Thats currently one of my biggest fears. Im not pregnant, but hopefully when we are ready my husband and I can have some children. We would both like to have 1 or 2, but Im so scared about the pain women go through during labor. Just thinking about it is enough to make me squeemish and it gives me the chills. I know that theres the epidural but that makes me feel the same way...what if I dont make it in time to the hospital to even get the epidural!?
I love the whole part of being pregnant, but just the delivery is what scares me...
ahhhhhhh!!! Is this normal?
Can anyone give me some advice?
2007-01-20 18:21:03 · 15 answers · asked by mayra 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
It's completely normal...I was the same way. Who wouldn't be when all you hear is everyones horror stories about labor!? But really, it's worth all the pain :)
I gave birth 4 weeks ago today, and let me tell you, I'm a pansy and I still made it through! There is a point where you think you can't go on...that the pain is unbearable, but really, our bodies are made to go through this pain. I would go through the pain again and again if I had to, to have this baby. Once you set eyes on your brand new baby, that you and the person you love made, you will forget about the pain.
Most first time labors take a while, so the chance of you not making it to the hospital in time is very slim. You will actually probably go to the hospital early, thinking it is time, just to be sent home (I was sent home twice!) I was in labor for 39 hours! It starts out not bad at all...contractions every few minutes, and then they slowly get closer together and stronger (they feel like bad period cramps.)
I think the worst part of it for me was the contractions. Before I was pregnant I was terrified of needles, and well, I got over that fast! I got an epidural, which does take away most, if not all of the pain, and after that it's a breeze!
Good luck! You will be fine :)
2007-01-20 22:15:07 · answer #1 · answered by Huliganjetta 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I felt the same way when I was pregnant with my own....it took me some time to get used to the idea that I was going to even going to HAVE to give birth....
I was able to get to the Hospital on time to have the epidural for my son.....sadly though...they had to keep topping it off...my labor was 26 1/2 hrs long....even though my water broke & everything was ok...he just wasn't ready to come out...
My Daughter on the other hand was born by emergency C section....& honestly....I would rather deal with the pain of giving birth then having to go through the pain of healing after a C section....the normal birth...even though it can be painful...the pain will be forgotten...or the extremity of it anyway....with in a few days for most people.....a C section takes weeks to heal...so you have a constant reminder....
It is easy to tell someone it doesn't hurt that bad...even with the epidural I felt some pain....but not enough to make me not ever want to have kids again....lol
It is just a normal reaction that women face, but the reward at the end of what you have to endure is worth all of it to me....my kids are 7 & 8 now...I would do it all over again if I could....
Hope this helps
2007-01-20 18:32:17 · answer #2 · answered by mysticfairy74 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My fear was my second pregnancy because I knew how much the first one hurt, Look you will be fine, if you really have the fear of not making it to the hospital and you can't relax and enjoy the pregnancy you should organise with your doctor for a c section. I did it 5 times with no pain relief all on my own, yet I am too scared to get a little needle. you will be surprised at your own strength after you go through labour and child birth yet it is an amazing experience. I think you should try the labour and just let you doctor know that you would like the epidural ready for if you need it. Its up to you but you will be fine which ever way you decide
2007-01-20 19:39:14 · answer #3 · answered by shellhiggs07 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 2 1/2 month old son... and here is the thing I went into labor and they gave me the epidural... Which i did not feel at all they put this liquid stuff on your back which actually numbs the skin before they insert the needle. I didnt feel it at all I swear. After that it was fine... But before i started pushing the epidural dislodged from my spine... a 1 to some high number odd... and I had to have natural birth... Yes it was hard yes I wanted to give up but honestly the second they placed my son in my arms i forgot about any pain or any suffering i went though when i was pregnant... Nothing mattered except looking at my baby boy... So it's so worth it and it's nothing to be scared about because the end result is so amazing
2007-01-20 18:27:32 · answer #4 · answered by Lauren Jane 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've had two children, and the stories you hear about the pain is very scary. Normally with your first child you should make it to the hospital in time to have the epidurall. The first child normally takes some time to be born. I did both of mine naturally. The hospital did give me some pain meds that they put in my IV, but it just took the edge of the pain off. I remember that it did hurt, but as soon as I held my baby in my arms I was so amazed by how beautiful they were, and the wonder in their eyes as they saw the new world around them. Don't worry too much the births you see on tv are just for the dramatics of it. It is truly a very beautiful expierence.
