Hi!
Don't panick, stay positive and you'll be fine. What time are you booked in?
I was like you and planned to have a lovely water birth experience but that didn't happen haha. I gave birth to my first this year. I carried all baby but I was HUGE. I thought she would arrive early but she still didn't want to make an appearance 2 weeks after my due date. I loved my pregnancy but the thought of going in for an induction made be beyond anxious and I cried about it a few times. I had sweeps but I was 0 or 1 on the bishop scale. I had acupuncture twice in the week leading up to my induction to try and encourage her to come naturally. I definitely thought it helped. My belly dropped and I had a few pains but nothing got going properly.
I went in at 12 on a Sunday and I had the internal pessary at 2 and started feeling pains at 5ish. They were mild, similar to period pains. The midwives didn't think I was going to get going so by 6-7 my sister left and I stayed in for the night.
I got out a birthing ball to try and get things going. I was terrified that I'd have a c-section because of how low my bishop score was. So I bounced while I watched Cake (poor movie choice while you're in labour) By 9ish the pains were getting stronger. By 11 I had to keep on jumping up off the bed because I needed to walk the pains through. I told the midwife that I thought things were getting going and my contractions were strong but when she came to access me they were irregular so she left me to it.
I then proceeded to have 2 baths to help with the pain, a couple of hours apart. They helped quite a bit. By 3 I was in quite a bit of pain but I was coping ok. I almost forgot that I brought a tens machine with me so I got the midwife to sort it because I couldn't concerntrate on anything other then the contractions.
I have quite a high pain threshold so the midwives thought I was in the very early stages and wouldn't examine me. I don't think they wanted to disappoint me in case I was only a 1cm or 2. I didn't manage to get any sleep so I was up an about walking. It definitely helps to walk and burst your tens machine when the contraction peaks. At 4 my pessary came away along with my plug. Then my contractions were a minute or 2 apart.
I felt an insane urge to poo like everyone says but nothing came. I must have tried like 20 or more times because I was so worried about doing it during the birth. FYI it's also true that you kind of get rid of it all in the early stages. Apologies if that tmi.
At 6am they finally examined me and I was 6cm. She was shocked and told me she would ring down to get the labour ward ready for me. I was happy that I was 6cm because I was worrying about what the pain would be like, if I was only 1 or 2cm. I went down at 7.30am and everything happened so quickly. I dilated really quickly in the last two hours and I actually found that part less painful. I got on my knees when I was 9-10cm and the urge to push was immense. My body was doing it by itself. My waters went and then the pain was more bearable. I had some gas and air but it made me feel a little sick so I didn't have much. I actually had the anti sickness tablet before I went down to the labour ward but I'm prone to feeling queasy when my body is under strain.
My partner arrived about 45 minutes before she was born. He actually had a shower before he came even though I rang him at 6.30ish after the midwife confirmed I in established labour and told him 'GET HERE NOW'. He lives a minimum 40 minute drive from the hospital. I could have killed him. Luckily I had my sister with me.
My little girl arrived at 9.37am 8lb 2oz which I guessed correctly haha. I had 2 tears but I couldn't tell. It's a little numb after 😂 The stitches were fine. All in all everything was good. I was worried about what it would be like but I remained positive and I think that helped. Try to have a nice bath or two so you get some sort of water experience and it'll help keep you sane. I also think the lack of sleep helped because I wasn't in my right mind. Maybe that's why labour felt a lot easier then I expected.
Also you know your own body so if you feel things getting going, don't let hem send your birthing partner home. That's my only regret that my partner only got to share an hour of the labour. At least he got some sleep so I could nap while he watched the little one.
Try not to panic and make sure you eat something early for your energy levels. I had some chewable engery tablets because I couldn't stomach anything else. I had a powerade drink too.
I just remember thinking that it'll be over soon and I'll have my baby. Now I almost wish I could relive it because it was so special.
Good luck. I'm sure you'll be fine. That beautiful baby will be in your arms before you know it.