Anxious about impending birth...

[*The_Mrs.*]

This is my second and she is due in about 2 months which is not that far away. With my first I was actually excited for birth and meeting my little Sophie. The labor went really well and smooth. Lasted about 11 hours and I pushed for maybe 5 minutes.

For some reason Im really anxious about this birth. For one: I am not a fan of hospitals and needles and medicine (fear of side effects). But I find it funny because I had all of that stuff with my first and I was just fine. Here are my fears and Im sure they are irrational but it's good to have them written down:

1.) I fear that because I dilated from a 1 to a 10 in an hour with the first, that I will dilate too quickly with this one and not get my epidural

2.) Also baby is due in the coldest month of the year where snow and ice are everywhere. I fear that because hospital is 40 minutes away I wont make it in time and give birth in a car in the snow

3.) I have anxiety and have been good about keeping it at bay lately..I fear I will have a panic attack while giving birth...

4.) I fear that because I had such an easy labor the first time that this time it will be horrible and long..or I might have a c-section!
Someone help me relieve these fears and tell me I will be fine!

[Tegam]

You will be fine. Your instincts will take over and you will just birth your baby calmly and confidently. The problem is we over think it, not saying your feelings are wrong. It's just what we do.

[MissM]

I can relate to all the above! Will be back to write more after dropping dd from school

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

FIrstly hun a MASSIVE i think it's quite normal to get anxious about impending birth whether it's your frist, second or tenth.

1.) I fear that because I dilated from a 1 to a 10 in an hour with the first, that I will dilate too quickly with this one and not get my epidural - it might be a good idea to speak with your OB and ask a few questions about how long before you can have the epi, can you start mentally preparing yourself that you may not need/want it?

2.) Also baby is due in the coldest month of the year where snow and ice are everywhere. I fear that because hospital is 40 minutes away I wont make it in time and give birth in a car in the snow - my OB told me with my second that the minute my contractions were regular to go to the hospital, don't wait for 5min apart just as soon as i was no longer comfortable to just head in, don't listen to the midwives just go with ym gut.

3.) I have anxiety and have been good about keeping it at bay lately..I fear I will have a panic attack while giving birth. - anxiety sucks, i thought i would have been a mess with stress while i was PG but i wasn't, speak with your support person and your ob and explain any fears, do you know any calming techniques, practice them.
I found the more i worried that i WOULD stress the more stressed i became, think positive happy thoughts.

4.) I fear that because I had such an easy labor the first time that this time it will be horrible and long..or I might have a c-section! - i had this exact same feeling, i felt that as DD1 and i were extremely lucky that everything in the world would go wrong with DD2, that because DD1 came 'easily' when she really shouldn't have that DD2 would get stuck. She didn't, i trusted my body, i did what i knew i needed to do and she arrived safely in hospital 'unlike her sister' and without getting stuck.

I don't know if i've helped but let me tell you all these feelings are 100% NORMAL.

[JBM]

every birth is different ............

this is number 4 and NONE of mine have been the same ??

it'll all be fine.... try to relax and just go with it.

my first was horrible. turning during birth...... thanks DS 1

the 2nd was a breeze and 3rd a little harder

i hate needles but never had to have any during it and once you go into labour all else goes out the door anyways.

best of luck to you.

x o