What things did you tell yourself mid contraction and in pain in order to get through, deal with labour?

[WelcometotheJungle]

I freaked myself out by watching "One Born Every Minute'.

I'm 37 weeks and quite anxious regarding the birth. 3rd baby so likely to be too quick for epidural.

I'm doing the NH cds and I'm trying to 'think calm thoughts' ha ha, but I know I'm so likely to panic and make things harder for myself.

I would love to know what you ladies said to yourselves in those moments when it was just you against the world doing the hard yards.

I tried to focus on the fact that the pain of the contraction would subside shortly and that each one was getting me closer to meeting my baby...not sure the thoughts were that clear when it got really bad though!

my labour was really long and drawn out but i just kept thinking its going to end soon, its going to end soon! and then i will know what it is, boy or girl as we didn't find out it kept me going!!!

I just had 12 hours of it until an em cs but the following went through my head..

This won't last forever.

It's productive pain, my leg isn't being hacked off or anything.

I am never doing this again.

this is completely normal and soes not indicate something being wrong with my baby or my body
This contraction will be over in 30 seconds
Wonder if I can still type on MN? (was told that when I couldn't that was when I was nearly done )

And a fair bit of pacing and swearing, really shout

and actually I was posting on MN until we set off on the 20 min journey to the hospital - when I got there I was over 9cm dilated, so it really workss

Gas and Air were my best friends.....

My NCT teacher gave me a really handy list of affirmations for this, I found some links of similar things. Some are a bit fluffy, but you get the idea:

www.birthingjoy.net/resources/affirm.html

babydustdiaries.wordpress.com/20 09/01/07/positive-birth-affirmations/

I'd choose a handful for you, and some for your birth partner, and write them on post its or something to remind you.

I focused on breathing in at the beginning of the contraction, and counting mentally to 5, then out for 10, helped me get through, I also had a painitng of an Autumn scene in my delivery room so I focused on that a lot and the thought of getting home and taking my DD out for a walk in the Autumn leaves... sounds really cheesy now but it did work!

Thanks ladies that's a good start and
Porcelain - thanks for the links.

Stealth - will try to remember 'this is productive pain! lol.

Meglet - sorry.

i found gas and air really helpful. i think i'm one of the lucky ones and it didn't make me feel sick. its all i used for both. i'm getting pretty worried about it being 3rd baby and too quick too tho. i was 9 cm and 7 cm when i got to hospital with last two.

With DD1 I spent the time telling DH that she was going to be an only child. With DD2 (only 14 months later ) I told him that I had meant it when I said that DD1 was going to be an only child. We're now discussing DC3

Carikube - lol!

I focused on a cracked tile on the opposite wall. I screamed 'I hate you, I hate you' and other worse things, in my head, at it. Outside I was totally calm and quiet and everyone commented how well I was coping. Never told anyone that before....

If it's your third and likely to be quick, won't that help in itself?

Much as above:

breathing

telling myself that each contraction and the birth wasn;t going to last forever

that I could do it (and DH kept telling me this)

going to have a baby

Just moo.

I found putting my forhead against the cold wall in the labour ward helped! It made me concentrate on how nice and cooling it felt. Might look a bit mental though!
I also can't cope if people talk to me during one. It breaks my concentration- so, easier if i tell everyone not to speak to me while i'm having one.

Even before the birth I tried hard to remember that the birth process is only one (or two if you are unlucky) day of the rest of the baby's life.

During labour, "this will end, every contraction is bringing the end closer". And towards the end, "at some stage someone will come in here and get this baby out".

No one is allowed to talk to me, for starters, none of that "you can do it" cheerleading, it drives me crazy. I need silence!
Two breaths in through my nose, one long one out through my mouth.
Doing a sort of side to side hip wiggling dance leant over the bed... yes, I must've looked ridiculous but it helped!
A lovely cold flannel on my forehead, or DP spritzing water near my face, cooling and nicely distracting.
And I had this phrase in my head "All things must pass", I think it's from a book or a song or something, but just saying it over and over in my head helped me remember the pain wouldn't last.

i found it helpfull to ask the midwife what time she quessed the baby would be here, it gave me a kind of finish line iykwim.

first midwife with dc2 was a bit snooty and said she could never quess that but the lovely student quessed 8a.m which gave me a time to work towards (birth was 6.00am)

Each contraction was one contraction I'd never have to have again, and was one closer to being all over and the baby arriving. And second time around I knew that I would probably forget most of it very soon.

It did help to think of it as productive pain.

Oh, and TENS (and later gas & air). But TENS doesn't work unless you start it right at the beginning before the contractions really hurt. If you try hanging on until you are in PAIN and then attaching it you may as well not bother.

And jiggling/dancing around (with DD)

Anxiety reducing...aah...breathe.

Thanks girls.