Due in 5 days and been watching too many birthing programes on TV

[TheCalvert]

I had a CS last time and want to have a VBAC this time and boy does it look painful!

All moral support helpful...

How exciting

Yes, it does hurt. A lot

But for me was a gradual build-up, so kind of got used to it as it went along

My advice would be to take it hour by hour, or shorter if necessary

Focus on getting through the moment. And remember it's not painful ALL THE TIME - there are breaks of normality inbetween

The end is a bit hard-going (transition) but once I got through that bit I was actually relieved to start pushing

Am expecting 3rd in Summer so am also pondering birthing matters alot atm!

HAve you done a search for VBAC threads? They might be useful reading

Cheers - will do. Congrats on your expecte4d bundle, hope everything goes OK for you.

I am on mat leave at the mo and watching midwife programs as well as One Born every Tuesday evening and there seems to be muchos painful wailing.

I have warned DH and he has promised to bring me a pillow to yell into so I don't disturb the other patients

notnowbernard has it spot on.

yes it hurts, alot towards the end, but you get breaks from the pain to regroup and it is very manageable as long as you stay calm and remember that each pain is one less you have to go through before baby arrives (cliche i know but it is true)

transition is a bit rough as you don't get much in the way of breaks at that stage but it's short and it's a sign you're about to be able to actively do something which helps get you through it.

pushing is utter insanity, like nothing else you'll ever experiance but if you just:
stay calm,
zone out,
rest during the gaps between contractions (they're not long but even 5-10 seconds can give you a much needed energy boost,
let your body dictate when to push(not the mw),
don't waste energy shouting - concentrate that energy downwards,
stop if the mw tells you to pant - it's code for you're tearing and she's trying to stop it
and when it feels like if you push your insides will fall out and you'll be split in half then give an extra hard push as that's the baby crowning and the quicker you bite the bullet and do it the sooner it'll all be over.

Maximum amounts of G&A a MUST, btw Seriously, though, the added benefit of it is that for it to be effective, you have to breathe properly. And just getting your breathing under control helps a lot. Rather than 'holding it all in' by holding your breath, IYSWIM

Some people make a racket, others don't... all normal, I'd say. You do what you need to do IMO

But I would say when it comes to the pushing bit, try and keep your mouth closed so the energy goes into the push itself, rather than being 'lost' in a shout/scream

I hope I can listen to my own advice in 4m time)

Also agree with Tulip's last point re the crowning!

Excellent - cheers laidies.

Excited but very nervous at the same time, but would definately prefer a V delivery rather than another CS. Very painful last time.

On another note - I woke up at 4am the other morningn convinced my waters had broken as I had a dream about it. Was in such a state that I woke poor DH, who thought it was hilarious...

I'm not sure about energy being 'lost' in the scream. I screamed A LOT! And I remember my mum saying that to me and I just wanted to punch her. Screaming helped me. So do what you need to do, what your body tells you to do. The screaming was sort of, part of the push IYSWIM.

DS came out in 2 very quick pushes.