2007-01-20 18:29:27 · answer #5 · answered by melly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes its normal! I have just found out that I am 6 weeks pregnant and I'm irrationally terrified. The thing is I don't know why, you see, I attended the birth of both my godsons and was astounded and amazed at the way the human body works. When my second godson was born, his mum was in way more pain than the first time. It was horrific watching her gong through that BUT 6 Hrs after he was born we were down (myself, mother and son) the local shopping centre as if nothing had happened that morning. She was right as rain so I know rationally that I shouldn't be frightened after all I have seen it first hand but I think my brain has been possessed by a gibbering wreck... Good luck in the future :>)
2007-01-20 22:42:59 · answer #6 · answered by big leggy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's the scoop, labor doesn't have to hurt, even without meds. Pain is the brain's way of telling you that something is being injured, has been injured or is ill. Childbirth is none of these things. The feeling of childbirth is similar (more intense) to the feeling of having to use the toilet when you have diarrhea but not being sure you will make it or having to pee REALLY BAD. It does not actually hurt but we are so afraid of having an accident that it can make you cry. Childbirth is the same feeling.
The muscles in your uterus and abdomen can ache from having contractions and it feels much the same as laughing too hard or having menstrual cramps. Combine these feelings with fear and you get a false kind of pain. There is nothing to be afraid of.
Trust me, most women are sent home several times before actually being admitted to the hospital. Most women who arrive too late for an epidural are on their third or more baby. Fear is the worst thing you can do to yourself. Once you get pregnant, you will go into labor (barring tragedy) and once labor starts, it will finish, whether you fight and scream or relax and stay focused. If you are really afraid of labor, try this: the next time you have cramps and have to pee, hold it for way too long...and then hold it for another 10 minutes. The relief of pushing feels just as good as the relief of emptying that bladder. If you don't need to have an epidural for a road trip while on your period, you won't need one for labor.
I have had two kids and I swear to you that is hurts more to whack your funny bone than to have kids. I have had worse cramps during my period than labor. I didn't want and didn't need any meds.
There are a lot of meds to help with labor and if you are afraid then they will help more emotionally than physically so they are a good choice. I would try to avoid an epidural and opt for a spinal block or something like that. You will discuss all of this with your doctor but epidurals have a lot of risks: a higher risk of C-section, the possibility of a stalled labor (leading to a C-section), a reduced ability to push (resulting in a C-section), and a feeling of disconnection during a life-changing event. Labor is more wonderful than horrible and it will do no good to worry about it now or when it is happening.
2007-01-20 18:40:21 · answer #7 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Of course it's normal to be afraid of anything that is unknown to you. And labor hurts like no other pain you will ever feel (hopefully). But once it starts, your instincts kick in and you'll get through it....And have a beautiful baby to show for all the work.... If it was that bad, there would be a bunch of only children running around.......
2007-01-20 18:26:01 · answer #8 · answered by been_there_done_that 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well!! heres the deal, when I got pregnant for the 1st time (20) I had it in my mind before I had sex that if I was responsible to have sex then i'm responsible to have kids and yes I was married when I had my 1st baby. Anyway when I got pregnant I thought about labor 2 but I knew I got myself in this situation so I delt with it and didn't worry about it cause I knew in order to get rid of thing basketball of a belly I have to push it out of a pea size hole and it wasn't gonna be fun BUT its gotta happen so I delt with the pain and had a beautiful baby girl 8 yrs ago in may BUT I learned form the 1st one so I didn't have another on till 6 yrs later and now I have 2 beautiful girls and I am DONE with child birthing.
girl its not that bad some women have no pain some have fast labors and then theres some women who have lots of pain and long labors it just depends on the woman my 1st labor was induced 2 wks early and 20 min long and 1 push didn't have time to feel a thang and I had her on mothers day so what a gift god gave me for being a mother (fast painless and beautiful) the 2nd was 14 hrs and hell from when I found out I was pg I was diabetic, toxcemic and had a fibroid tumor the size of a med orange and I had her on pearl habor day in Japan what a cawinsadence so thats what Ihave to say about my labor experience hope u the best of luck on haveing babies in your future.
2007-01-20 19:53:10 · answer #9 · answered by eskimo_96367 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its very normal to be afraid.....I have two children... one I had with an epidural.. I strongly suggest the use of...just for the fact I felt so much better afterwards than I did with my second which ,I didn't make it to the hospital in time to have any medication....I won't lie and say it wasn't painful or hard..it was..but it was nothing that couldn't be endured ...I am a person with a low threshold for pain...if I can endure it..anyone can : )
just look around you..see all the children...do you see women who have had more than one child?...this is a telling sign..If it was something as horrendous as you think..than you wouldn't see families with more than one child...........
2007-01-20 18:47:39 · answer #10 · answered by LeftField360 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