Due halloween week - my worst nightmare

[PreggersWithBaby2]

Random one and not really sure what advice I am expecting to get but here goes... I'm due Halloween week, last pregnancy I went into labour myself just a few days overdue. I have a desperate fear of all things halloween - the loud noises, the fireworks, the costumes. The hospital I attend is in the middle of a town which I know will be riddled with fireworks etc going off all night and now I'm freaking out that I'll be lying in a hospital ward listening to all this unfold around me whilst trying to recover from birth and mind a newborn alone. Any advice?

Could you get noise cancelling headphones and listen to something you do like? Or loops (never tried but I know some people really like them?).

Focus off the present and the prospect of your new baby not on what ifs as you are increasing your anxiety a month before hand for something that might not happen.

Stupidly, I hadn't considered headphones. I'd be afraid to wear noise cancelling ones in the hospital incase I didn't hear the baby or something, but hopefully the ones I have would drown out the bangs enough. That's a great idea. I've been in such a panic about it, I've not been thinking logically at all.

You are right, I do need to focus on the present. I'm prone to anxiety and catastrophising anyway so am considering booking in with my counsellor to discuss it!

Thanks for your helpful reply

I agree with headphones, great idea with a calming playlist.

Without sounding insensitive to your worries, so many poor women are having to give birth in war zones at the moment, where these loud noises aren’t fireworks sadly. Not trying to be a d*ck with this but it may just help you concentrate on what you do have; a safe delivery, a safe hospital with excellent medical care and a safe home to go back to.

But I do get that different times of the year cause anxiety for people. I would mention it to your midwife and she may be able to offer some other options?

@Jellybelly888 I get your point but don't really find that very helpful to be honest. It's absolutely horrendous what those women are going through, I can't even begin to imagine, but I can't help my lifelong anxieties and fears

Without sounding insensitive you have no idea why the op feels like she does. Maybe she is from a country where there’s gun shots, maybe she’s been assaulted on Halloween. You have no idea.

Fair enough, as I said - I wasn’t saying this to be mean.

Another vote for noise cancelling headphones. I used mine throughout labour and very frequently for the rest of my stay. It made the whole experience so much more pleasant and relaxing. I imagine there will be peak times when fireworks will be going off, e.g. 7-11pm. Surely it won't be going on all night? So you could take them off when it's all over.

Also, maybe get a sleep mask which you could wear in the car on the way to hospital if you have to go in at a time when Halloween is in full swing outside.

You might not hear it much OP. You won’t be in the ward alone, there will be other mothers and babies and they will all be crying at various times. Maternity wards are not quiet places. Also,if your labour goes well you’ll be allowed home pretty swiftly too so it might just be a few hours you’re there with baby. You could poss see if you could get a bed not near the window if they have beds spare

If it's really that severe an anxiety, why didn't you skip TTC for that month?!

Oh OP that sounds tough. Sometimes fireworks can be ridiculous can't they. I think when you're in labour you're very inward focused and not really noticing anything outside of the process of birth. And afterwards, well you'll have your lovely little baby to concentrate on.
Hopefully with all this heavy rain no-one will even be able to put on fireworks 🤞🏻

Helpful, thanks! 🙄

Good ideas above.

Also, in the lead up to Halloween, try and think about the month of October a bit differently.

I was just in the US visiting friends, and the season of Autumn (fall) is really appreciated over there. The colours of the leaves, cinnamon and maple flavours, the front porches decorated with corn, bright chrysanthemums (yellows, reds), beautiful wreaths etc.

While I was away, I had to order flowers for a relatives birthday. Got on the M&S page and they already had a ‘never too early to start planing for Xmas’ advert when you first click on the page!

In the UK we go straight from summer, flash of Halloween and then straight into Xmas! Completely missing Autumn!

So fill October with lovely autumn scented candles, decorate your front door. Take Halloween away from the month of October and try to make it a bit more enjoyable, so there’s no scary build up to Halloween

Thanks for the helpful comments! Going to invest in headphones and I'll be able to try them out at home in advance as the fireworks have already started in my local town! Dunno how I didn't think of that beforehand, it's such an obvious fix!

Seriously?

I had one of mine on November 5th in the evening. It was actually wonderful, as it felt to me (in my euphoria of childbirth) that the whole world was celebrating my baby coming! I hope you have the same feeling when the time comes, and that the hormones will keep you on a high. It certainly worked for me....

@Scutterbug - yep! seriously.

I had a baby during a fireworks time, and honestly I heard none in hospital, labour or postnatal.

I know likely different hospital etc but as others say, background noise of the hospital etc will help

This is a lovely way of looking at it and might help me reframe my thoughts around it. Thank you

Has Hallowe'en become the new November 5th?

Once you are in labour you won't GAF.

Very true! It's more the nights after I'm worried about, last time I was kept in for a few nights. I've gotten some really helpful tips on here so hopefully I'll be able to put those into practice 😃

I'm not really sure what Nov 5th is but I'm not in the UK. Here, bonfires and fireworks happen on the 31st October, or as has become the norm in recent years, they happen for the entire bloody month of October 🙄🙄🙄

Noise cancelling headphones. I’ve not heard of anyone letting off fireworks on Halloween but maybe that’s just the area I live in.

I had my daughter on November 3rd last year (a Friday night) I don't remember a single firework. I only remember the bloody irritating Spanish couple in the bay next to mine. I honestly think you'll have too much going on to give it much mind.