about to give birth any day and freaking out?

Question

i have a 19 month old at home so i can not rest. Not knowing when labor will start is giving me anxeity i fell like a ticking time bomb, and thinking about the pain again is killing me does any one know how i can try and relax im so stressed.

Answer 1

A couple of ideas that may or may not work depending on your situation:

First, You HAVE to start breathing. I don't mean the lamaz stuff. One of the greatest ways to help anxiety is focused breathing. When you are feeling stressed, do the following:
. STOP
. Focus on breathing. Take in a deep breath (fill your lungs), nothing shallow. Hold it for just a second and then slowly but easily just let it out through your nose. Do this 5 - 10 times and focus on doing it. I'm serious. You'll be amazed.

The reason breathing works is that part of the anxiety response in our brain is based on shallow breathing (like an animal pants when they are "in the hunt"). So, when you focus and stop and breath, you are sending your brain an active signal that you are safe and everthing is fine. You will literally feel your anxiety reduce.

With a 19 M old, you need some breaks. You don't mention your situation so I don't know if you are married, have family nearby etc. Regardless, you need to be able to get disconnected from the environment at some point either each day or every couple of days. If you are married, have your husband play with your current son/daughter for an hour a day and you go take a walk, drive to a park and sit, go to a mall and walk a bit or sit... window shop, SOMETHING. If you have family available, then ask them to keep your 19 mo son/daughter a couple of times a week and do the same, or better, go somewhere with your spouse, etc.

As for the pain, if you did all natural childbirth, consider a different route this time. My wife had 2 or our 3 kids naturally but went with an epideral on the 3rd because she wanted to avoid some of the pain. She was happy with the decision.

Also, FYI, if you are feeling this stressed at this point, you need to be aware of post-partum depression. You may be more susceptible to it given your current situation and if you struggled at all on the first child, you may struggle here. Don't want to add stress to you, seriously, but get a 'buddy' right now (a close friend, family member, spouse) that you can use to help you evaluate your situation after the birth. It is pretty easy to deal with but you may not be able to see your full situation. With a buddy, you have an outlet to talk, someone who can you evaluate how you are feeling and to point out early warning signs.

I'm adding you to my prayer list. A little prayer can aslo help you ;-)

Take Care,

TBG

Answer 2

Get a sitter and take a nice hot/warm bath!!! and do it now!!!!... Being stressed is not good for you or the baby or your 19month old. It also may prolong you going into labor. It has been proven that women who are overwhelmed and stressed hold on to the pregnancy's longer. So for goodness sakes relax. Talk to your doctor about an epidural for the pain or stadol a drug to help with the pain during labor. Neither will bother the baby. I used both with both my children and would never have a child without a epidural. If you can not get a sitter what about dad,grandparent,friend or neighbor taking the 19mo for even just an hour. Also a pedicure is VERY relaxing and the massaging of the lower legs has been known to get labor going in a more relaxing and calm way. I really hope this helps :-)

Answer 3

If you can enlist some help from relatives or friends, that would be good. Perhaps someone can take the little guy for even a few hours. That might help take off some pressure. Give you some time to listen to some comforting music, or watch a good movie, something to ease your mind with.

Dont sit there and think about the pain, that is not going to help. You are emotional and full of hormones so if you sit there and let yourself worry about stuff it is going to be twice as bad as someone without all the hormones going on. Besides, the pain of labour does not last forever and you'll be able to meet your little one finally. What I usually do through a painful expereince, it worked for my labour too, is to focus on the moment when it is all over and you are holding the little baby. If you sit and focus on the pain, it will make it so much worse. Plus, relax, this is baby #2 so things will be easier than the first one. And there is always some chemical help at the hospital for your pain.

The biggest thing is to not let yourself sit there and fuss and worry. You'll make things seem worse than they actually are if you do that. Take it as it comes and remember thins whole pregnancy/birthing business will be over sooner than you know it. In the meantime though, see if you can get someone to watch the baby for a while so you can sleep and rest for a bit.

Good luck and Congrats!

Answer 4

I'm 32 weeks with #3 i too have some stress related to all the unknowns about life after the new baby. My other children are 8.5 and 10.5 thou. It is totally normal. As for the pain i personally have no issue with that i forget real quick the pain involved it dose not last forever and 2ed labor and delivery is a lot faster As for the pain i think you have no reason to even get stressed over it it's just pain it will go away you won't hurt forever. The REAL stress comes from having two kids to raise the rest of their lives not the hours of labor pain. You can't change any of it now your already in you just have to deal with things one thing at a time if you focus on all the issues THE problem seems bigger then what it actually is. Just take one thing to deal with the rest can be dealt with when it comes to that.

Answer 5

Mine are 19 1/2 months apart! I totally know what you're going through!

I have to put in a plug for the epidural--it made things so much easier. Mine were both induced (maternal health reasons), but I will say #2 practically fell out (anatomy's not the same after #1, right!).

The only other recommendation I have is if you can, stay both nights in the hospital with #2. It will give you a chance to recharge before returning to the fray! Good luck!

Answer 6

Anxiety and stress are normal.

Go pick up your 19 month old when she is asleep. Cuddle her close in a chair. Rock and close your eyes. Breathe in and think about how much you love her. Think about the last thing she did that made you laugh.

Hopefully this will help---baths, music, the rest is window dressing. Focusing on how much you love the child you have is the best way to get through. It helped me---and i was terrified as my second labor approached.

Keep your eyes on the prize, dear.

Best wishes.

Answer 7

You've been though this before and the second is never as bad as the first. My son was 20months when i had my little girl i was so scared every ache and pain i went to the hospital like a crazy person. Best advice just be ready. Make sure your bags packed and you have someone to take the shorty when the time comes. You know that baby doesnt come out insantly so chill. all things come in Gods time not ours.

Answer 8

If you havn't already made a birhting plan, make one now before its too late. A birthing plan should be discussed with your Dr. and your partner and whoever else you would like to include in this exclusive part of the birthing process. Have your bags packed and ready to go, I even kept an overnite bag in my car the entire ninth month on my pregnancy, just in case I forgot my suitcase, this helped ease a little stress for me. If you have trusted family members or friends, and they offer to babysit for you, let them! I appreciate it when my mother offers, it gives me such releif. Even if I am home and I have someone there with me, like my boyfriend or even one of my friends that's a mother to help, I feel better knowing that I can leave the room and know that there is someone there to watch my little girl. I hope this helps. ; )

Answer 9

Does your 19 month old have relatives that can take him or her for several hours a day till you have the baby? You must calm down.A stressful pregnancy will lead to complications in labor and birth.Babies has died in the womb and birth canal from the mother having stress.The babys health depends on your health.As far as the pain goes,yeah it hurts and at times is unbearable but its just a temporary pain.Its not like if you will be in that horrible pain for weeks.

Answer 10

Don't think about the labour itself-think about after the birth and seeing your angel for the first time--all the good stuff. We can't help what we are getting ready to go through and what pain we may feel or may not-just don't concentrate on it--think positive!