Second Birth Anxiety

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I am currently 22weeks pregnant with my second baby. First DS is 19 months and pregnant with DD.

My first birth I was induced at 38 weeks for IUGR, started on Tuesday and didn't have him until the Friday, ended up on the hormone drip. His rate dropped and I had to have an ultrasound mid pushing as they thought it was my heartbeat not his. 7 stitches and an open tear, I found the following 2 weeks horrendous in regards to pain.

Now my birth wasn't overly traumatic in terms of actual birth, or so I thought lol. However being pregnant with number 2 I am so so anxious with regards to birth, I don't know if it is because I know what to expect.

This pregnancy has been a bit different as my dog passed away, we are in a pandemic and my grandad has been diagnosed with terminal cancer with short weeks left to live. Not sure if this is why I'm extra anxious or to be more anxious for second birth is normal?

Xxxx

Yes it’s normal. I’d recommend the bump to baby chapter online course. I had a traumatic first birth but feeling much more positive this time around. It’s really helped me.

Congratulations, OP!
I felt very anxious about birthing my second following a difficult, induced first birth.
I was so scared of going back to birth in hospital that I opted for a home birth, but fully expecting things to go wrong. To prepare I downloaded a hypno-birthing course which I sort of listened to here and there.
However, when I went into labour, the biggest surprise, which I hadn't been prepared for at all, was that my body was much more relaxed and familiar with the physical sensations of being in labour; it sounds corny, but it felt like it 'knew' what to do, having already done it once before. The hypno-birthing visualisations and breathing techniques were helpful too, even if I didn't do them to the letter, just shreds here and there.
Best of luck!

Thank you so much for both your replies!!!

I guess it is normal, I will have a look into the book and hypnobirthing and give those a go.

I hope my body does know what it's doing as stupid as that sounds, as I was induced I didn't think my body would know how to do it naturally if you see what I mean? Like would it know how to go into labour considering I never dilated on my own and needed every possible step of induction lol! xxxx