Terrified of being sick during labour.. help?

[kayleighb21]

I have had a couple of weeks off work due to exhaustion and I think it has given me too much time to think!
I'm 27 weeks pregnant and I am severely emetophobic (phobia of vomiting) don't question why I got pregnant etc I knew it was a risk.
I'm starting to feel sick a lot from acid.. but the thing I am terrified of is being sick during labour. I have read all these horror stories of people being sick from the first contraction to the delivery! I am having images of me throwing up all over the hospital bed or waking in the middle of the night labour starting by me being sick.. my anxiety is so bad at the moment I'm having panic attacks and only sleeping a few hours a night.. anyone have any advice or experience? I'm so scared.

Oh OP, I'm sorry you're feeling this way. I know it's anecdotal but most people I know aren't sick in labour so I don't know how common it is?

It's so hard to imagine but when you're in labour it's totally different to how you feel normally. I don't have a phobia but I hate throwing up. I was sick in labour but i was so out of it I didn't really feel it. It's hard to describe but there is so much else going on it's not how it is to be sick normally.

I also think it's really normal to be anxious about the birth regardless of your phobia. Sounds like your midwife is on the case which should help.

Sorry I misread the midwife bit. Mention to consultant and make sure your birth partner knows so you can mention once you go in.

Would it help to think that if (in the very, very unlikely event) you are sick during labour, it isn't a sign of illness, it isn't contagious, it is just part of a means to the end of birthing your baby?

I'd recommend writing birth plan, you can include details of your phobia and make suggestions on what the MWs could do to make things as easy for you as possible.

FWIW, I had lots of assorted pain relief and no sickness at all during either of my labours.

I don't suffer from it but can sympathise as do suffer from general health anxiety.

I had a c section and I'm sure they gave me something to stop me being sick..not 100% but I'm pretty sure they were concerned because I had a spinal that I'd be sick and not be able to move..it worked because when my blood pressure went really low it made me feel sick but I wasn't iykwim. I had eaten previously as it was an emergency so didn't do nil by mouth. Sorry if this isn't making sense but I'm sleep deprived as feeling ill tonight!

Anyway, might be worth seeing GP or speaking to midwife again because there must be something they can prescribe you. They won't want you having sleepless nights over this as you've got a few of those to come!

Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy and birth

Discuss with your midwife in further detail - also an emetophobe over here. My midwife was open to me receiving anti-emetics preemptively before I was even sick. I had a tablet on the induction ward followed by two injections during labour. I couldn't concentrate on pushing until I had the injection as I did feel sick. They use antiemetics all the time and if it is genuinely scaring you then you should be able to get them to alleviate the worry. I would also really recommend asking to see the perinatal mental health team - they were also to help with my fear and because I was seeing them for anxiety the hospital midwives took my worry seriously.

Emmetophobia here with 3 children.
I was sick. During labour and like someone else said it's diffeent from.normal.vomitong
I end3d up with am emergency charger section first time the spinal also made me sick
Subsequent pregnancies I had c sections and explained my phobia before hand. They made sure I had anti sickness and I was fine