Scared & nervous about Labour

[MRS M COOKIE]

Hi There,

We are so excited about the birth of our little girl in Mid June but I'm just feeling a little scared & nervous about labour. I've read a whole lot of information on the net and in a couple of books about the different drugs and I think I might go with the TENS machine.

My mum isn't really around and I feel as if I dont have any good advice and support (besides hubby) from someone who has given birth. I feel a little silly for posting this tread but I figure where else to ask for some guidance then here at Belly Belly.

If you would like to post some words of encouragement here and even some things that you had with you at the hospital that you couldn't have done without that would be great.

Thanks

[all girls]

Oh sweet it is very normal to be scared of the unknown so don't feel silly.

A few of the girls in my belly buddy group including myself have read and still are reading books on hypnobirthing, it is fantastic at getting you past your fears or birth and understanding a bit more about them, the book usually comes with a CD that shows you relaxation methods to help cope with it all. You can also see a hypnobirthing practitioner who will help you deal with your fears also.

It isn't everyone's cup of tea but it's worth a shot..

HTH xoxoxox

[Tiff+2]

My auntie is in the same position as you. She is VERY nervious about her pending labour/ birth.

Birth is the most BEAUTIFUL thing life can throw at you! I had a great birth experience and the reward was mind blowing!!! I have always wanted a little one and always knew I'd love my bub more than anyone I'd loved before, but I could not belive just how much I love her and how excited and proud I was the MOMENT she was born!

A guarentee you will suprise yourself of just how strong you are. You will do GREAT! I found that telling myself various things made me feel better... Such as... It is one day out of my life for a life time joy! As each contraction past I told myslf 'thats another one down, one less to go.' When it came to pushing I had to tell myself I was strong, I could do it and I was only inutes away from meeting our little creation... It REALLY helped me. May sound silly, but it may help you too!

Good luck with it all! Always remember what you've to look forward to at the end of the day!
Take care

[BellyBelly]

I'd definitely look at getting a doula - a resource, support, emotional rock, and extra pair of hands all in one...

[Cricket]

Have a little read through some of the posts in the third trimester section, and the labour and birth section - you'll find some great ideas!
My mother had only c-sections, so there was no real advice or experience about labour and birth there for me. (She would have loved to, but it was not to be.) Fear of labour is completely normal and probably universal for first time mums! You haven't done it before, you don't know what it's like, just that it apparently hurts. And some women tear. I had visions of myself splitting wide open, never to be the same again!
I'm not going to tell you it doesn't hurt. It does. It can get to be overwhelming, between the contractions and the hormones and the fatigue. But that is where mental preparation and good support come in, and help you through the rough spots to the incomparable high of holding your baby. And it doesn't last forever. You'll make it through, with a wonderful prize on the other side.
My personal recommendation would be to second what Kelly said and get a doula.
Also, try water in labour, whether in a birthing pool, bathtub, or shower. It relaxes you, provides pain relief without drugs, helps your perineum stretch, and helps prevent tearing.
Labour is a mind game in a lot of ways. Read what you can about what your body will be doing, and remember you were made to do this, and you can do it! Have someone who will tell you when you get to transition, and are likely to be wanting drugs, that you are almost there, your baby is just about in your arms, you are almost done!!! Don't give in to the fear of the pain. This is a working pain - it's doing good things for you.
Read, or get your DH to read the article here on BB about labour support, with tips on how to actually be supportive. (Actually, spend a bit of time reading though all the articles on labour and birth - they're great! )
All the best!

[Twin Sister]

I was really scared too, especially in the week before I was due. The one piece of advice that got me through it was "yeah it hurts at the time but when you think abou it, it's such a short part of your life, it will pass by quicker then you realize. All that pain is worht it when you hold that new baby in your arms". I don't know why but realizing it was really only one day out of my life made it seem so much more do-able. My labour ended up being three days but it still passed by pretty quick.