danceagain- I'm due this Sunday too lol hopefully my baby boy comes on that date I hope so.. Starting to walk around like a hippo now haha!

Ah thank you for your replies, I will download a hypnobirthing app and have a listen. I did look into the classes a few months ago and now regretting not going for them!

LadyPug, Sally and dance again I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling nervous. I was feeling mainly positive and slightly nervous until yesterday morning after reading a labour horror story... Why do I do it!!!?

I hope these October boys come on time or early. I can't wait to meet mine and it would be strange to have a November baby now!

Ow no don't put urself through watching horrific labours.. Every birth it different, we can do this ladies hah, I shouldn't laugh cause I'm sure I won't be when I'm in labour..

At least we don't have long to go and no matter how bad it is, we'll get through it!

Due date today.. And no signs at all, only been getting sharpe pains and lot movements from baby boy.. Excited and impatient now...

Stil waiting here too, how are you getting on Louh? Being overdue is seriously dragging!

Hello Sally and Ladypug! Yep still waiting... These days feel like weeks!! I've been offered a sweep tomorrow and I'm really not sure whether to go for it. Are either of you having one?

Hey :-) I tried to have one a few days ago but midwife couldn't do it as couldn't get behind the head :-( she also said lots of really disheartening things eg posterior cervix etc (all added up to meaning labour is forever away) still hoping though! I have another sweep booked for end of this coming week otherwise will have to be induced :-(

I haven't really thought about it tbh, i rather labour happened naturally...baby's obviously come when there ready.. I'll wait till Wednesday till I see my midwife then see what she says... Other than that yeah feels like it's been forever lol I want my body back now..

Ah rubbish, do they have to be engaged to have the sweep? He was only 4/5 on Wednesday so I doubt there is much point having a sweep.

How overdue are you now?

No they don't have to be engaged I don't think (although mine is also 4/5 engaged) but think I have a dodgy cervix position and she just couldn't reach it. I wasn't too worried as I also want baby to come naturally but will have another sweep end of next week as I really want to avoid induction if I can!

Oh right I see.

Yeah I am in two minds about the sweep. I was dead certain I was going to avoid them until 41 weeks but then someone in my antenatal group had one and her baby was born 12 hours later and I'm tempted by this miracle story haha.

Hopefully it won't be too long for us al now! Our babies might even have the same birthdays :)

Hehe yeah I heard that a sweep will only help if baby is close anyway but not sure if that is true. One of us has to be close at least, surely!!!