Anyone else petrified of giving birth?

[yellowbaglady]

I've done it twice before but this time I am so scared. I keep getting told the baby is huge. My other babies were 7lb 4/7lb 6. It seems to be a hilarious joke to everyone else but it just leaves me petrified! I am scared of how i will cope with the pain and what it might do to my body long term (I found recovering from birth just as bad as labour)
I am only 25 +4 so still a way to go. I don't want a C section, although I do have the option if I want to opt for that. I already have scars on my abdomen which itch all the time and they aren't that big so I dread to think how horrible a c section scar would be.

Just not sure how to take charge of these feelings.

Ah OP I feel the same im due my first in late July and I am absolutely shitting myself. I'm coming dangerously close to losing my shot with family/friends who thinks its funny to tell you the horror stories of a friend of a friend and send links about huge babies being born. They wouldn't do it with any other medical situation why bloody now.

No. I probably will be when the time comes but I'm not due till start of October and feeling fine about it for now. Its my first.

Bear in mind that they are often wrong in their predictions of babies size.

I’m pg with number 4 and I do think it’s worse when it’s not your first because you know first hand how bloody hard work it is. But just keep telling yourself that it’s just for a few hours & you know you survived it before & you can do again. My main coping strategy in the last two pregnancies was complete denial that I am actually going to give birth until about 38 weeks when I completely lost my shit 🤣 If you are really struggling though, talk to your midwife 😘

I was scared of giving birth to my second as I knew how painful it was the midwife said i was traumatised by my first birth, nothing that bad happened but back to back birth and suction cup, it was just the most horrendous pain ever, I don't know how I lived. I'm sorry I know I'm not gonna make anyone feel better but I just don't understand how people say it's not that bad, yes I've forgot what the pains like but I know it was still horrific

Do think about booking in for an elective c-section. Don't worry about the scar. It's really not bad at all and fades with time. Fear of childbirth is a very real thing and every woman has the right to choose.

I felt a bit like that. I had an epidural. It wasn’t the most fun I’d ever had, but it really wasn’t that bad and I was up and about the next day (didn’t need the painkillers they gave me etc). Having the flu was worse.

I was scared of my my second after a horrible first birth. I kept stages in my head to get past and kept in my head that crowning was the worst part and once the head was out the pain reduced significantly. Plus I took my favourite cake in to have once it was over.

My 3rd was almost 10lb and labor was much easier with him than my 1st who was under 7lb. My 2nd was breech elcs and that was my last favourite by far.

I really don't want a C-section if i can avoid it. It's the recovery afterwards. I have a teenage daughter who has some issues and I need to be back on my feet to support her as well as dealing with a new baby.

I think some if it is down to the fear from my first birth......3rd degree tear. But my the birth after that was pretty uneventful, I just remember the horrendous pain. I am scared this baby is going to get stuck or that they will want to induce me which I've heard makes the pain worse.
I've had an epidural in the past to repair the tear and hated it, not being able to feel the bottom half of my body weirded me out as did not being able to get out of bed and it took ages to wear off. I have a MW appointment this week so I will talk it through with her. I don't know why I am so scared. My DP is a lovely guy and I know he will get me through it but the fear is still there.

Me! I’m 24w and breezed happily into my first Labour thinking how bad can it be…

It’s taken me a long time to do it again and I don’t feel good about it!