38+4 Anxiety as due date is approaching

[Mamtobe2024]

Hi,

I'm 38+4 and I'm due 2nd October. Now my due date is on the horizon I've found myself becoming more anxious as the days go by which as a first time mum and never gone through labour before I know the anxiety is natural.

However I just wanted to know how you kept yourself calm in the lead up to birth etc. I'm feeling really nervous and scared now, i know all these feelings are normal but I'm trying my best not to let the fear/anxiety get the better of me! I have been keeping myself distracted, going for walks etc and just making the most of it before baby arrives but the fear is starting to get the better of me now! Any advice would be appreciated ☺️ x

Are you worried about anything in particular. I think you’re doing the right thing in keeping busy. My due date with my first was 2nd October too!

Aw how cool! Did your first baby come on time? I'm nervous about labour, I think I'm nervous for the whole process to start like I know once I'm in labour I'll just go with it but it's the whole waiting to go into labour and the unknown I think that's making me anxious even though I know it can't be helped

No, 10 days late! I think those feelings are very normal. It’s the anticipation of a major life moment. Hopefully you won’t be waiting too much longer!

Aw OP you’re about to do something amazing! I would really recommend doing a hypnobirthing course. I did an online course by The Positive Birth Company, it eased all my anxieties and actually made me feel confident that I knew what to expect and how to navigate the choices I needed to make including pain management. They have free info on Instagram, videos on YouTube that you can check out for free to get a feel for it. I would really recommend buying the course I paid £40 I think. I was skeptical at first as I thought hypnobirthing sounded a bit woo when my friend recommended it but actually it gave such good practical info about the physiology of birth and what to expect. I actually enjoyed my birth experience, never thought I would say that! Good luck!

It might be an idea to try to hire a doula. Very calming and helpful to say the least.

Hey i have 5 kids so labour can’t be that terrible 😂 my eldest is 14 and youngest is only 8 months pretty much covered it all, been induced, spontaneous labour, epidural, gas n air only, c-sec, episiotomy, forceps, long labours (15hr+) and short (1hr29mins) had my waters broken, pushed my waters out still in the sack and had my waters go on their own, had stitches, any questions feel free to ask lol xx

Hi there it's a labour ward midwife. I would say Google up positive birth stories and read them. Firstly because no one is going to tell them to you face to face- you will only hear horrible stories as if women delight in scaring each other. Secondly it does help going into labour with a positive mind. Thirdly you might come across ideas you might try with your own labour (I spent the beginning of my first labour paddling in a Council run pool - bizarre I know but it really helped me). If you like reading I would also recommend Positive Birth Book- available from Amazon for about a tenner. I hope it helps and good luck

It’s such a strange time in your life,waiting for this huge event.

I went very overdue so in a way that helped with my fear as I was so sick of being pregnant I just wanted to get going by then.

For the majority of women labour starts slowly so you will have loads of time to make decisions as you need to. With my 2nd I didn’t twig I was in labour even though I’d done it before (both started with lower backache).

I had a very long labour. I actually found the exhaustion harder than the pain. Get the breathing nailed, it helped me soooo much. Just keep as calm and chilled as possible.

The way I looked at it was, millions of women go through it so I can too. And so can you, you've got it!! Trust your body.

Second the positive birth company, I didn't do a course in it but read the book instead. The science behind what your body is actually doing is very interesting and helps you understand.

Good luck, you'll be amazing.

Everyone has those feelings of anxiety. I've got 2 babies and the second time I couldn't wait to do it again. I looked forward to meeting my baby, not being pregnant anymore, tea and toast post birth and also that I could have a nice cold glass of wine again 😂. Good luck