Are we ready for labor???

[*The_Mrs.*]

So as we third trimester general discussioners get closer and closer to labor I wonder how we all feel.
In the beginning of this pregnancy I was nothing but excited and far from scared. Yet now that it is 2 and half months away I find myself concentrating on some questions.

- Even though I have decided to have an epidural and maybe some pain relief medication towards the end (anxiety reasons) I am still scared. Mainly I am scared of not knowing. this is my first baby and I have yet experienced chidbirth.

- Will it hurt so bad after the baby is born (1st couple days) that I wont get to fully concentrate on my little one?

- I hate hearing about this , "Fight or Flight," thing. It scares me. what if I flight?

It is almost like I want to just get it over with and I have two and a half months to go. I feel bad that I feel these things but I can't seem to push them out of my mind.

Where is everyone else at on this?
How do you fellow 3rd Trimesters feel Now?

[missya]

Hiya Jessica,

I'm in my 2nd tri with baby number 3 and the only advice I can offer is try not to get too wound up about the impending birth. I gave birth both times with no pain relief at all and believe me if I can do it anyone can, but if you do require some just go in with an open mind and try to go with the flow and accept what needs to be done, don't go in with too many pre-conceived ideas about how things are going to happen.
Focus on the end result..there are times when the fight or flight thing kicks in briefly but I found you can't do either. You certainly can't run away from it but you can't fight it either, I found when I got to that point and felt overwhelmed I realised that being tense and afraid was making everything worse so I completely let go and relaxed and instantly everything felt better and started moving so much quicker.
So just remember to use your mind as much as your body because it really does help.
This worked for me both times but you have to get to a certain point in labour.. you'll know it when you you get there prior to that it's natural to fight it.
All the best and takecare,
Cheers Missy

[Serenitylee]

So far I am really relaxed and excited. I want a natural birth and the only pain relief I want is gas If need be. I know I will be in pain and it is going to hurt but I know that us women are made for this so I know I will cope through it all and come out ok. I sometimes think "I wonder how bad the pain will be" but I still am not stressed or worried. I just think I have experienced people that will be with me and I have my family that will be there for support so I know I will be ok. The only thing I am actually stressing about is going past my due date! That is what is killing me the most and the fact I am just sooo excited I want to meet my little baby now!

I think I am so relaxed as well because I have had such an easy pregnancy and feel fantastic that I haven't felt 'down' about anything or the need to get upset or worried etc.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

dont worry you will most likely be sore afterwards but nothing will stop you from concentrating on your new baby!

try not to focus on the pain side of things, one way or the other your baby HAS to come out and you will get through it. and if you have the epidural it shouldnt hurt at all anyway.

i was a lot like you for first birth and your right its more about 'not knowing', so all i can suggest is be open minded, go with the flow and try to relax!

all the best! :-)

[Miss E]

I know what you mean, but I'm trying not to let myself worry or be scared. Instead I'm doing all that I can to educate myself about birth and the different options that are available (BTW I can't recommend the Active Labor book highly enough) so that I'm as informed as I can be. I suppose for me, the more informed I am, the more in control I feel, and the less I worry about it, iykwim?

We've just started our hospital classes and the midwife who is doing them has one saying that she thinks is key to a good labor ? open mind = open cervix.

So I'm trying to latch on to that mantra and just let what happens, happen. Yes I have an idea of how I want my labor to go, but I'm leaving myself open to changing my mind along the way... open mind, open cervix.

Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy!

[Just Me]

Labour can be a scary thing, especially if you don't know what to expect. I think that the advice of other people in here of educate yourself as much as possible is probably going to help you the most. If you know what to expect you can start to understand that what you are going through is natural and that you are okay and will be okay. Make sure that your support person for labour and birth (your DP or whoever you are having there) is also educated because it will make it easier on you if they know what is going on and are able to stay calm.

Also, you may find that you are surprised with your bodies own ability to cope with things you didn't think it could.

Try not to dwell on the pain (don't be in denial though - it does hurt and you need to be prepared for it so that you can manage it when the time comes) but think about the baby and that every contraction will bring you one step closer to being able to cuddle your new little person.

Practice some of your pain management techniques. They only let you have an epidural and other pain relief after labour has progressed to a certain point. Before that, you will most like be at home so you will have to have other pain relief management . . . like a lovely warm bath or shower, hot water bottle, going for a walk (not only helps labour but decreases some discomfort - in my experience anyway) and breathing is really really important. If you breath correctly it can have a huge impact in relieving pain. (They got us to practice this while holding an ice cube in a fist for 1 min at antenatal class - without the breathing technique and with the breathing technique - it is a good way to practice breathing through pain).

Don't know if any of that helped very much. I understand how you feel . . . it is an incredibly daunting experience. I am overwhelmed by it even now and I am having my third baby. I also try and put it in perspective too - it is just one day of my life and then it will all be over. At the end I get a great reward and it is sooooo worth it.

Good luck with everything