37 weeks pregnant and Im scared of giving birth! Might be being induced on friday due to OC

[pregnantmimi]

Im realy nervous about giving birth! The unexpected the pain everything. I tryed to ask for a caesarian a few months ago but the hospital said there was no medical reason why I need one. Panic has set in now as I might be being induced on friday due to a liver problem that can cause complication. I know its selfish of me and I should just care about the baby being ok but I am really scared I cant breathe when I think about it and not sleeping I talked to my midwife about it and she told me to just think about the baby and me being ok and not worry about the pain. But its not just that its the not knowing whats going to happen ! Anyone got any nice stories about giving birth or being induced to make me feel better? Or any advice?

Hi pregnantmimi!

I really feel for you. I know it is scary but you can do it! I have done it twice now, and both times were fine (there is a thread just now about 'good birth stories' in the Active section - check it out!).

I don't want to scare you but it WILL hurt. I know that might not sound helpful but I say it so that you know it is completely normal when it happens. My mistake was that I panicked when it got painful but with hindsight (a wonderful thing!) it was just the way giving birth is. Besides you might surprise yourself and have a higher pain threshold that you thought. A hundred people will come along after me and say it did not hurt at all/that bad!

I had an epidural with my first and I cannot praise it enough. I instantly felt no pain but could feel the tightenings of the contarctions. I fell asleep for 3 hours and woke up all refreshed ready to push. So, if you think you need pain relief ask for it. I think if you are scared of the pain, it might be very sensible to do so. When I panicked, I held my breath through the contractions which is the worst thing to do because if you don't breathe, the baby doesn't breathe.

And, yes, just keep thinking how soon your beautiful baby will be here. Good luck x

Have you read the good labour stories thread? It's helpful to focus on positive stories and shut negative ones out of your mind. Have you been to antenatal classes? I found it very helpful to learn what it is that you and the baby are doing during labour as it helped me visualise and gave me something positive to focus on during each contraction. The other tip someone gave me that I found helpful is to not think about how many contractions there are to go, but just focus on each one as it comes, and then forget it and focus only on the next one.

If you can afford it, try hypnotherapy for your anxiety. My MIL is a hypnotherapist and I know that lots of people find it really really helpful.

Sorry to hear you're worried, I am too if that's any consolation!? I too have OC and am 32 weeks, but like you there's talk of me being induced at 37 weeks too.

I had OC with my first baby, and was also induced. But do you know what? It wasn't half as bad as I expected it to be. I have a zero pain tolarence, but found pacing really, really helpful. I also took my ipod as a distration. I tried to make light of the situation in my head if that makes any sense! With every contraction I'd think to myself 'ooh you little tinker, you're making mummy hurt!' or I'd think about the huge G&T I'd have when I got home!

A lot of people said to me that being induced is a lot more painful, but I didn't find it so. It was very gradual and I managed to get to 5cm before have an epidural (which is a frigging God send by the way!) I then had a rest, waited for DH to arrive and read lots of magazines until it was time to push.

I'm hoping it'll be like that this time round. They monitored me a lot when I was in labour due to the OC, I was pretty much strapped to the monitor for the first two hours after they inserted the first pessery.

I see that it was very early this morning when you posted, I hope you've managed to get some sleep. I know this probably doesn't help, and you've heard it before, but if it was that bad women then wouldn't have anymore babies. And I speak from someone who thinks a papercut is the most painful thing in the world!

x