I am really hoping for a natural labour, not because of a desire to have a totally natural birth so much that i am TERRIFIED of being induced!

I am such a chicken seriously! I am scared of how the pain relief drugs will make me feel, how the entonox will affect me (tried it at my SIL's labour, which was induced). In an induction scenario i am scared of being tied up to all the monitors and machines, and all the interventions (not the possible ones but the ones you HAVE to have, like the prostaglandin gels and syntocin).

The midwives all laugh at me because i have booked for a homebirth, and am totally unconcerned about tearing, stiches etc., but bring out the monitor for blood pressure (rather than the manual guage they use with a stethascope) and i practically panic!

I will of course be doing what is best for me and the baby at the time, but seriously - i admire those women who are brave enough to put their bodies in the hands of even the NICEsT OB, i am too chicken for that!

Hana