Is labour really that bad?

[sas94]

I'm 10 weeks pregnant and I'm petrified of pain, needles, hospitals you name it !

I'm really worried about the labour already, and I've been hearing absolute nightmare stories of people giving birth. I'm just super worried

You poor thing, it's natural to be a bit scared.

Every labour is different, some easy and some not. You won't know until you are 'in' it. Most people can cope quite well as long as it doesn't go on too long.

There is plenty of help available for controlling pain if it all gets too much.

Many congratulations by the way.

Nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. I would choose to labour about 15 times to avoid the experience of pregnancy just once. It varies so much across people, but there’s no reason to suppose you’ll need all the painkillers going like other PPs. Everyone is different and you might find you’re ok. Unfortunately there’s no crystal ball.

Take all the pain relief you need but be prepared for a 3-4 hour wait for an epidural if the unit is busy, if you have to be induced, insist on an epidural before they start.

Hypnobirthing all the way! But not all hypnobirthing is created equal - if yours preaches that unmedicated vaginal is the only way, it's not a good one. Find one that focuses on how you respond to ANY situation.

I found GentleBirth amazing for this. You can have a GentleBirth C Section/ epidural /unmedicated but the premise is being ready for any of it. I suppose it focused on reducing fear rather than pain. I found it really helped me to educate myself and it really grounded me having the familiar tracks during labour.

It also really helped me to make it clear to my OH what I needed during labour. When I needed him, he was right in my ear telling me that I could do anything for a minute (the affirmation that made the most sense to me during labour!)

Mine weren't pain free by any stretch and my first in particular was a long labour but I wasn't afraid of the pain and it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. As others have said, it was productive pain and I felt very quickly afterwards that I could do it again.

It’s not a universal experience. I found mine fine, hardly worse than period pains right up until pushing when it was too late to have anything and over quickly.

I had an amazing birth which I attribute to doing the positive birth company's digital hypnobirthing pack. I was terrified of labour before it but the course made me understand what actually happens and how I could help myself.

Agree with other posters that hypnobirthing is really useful to do. I think the name does it such an injustice and makes it sound “hippyish” but it actually really helps you to understand the science behind labour and birth and what muscles are used throughout the process. I pick and chose the parts of it that appealed most to me, like focusing on the breathing and counting whereas having my DH telling me positive affirmations throughout would just irritate me 😂 The digital course also covers how to have a positive induction too if that’s the route that’s required.

Like you, I have a bit of a needle phobia and the thought of epidurals terrifies me.

I'm lucky that I gave birth 3 times in the pool, first time with just gas & air, other two without. Just wasn't necessary! Currently pregnant with my fourth and hoping for another straightforward water birth.

The best advice I can offer you is not to read up on other people's horror stories, and to educate yourself as much as possible- knowledge really is power! There is no way you'll know now how you'll cope in labour anyway...

My experience was great, better than I imagined it to be!
I was lucky to stay on the midwife led unit and pop in the bath for a part of my labour
The midwifes dimmed the lights had battery candles and put on a star projector which felt so special. Had my music playing in the background.
Was just on gas and air (sucked that thing to kingdom come!) but had to have a catheter to help pee but couldn’t feel it at all
Time was definitely a blur, next minute I knew I was being told to push, defiantly not going to sugar coat it I felt my little one come out and it was hard but trust your body and learn some good breathing techniques and labour positions (the winner for me was pushing laid on my side with a midwife holding my leg in the air!)
Had a tear but the midwifes stitched me up and we’re amazing, trust your body knows what it’s in for and the midwifes or doctors know how to help make it better :)
I feel great, little one is 6 weeks and I’m not scared to imagine doing this again in the future haha 😂 xxxxx