Labour fears

[lilly40]

I've woken up to use the bathroom and can't get back to sleep as I keep worrying about how painful labour will be. This is my second pg and my first labour took just over an hour and I honestly can't remember the pain. I know I screamed but can't physically remember the pain.
This has me worried as I have nothing to go by and have been lying here for the past hour and a half worrying about it. I'm 4 and a half months pg.

I didn't want to read and run. It's normal to be worried but I think you should talk to midwife about your worries. She can remind you of pain relief options and reassure you better than I.
Remember every labour is different and although 2nd labours tend to be quicker it might not be. I can't remember what the pain actually felt like whilst I was in labour, I could tell you where it was but not the intensity. It was like that as soon as I got DD in my arms. I think it's natures way of making sure we have more babies!

Thanks for that, and I think your right. I gave birth to my DS in just over an hour, with no pain relief. I'm hoping and praying it'll be the same. I remember screaming but just not how it felt. I'll speak to my midwife though. Got scan in 12 days to find out the sex, can't wait as this time round I want to know the sex and am really hoping for a girl.

Lilly - there is a hypnobirthing book by Marie Mongan that has a really helpful introduction. I was really worried about labour and reading the first few chapters really helped me. It reiterates how natural labour is and how our bodies are designed to cope with it. Maybe see if you can get a copy from the library? I forgot all the hypnobirthing techniques when I was actually in labour, but the intro really helped. Good luck.

Thank you! I'll have a look in the library and see if I can get the book. I'll also have a look on amazon too. I've been watching one born every minute and although I love the show it frightens me seeing the women in labour.

One Born Every Minute has been made for entertainment purposes, so you have to keep reminding yourself that they will not show "boring" labours...!

Tanya is right about the hypnobirthing book - it's very reassuring and emphasises that women have been giving birth without extreme pain since time began - very interesting read!