Terrified this time round...

[Zee]

Ok so you think with 3 pretty good labours under my belt I would be confident and not scared of giving birth.
DD1- induced with gel, a bit under 4hr labour. Gas. (a lot of gas lol). Ex DH for support.
DS1- acupuncture that morning, a bit under 3hr labour. Drug free. Ex DH for support.
DD2- waters broken, induced with drip, 2hr 14min labour (well prob much less, they didn't tell me when I was in labour etc that's just the time I took myself to the labour room and got in the bath... No midwife came to see me till about an hr after that). A few sucks of gas. Mother and friend for support.
So in all not that bad... Why am I freaking out this time round? Whenever I think of it I start to tear up. I start to think another baby isn't worth it etc I will have DP in with me for support. I literally lose sleep over it, I wake up in the night and start to panic about it... anyone else felt like this?

[OceanPrincess]

Sounds like you are really stressed out about this little one's arrival!

I think a lot of mums experience anxiety before their labour begins - it is only natural I think!

I had a pretty good experience with my DD - spontaneous labour, laboured at home for a good 12hrs, membranes ruptured in hosp, used gas and hot water for pain relief, episiotomy, DD born with assistance from ventouse.

I thought I was pretty relaxed about #2 but when my EDD past, I started getting anxious. I worried about him being ok, about the pain of labour, about things not going to plan, all sort of things.

In the end, he arrived when he was ready, in his own way. And it was all fine.

[kristi14]

Im sorry you are feeling as anxious as you are about your impending arrival's birth. I beleive every woman has the right to embrace their labour and for it it be empowering, yes i know things dont always go to plan, but i beleive every woman has this right starting out.

Somehow you need to get your confidence back. I was quite anxious going in to have #2 because i had torn badly with #1 but i had an awesome mw who listened to my concerns and helped me immensely guiding me through that birth and ive never looked back.

Might i suggest you read some books, like Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and/or similar and make yourself some little affirmations to say each day like "I can do this, i embrace this upcoming birth with open arms" (this is just a quick one off the top of my head, you can make one up to suit you).

Somehow you need to release this anxiety you have, even try mentioning how you feel at your next mw visit.

I hope things settle for you xxx

[OceanPrincess]

Somehow you need to release this anxiety you have, even try mentioning how you feel at your next mw visit.

That's a good idea. Talk to the MWs... that will (should!) help.

[Zee]

Thanks for the reply... I was obviously anxious about dd1's birth it been my 1st and all but the other 2 I felt pretty relaxed... So don't know why I am being like this. Maybe cause the gap between this bub and dd2 is only 13months so I haven't "forgot" what I'm in for with labour, the memory is still pretty fresh iykwim.
Or maybe it's because I have had fairly good births I expect this one to go wrong.

Kristi- thanks I will look around for the book.

[Lisa]

I was EXACTLY like this with DD3. I put it down to the same thing - DD2 was born only 17 months earlier and the labour was very fresh in my mind. When the day came, I was so calm and in control, it turned out to be the best labour & birth of them all. Huge hugs. I hope you are able to relax a bit and enjoy the remainder of your pregnancy and somewhat look forward to the impending birthing day

[nel1574]

Zee, how did your birth go? I'm having very high levels of anxiety also.