Mixed emotions about giving birth....

[Chelle1986]

Does anyone else feel absolutely fine about popping the baby out one minute and then completely panicked the next?

One minute I'm like - "Hey he's got to come out and thats that."

And the next I'm like "Holy crap am having a baby!"

yes, everyone i think

Oh yes. with the ocassional added "this is the end of life as we know it"

I still do - DS is seven months

yes and this is my 4th

Yes. definitely.

Sometimes I think 'For crying out loud the baby has to travel from here [measures top of pelvis] to here [measures outside]. Seriously how hard can it be?'

And then I panic.

Yes absolutely. I'm desperate for her to come one minute and then absolutely panicking the next.

It is normal to feel that way and it is the end of life as you know it.

However there are a lot of horror stories and many women do exaggerate how awful childbirth is. Our bodies were made for giving birth otherwise the human race would be extinct.

Yes. I'm nearly 4 years down the line after giving birth, and I still quite can't get my head around the fact that I did that

I spent months before DS's birth agonising over the fact that I wouldn't be able to deal or cope with it, as I'm a huge wuss who can't deal with a freaking injection/blood test. So the idea of pain and blood...Well, If DP ever sorts himself out to post on here (he has a user name but won't post just yet)...he'll tell you just how utterly petrified I was...

..up until about a month before DS was born. Then I just wanted to see him and know he was 'real' iyswim.

I went into labour 10 days late, on the day that I was due to be induced. And do you know what? It felt like I knew what I was doing, and I was just follwoing what my body needed to do. I was so happy (? Don't know quite how else to put it) that I was actually in labour, and it was an ends to a means, it was ok.

Yeas it fucking hurt but I knew I was going somwhere with each contraction. And also, when labour was a bit more established, I kinda went 'into myself' (pardon the lentilness of that). I mention it because nothing else matters, and you and your bpdy are working to get your baby delivered...An amazing feeling! (when you look back on it )

And then your baby is here...

And then 3.11 yrs later you'll be sitting there tying something to someone on MN and thinking...oh crap. I forgot to send the form about next years school uniform back...

well put valpolicella

Oh yes.
Think I'm fine about giving birth, but petrified that I'll be a crap mum.
Keep telling OH we need to make the most of the next 5 weeks because 'nothing will ever be the same again.' - Normally followed by crying!!