I'm TERRIFIED of giving birth as so squeamish

[Xanadu44]

Hi there I'm 34 weeks pregnant and I'm insanely squeamish. Like faint at the sight of blood squeamish. I also fainted at every sex ed video I have ever seen at school when they showed a womb. The word then made me feel woozy.
I know this may seem ridiculous as it's got to come out but I am really really petrified of fainting whilst giving birth and this hurting the baby somehow....has anyone heard of this happening or am I just being mental?? I am so so worried about this and people just keep trying to speak to me about giving birth or joking about it with me and I just want to punch them in the face. I really am concerned and just wanted to know f there was anyone else out there who felt this way or did feel this way and did give birth?? I think I'm kind of looking for some other fainter s who maybe fainted and didn't hurt the baby!!! Thank you!! Xx p.s I have my antenatal class in two weeks and I am also petrified of fainting in that too!!!!

Have you spoken to your midwife/GP about this? They may be able to talk to you about options, or how to cope.

Look up tokophobia.

Not properly. It seems to just be laughed off as me being silly. I'm really hoping someone reads this who is just as bad for fainting and actually fainted in birth and everything was ok. This is literally the only thing I can think of that will make me feel better.

Specify in your birth plan you would like baby cleaned up a bit before you see it if it would help!!
When I had dd my dh had a white top on and it stayed white throughout!!
I can't remember things being particularly manky with any of my births tbh.

Showering after is a bit harsh but a nurse can happily support you throughout. Take dark pj's, top for labour then any blood won't be so obvious. .
First births are scary for everyone. . Sure you will be fine. .

I have an extremely lovely but deeply squeamish friend. Pre-DC she couldn't manage to look at her own snot let alone blood etc. Had to leave the room at even the discussion of anything medical.

She has now had four children and deals with bodily fluids with aplomb.

I'm sure you'll be fine but do tell your midwife about your worries.

If it's any help I don't really think you'll see the blood. Watching someone else give birth was pretty harrowing for me. But having given birth vaginally four times there is no blood that I really saw from my angle. Obviously if you look down there, but there isn't a lot of blood until the baby actually arrives and then you're too busy looking at bubba. I'm trying to be reassuring. Honestly it's worse to watch from a non birthing view!

My DSis fainted during labour and was fine (though a bit shocked). Baby also absolutely fine.

It sounds as though your worry is about something other than fainting, underneath it all, though. I'd second talking to the midwife, they can help. Lots of luck

Just wanted to give you unmumsnetty hugs 🤗. I'm an emetophobe and I was petrified that I'd embarrass myself during the birth of either of my dcs. I didn't (I did sob a bit when I was sick), I'm not good when it comes to my bloody bits, but to be frank, I didn't see that much at all!

Talk to your midwife, it's a lot more common than you think!

I was so wrapped up in them when they were born, that I didn't really notice any yucky bits, you've got this, you will be fine! Trust me!

Thank you SO much everyone!!! This is REALLY helping!!! Xxx

This would not help or be appropriate if you're feeling faint; but in my experience water births mean that you get a very clean baby and also don't have any bloody left on you after delivery.

Not that there is a lot of blood if you have a non-water birth either!

You will probably surprise yourself and deal with the pain really well. But it's a good idea to look into all possibilities just so that you know what would happen should you faint. I'm sure your midwifes will have seen it all and will know what to do. There won't be any need for panic.

Good luck xx

@bangbangpretty that REALLY helped! Honestly I am just petrified of fainting mid push and this really harming the baby, starving them of oxygen or something, that really is my main fear. Your post has absolutely helped me I actually feel quite relieved to hear the baby was fine after the mum fainted! Thank you!! Xx

Oh, and my biggest pre delivery worry was that I would feel embarrassed about being exposed and naked etc. In the end, I vomited with every contraction and then...ehm...had a bowel movement during the pushing stage. With both of my DCs. Honestly, in the moment I couldn't have cared less.

Looking back, I do feel a little embarrassed. But just a tiny bit.

If I'm honest I don't care about the pain on me, I think I'll be able to cope, it was just the fear of hurting the baby! And thank you SO much for the tips of cleaning the baby up and water birth! I'll definitely be doing them!! Honestly you've all really really helped me! I was feeling so down!! Xx

You will be fine. I'm not the best with blood and can feel a bit faint after cutting my finger, but when it comes to labour it didn't even cross my mind.
For one by the time I was in labour I was just so happy for the wait to be over, and for two the labour itself was so intense that I really couldn't focus on much else.

I saw absolutely nothing unpleasant, like PPs. I was in the birthing pool when my waters went and apparently there was lots of meconium. Well I didn't notice and thought they must be being a bit ridiculous. DH told me afterwards that there was loads. I was just in my own little world! Also saw nothing after birth on the bed. They clear up so quickly and unobtrusively.

I dunno... it's no more gory than having a poo. Presumably you can handle that daily.

This isn't the same but it might help. I had an awful experience being induced with ds1, ds2 I said I wouldnt agree to one throughout however due to reduced movements not being classed as an emergency I had the choice of an induction of wait 2 days for a section. I took the induction because I wanted to be safe but was very upset. My induction wasn't working I was in agony but told I would have to wait until the morning for a section (through the night was the main part of my fear) when the lovely consultant very apoloigetically told me this I crumpled into a sobbing hyperventalating mess lay there hysterically crying infront of my mum 2 nurses a midwife and the consultant. My mum lookes totally shocked and slightly embarrassed whereas the professionals were lovely totally calm reassuring caring and understanding once I recovered they acted like nothing had happened. I mentioned to the midwife I was mortified she told me there is nothing they haven't seen nothing surprises them and I believe her.

No matter what happens these people have seen it all and wont judge you or freak out. I also wet myself getting my epidural obviously I had no control I couldn't look at anyone but they just cleaned it up like it's nothing.

Thanks for sharing everyone this really is helping loads xx @brexitsucks it's just blood not faeces.

Don't worry! You won't faint - you won't see your womb there will be some blood obviously when it's over but just think of it like a period.

I fainted a couple of times whilst giving birth (due to pain, not the sight of anything gory). It didn't hurt my baby.

I can't tell you how much this is helping me! Thank you so much everyone xxx

Xanadu, I can faint over anything. Footage of operations, descriptions of injuries, injections, a drop of blood, anything at all to do with eyes etc. I gave birth twice and did not feel in the slightest bit squeamish. I was too focused on getting the baby born so that the pain would stop to worry about anything else at all. I did have a slight freak-out when they told me I needed stitching but they gave me back the gas and air and I was honestly away with the fairies, quite happy...although typing that now has made me have to put my head on the desk! I think it's very likely you'll be just fine.

@Biscuitsneeded thank you! I can't tell you how much better these are all making me feel! X

Oh op! You poor thing. Definitely mention it to your midwife as there will be coping mechanisms you can use. I had a girl in my antenatal class that fainted when we were being told about stitches. But lo and behold she gave birth, had a forceps delivery with stitches and didn't faint . I think the thought of it is probably worse than the reality? I used to faint at thought of injections, but after al the blood tests during pregnancy I was fine! When you are in labour too you go into a sort of trance like you are in another world so I am sure the hormones would take over and prevent you from fainting. You may benefit from learning some breathing techniques. I am not that squeamish so don't have same issue as you but they really helped me to cope and go into my own place so am sure they would have some benefit to you too.

I also fainted during birth and my son was fine. Until then I didn't realise that it was possible to pass out while sitting up in a bed!