What should I expect during childbirth?

[Mumtobe2000]

31 weeks pregnant! Thing to expect during childbirth ?

Well that list could go on for ages! Is there something you're particularly concerned about? Or an area you're particularly interested in?

Unless you have a planned section, then I’d say expect the unexpected! You can have the most detailed ‘birth plan’ and have thought about it for hours and hours and hours, but it won’t go exactly to plan or how you expected. But I think there’s still value in planning and educating yourself so at least when things are happening you know what’s going on.

first child is due oct, i have heard all sorts of horror stories recently, i think im more worried about pain and how long ill be in labour for, is there any way to make it go smoothly ? lol sounds silly but im open to all ideas on how to make it go quickly and as pain free as possible. The idea of a c section really churns my stomach , is there anything i can do to avoid this or is it purely what happens happens ?

Have you/can you do any ante natal classes? You will find those really helpful.

Have you only researched online, or have you read information from a reliable source - like the NHS? Do they still provide booklets - it's 25 years since my first!

I have looked into something like the classes however i feel like it just wouldn't be for me, i have done endless amounts of research on what can happen good and bad but it doesn't seem to make my mind settle, i'm trying to come to terms with what will be will be!

ante-natal classes are not just about the information, they are also so you can meet other people at the same stage of pregnancy as you, and you can share stories and support each other. They are useful, even if you feel you've done a lot of research.

As for what you can expect, the answer is - no one can tell. your body is built to give birth but sometimes extra help is needed so you just need to take things as they come.

Have you spoken to your midwife about this?

I really think ante natal classes would be useful. Do you know any other pregnant ladies? They usually group classes so that everyone is around the same stage which is useful after birth as you have a set of readymade companions who can help support, exchange ideas etc

Do they still tour tours of the maternity suite at the hospital? That was really helpful too - just to see the facilities etc.

My birth plan was show up at hospital, stay as calm as you possibly can and do as you're told. It worked well for me, all 4 times!

Obviously I was lucky, nothing complicated or unusual happened with me and I do understand that sadly this is not always the case. However, I think a lot of the time it does go fairly smoothly but the horrible stories are more memorable.

Also, it did hurt like hell, but trying to stay calm and not get panicked by the pain really, really helps. I know that's easier said than done though. The first time I give birth, the midwife told me to welcome each contraction and think about each one bringing me closer to my baby. I liked that, it helped me.

Expect ambivalence from your midwife and to be left alone for much of your labour.
To you, it is one of the most important days of your life, to them, it is just a job, so don't expect them to care like you care.

Expect the post natal ward to be noisy, with heaps of visitors trooping through. The 2 visitors per bedside isn't worth the signs it is written on.
Hopefully your stay there will be brief, you can head home and bask in new born love 💕

i'm hoping luck will be on my side! i will def remember this for then, fingers crossed its similar to your experience, thankyou!

My birth plan went out of the window! Plan was to give birth in local lovely midwife led unit, in birth pool with my midwife attending who I had seen in all my appointments. When I gave birth my midwife was on holiday, the midwife unit was shut at night due to staffing issues and I went into labour at midnight. Had to go to hospital 30 miles away with contractions every minute, their birthing pool had a leak so wasn’t usable, had planned music to listen to on CD, hospital didn’t have a CD player and we left the bag in the car anyway in our rush to get to the delivery ward! Delivered DS 3 hours later but then had retained placenta (won’t go into gory details!) so would have had to have ended up in that hospital so lucky we were there. Then had issues with my heart, so again lucky I was there!

Importantly DS was healthy.

So make a birth plan but accept it might not all go to plan!