Anyone labour phobic before becoming pregnant but now feeling OK about it?

[Spice17]

Hi all

Since I can remember (childhood) I've had this fear/disgust with the thought of labour. It was quite bad and would make me feel sick/upset to see it on TV.

It's the noises mainly (must have been due to some 70's video I was forced to watch in Science) and I couldn't bear to watch programmes like OBEM, totally freaked me out.

But now I'm 23 weeks pregnant I've found I'm nowhere near as scared or disgusted, guess my brain is just dealing with it.

I even watched my first ever episode of OBEM last night and even though I felt like crying with terror for a bit, I cried with happiness when the babies arrived :)

And wow, those first time mums were AMAZING! So want to be like that and not screaming for someone to shoot me

Is good you feel like this and not the other way around!

Is natural to be afraid of something which is painful, but on the other hand labour and childbirth are natural events your body is designed for.

I'm pregnant with DC2 and I have fond memories of my labour with DS as I got such a beautiful lovely son at the end.

All during childhood I was a bit of a wimp and screamed if I got a papercut mum used to tease me and tell me to never have kids as I couldn't cope. I laboured for 17 hours with DS with just gas and air as pain relief, despite having a 2nd degree tear. Turns out that I wasn't as much of a wimp as she thought

But even if you do end up screaming and taking all the pain relief the hospital has it doesn't mean you are wrong for doing so. Pain is sore! Do whatever you need to get you through it and don't assume anything.

Congrats on the pregnancy

I've always been pretty terrified of the whole giving birth thing. Still am. 11 weeks pregnant at the moment!

I'm trying not to think about it too much... I know that when it actually comes to it, I'll get through it somehow. But it doesn't help when people start telling stories about how awful it is and all the things that can go wrong!

Hi,

I am 34+4 and have always been terrified of labour, I watched a sex eductaion video in year 6 at school which showed a woman giving birth (the whole frigging thing) and the poor boy next to me fainted. Ever since then it has been a very low priority as quite frankly I was too scared to try for a baby knowing what I would have to do to have one.

After a very very long wait me and DH decided it was time as we are not getting any younger etc (I'm 27), and I have to say now that I am huge and getting into the uncomfortable stage I am still terrified but just want to get in there and get this done. I just want my baby boy now.

I think everybody is terrified especially the first time round as you just don't know what to expect, I am classed as a complicated pregnancy I have Chronic ITP so I have something extra to worry about. Hopefully you won't/ don't and you will sail through to the end.

Try and enjoy the stages you have to come as the lack of sleep at the end and constant worrying about baby coming is normal, you are in the good part of pregnancy. I'm trying to enjoy what bit of time I have left just me & DH before DS arrives.

I know what your going through though, I am exactly the same. x

Congrats on your pregnancy!
I remember being terrified the first time I got pregnant! I'm such a shy person and the thought of something so intimate in front of doctors and midwives scared the life outta me, not to mention the pain!! I even fainted on my tour of the maternity unit at my hospital after an antenatal class, I think it all became too real for me at the point. Having said that, I had a wonderful labor, and the first moment I cuddled my baby I wondered what all the fuss what about! My second labor was even better! I loved every minute, I just find it an amazing experience now and wonder why I was so so scared. So much so I'm pregnant now for the 3rd time and can't wait to deliver my baby! (if it wasn't for my damn SPD causin me issues, I'd actually go as far as saying I'm looking forward to it)

I also wonder about the big day. I'm not really dramatic at all, or a sceamer in general (rollercoasters, scary movies). I think I'm more of a gasper and shocked-face-puller when I'm startled or scared. I actually think more likely to be a crier, which will take lots of energy, so not sure how that will all pan out. Yikes!

I guess it'll be interesting to see how it goes.

BTW - I really can't be held accountable for my actions if DP tells me once more that it can't be THAT bad as women have been doing it for millennia. Grr!