1st baby due anyday slightly anxious

[elp34]

I'm 40+1 weeks with my first baby and i think i have been fairly relaxed about the whole pregnancy so far. The only thing is i'm not looking forward to being in labour and have kind of buried my head in the sand....pretending it won't happen. I am really scared about the pain, being in hospital and generally the embarrasement of it all. I know everyone says you won't care about it once your in labour but it doesn't stop me thinking about it now. I also have never experienced pain or spent time in hospital and i also work for the NHs which i think makes it worse.
My MW wants to discuss a sweep with me on Monday and the thought of it turns my stomach. The whole childbirth scenario is just making me cringe at the moment and i wondered if anyone else had similiar thoughts...or just me!!

I think everybody feels like you are with a first labour but i can assure you it wont be as bad as you think and will all be over fast and then you will have your lovely baby in your arms.I remember walking into the hospital in labour with my first son and being absolutely petrified to put it mildly(i was only 17) but it was over and done with so quickly that i forgot all about the pain and the embarrassment of the situation when i held my gorgeous son for the first time.I'm a complete wuss and have have another 3 kids since then so its really not that bad honestly,Good luck

I was so scared I considered c-section.

But too scared of epidural(needle phobic) or GA.

Both my labours were pains around the bum, which is an odd feeling!

No pain relief with first, gas & air with second.

No tears/stitches with either.

Best thing-sounds corny-breathing through the contractions & pushing when told by midwife.

And do what feels right.
With second spent most of the time leaning over a birthing ball & gave birth on the floor on all fours.

Choice of birth partner also important I think.

Husband knew how terrified I was but convinced me I could do it.

Just remember everything is your choice. If you don't want a sweep, don't have one.

You are already past your due date, but don't think about being 'late' - your baby will come when it's ready.

You'll be fine. Honest. And it will be so worth it all in the end. Don't be a martyr - if you want pain relief, have it, but also don't be scared of the pain.

Good luck - I'll be watching out for your birth story!

I have already said i want an epidural and anything else going as i don't think i'm going to have a high pain threshold. With the sweep i am presuming the MW wants to discuss it as i have had bordeline high BP for a while and protein in my urine and had to be assessed at the hospiital the other night. Even though when there my BP was lower than it had been in ages...think its just surgeries that send it high!!

Thanks for all your comforting comments i'm sure it will be fine and the baby will make up for all the pain.

It will be fine. Your body gives you loads of lovely hormones which chill you out. Contractions do hurt, but they don't last that long and in between it doesn't hurt at all. It only lasts a few hours and you get a baby at the end. I honestly felt amazing after labour, pg with no.2 and I can't wait. I was a wimp when I had to have anti-d injections in pregnancy and so was really worried about labour but I think I did well. I had G+A and pethidine. I think the fear of the unknown is the worst, but your body honestly lets you know what to do. Good luck.