Terrified of giving birth?

Question

I know I am asking a lot a pregnancy questions lately, but this is my first baby and I find my reassurance in answers from people who have been through this before. Ok, question....

I am 6 months pregnant and am absolutely terrified of giving birth. Is it normal to be this frightened when I have 3 months left to go?
My fiance is always reassuring me that it's going to be ok, but it still doesn't stop me thinking about it.
Did anyone else feel like this?

Answer 1

I just had a baby 6 mos ago! =)

You WILL be in pain - that is just labor. However - you WILL not remember it and you WILL think it was all worth it once it is over. Try to be relaxed, breath through it and take it one contraction at a time. Think to yourself - "I am almost done with this contraction - it is one step closer to meeting my baby." Before you know it the contraction is over. And before you know it your baby is here! And then time *really* goes by quickly! Good luck and CONGRATS! This is gonna really change your life. I've never loved my mother more.

Answer 2

Absolutely. This was about the time it happened to me during my first pregnancy. I think it's because that was also the time that I really started to show and felt pregnant, so reality had sunk in that this baby was growing and would have to come out at some point. I felt much better after I went through my birthing classes. However, my daughter ended up being breech so I had to have a cesarean. I'm pregnant again and so my OB told me I have the choice this time. I'm planning on another cesarean. I know what to expect with the recovery, which wasn't bad the first time, and I figure why go through the pain of labor if I don't have to. I believe keeping yourself healthy through your pregnancy is much more important than how you deliver the baby. Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Answer 3

I am 7 mths and terrified too but trying not to focus on it too much right now. Next month we have got our first parentcraft class and viewing of the birth facilities at the local hospital. I am sure once we have done this my mind may be a little reassured. Unfortunately you and I are in the same position - fear of the unknown! I will be a wreck when I go into labour but I am hoping some instinct will kick in so I can just get on with it. I am sure a lot of mothers who read this will think what an idiot I am!! We have to accpet that there is no get out clause now and accept the inevitible LOL

Answer 4

of course your terrified!!! its a crazy experiance on top of all the hormones making your emotions peak during this time! I have two children and am 2 months pregnant with my third child and im still thinking omg! what did i get myself into again! the first one was 12 hours of labor and the second was just 2 so you just never know whats gonna happen and where. All you can do is try to be as prepared as possible like having a cell phone charged with you at all times and have that bag with stuff for the stay at the hospital ready too. knowing that everything is prepared will help calm your nerves a bit but its still nerve recking knowing that soon will be the time. giving birth is painful yes, but it is bearable and i did it with out medication although epidurals are pretty common now so you don't even have to worry about pain all that much. just relax and enjoy the little bit of time you have left to get things done that will be much harder to do when your life revolves around the little one.. Like sleeping!! :-) remember giving birth is one day, after that is when you really begin the nerve recking journey...but its all SO WORTH IT!! good luck and god bless.

Answer 5

I was absolutely terrified as well, but the #1 suggestion I have is to get an epidural. The pains are a bit of a killer, but I found taking really deep breaths helped me get through them.(the nurse kept telling me to do that, at first i didn't believe it would work but it did!!) Then if you get the epidural you will be sailing, then you can concentrate on having your baby and not having to deal with the pain. My daughter didn't drop or anything so I had a c-section, so i'm not sure what the pushing is like but trust me when I say "get the epidural" it makes it alot less painful. If I could have I would have got one in the car on the way to the hospital. lol Good luck, and remember once you holdyour cute little baby, you will forget any pain you had to go through.

Answer 6

...I have a three month old - I had a second degree tear and didn't even feel it happen. I had no pain relief at all during the pushing part, gas and air for about half an hour before, but I was lucky enough to have a water birth. I had to get out at the last min, as my water broke right at the end and it had meconium in it. I was afraid of labour, I know every woman is different, but it really wasn't as painful as I'd built it up to be. Our bodies are made to do this - just listen to yourself, if you want to shout, shout. If you want to get on all fours, do It...whatever you need, but you CAN do it! I'm a massive wimp, if I can, anyone can. I'd do it again tomorrow if I had to. I was all healed after a few weeks too. No after pain, only virtually no pelvic floor strength for about a week which terrified me! But completely back to normal now. The hormones will kick in and you'll do whatever you need to. Good luck.

Answer 7

I think most women go through some kind of fear of giving birth. I was terrified! I knew I would probably have to have a c-section so I was even more scared. I went into pre-mature labor and had to have a spinal. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was a prick from the numbing medicine and that's all I felt. I didn't even feel the spinal needle go in. Think about what is to come afterwards, if I can do it anyone can. ( I have panic attacks as well)

Answer 8

I felt that way for a long time before having my son. Once the labor starts, though, you kind of forget about that. You know that pretty soon you will be able to hold the baby you've been waiting to meet for so long. The doctors and nurses are there to help you, and there is always pain meds. It doesn't make you less of a woman if you need them. Don't worry!! Everyone gets through it. Best of luck :)

Answer 9

Yes, I was scared of giving birth from the moment I found out. I was actually scared that I wouldn't know I was in labor, dumb I know, but I was. I just read everything I possible could about labor and the birthing process and that really helped, and in the end I decided to do it naturally and I got through it fine. One thing I can tell you, is it does hurt, but honestly the first time you hear your child's cry and hold em, that pain honestly goes away.

Answer 10

I am 5 1/2 months pregnant with my first one and am also terrified I learned to calm myself by just realizing it is not in my control. What everyone has told me to ease the pain and lenght og birth is to:

Walk everyday
Drink water so that you don't go into premature and much more painful labor
and try to have sex every day.


I still am very scared but this is really out of my hands and I am very hopeful that once my beautiful baby comes they will have great drugs to help me with it afterwards.