SOOO Scared!!! Words of advice?

Question

I am going in to labor very soon and I am petrified. ANY words of wisdom will help.

Answer 1

Just relax, whatever happens you will be able to get through it. Do you have a birth plan? Meaning do you know who you want to have with you, and what methods of pain management you want to use? There is nothing wrong with being nervous, but just remember that your body is designed to go through labor and delivery. I promise you that once your baby is placed in your arms, you will not even be able to remember the pain you went through in labor.
A couple of things that might be able to help with pain management: you have the option of having an epidural, if you do you will not feel as much pain, mostly pressure, but until the baby comes you wont be entirely without pain. Its also a good idea to try and change postions when you are in labor, if you can get up and walk around as much as possible, this will help your labor progress in case it stalls out and can also relieve some of the pain, esp. on your back, also lay on your sides or try and sit up. You can also take a warm shower or bath when you go into labor, this can help to relax your muscles and to stay calm. Also its very important to remember to breathe slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth, try to relax as much as possible and dont tense up if you can help it, this will help you to over come the pain and not get exhausted.
Last but not least, remember your body is designed to get you through this, have faith in yourself and have those who you love and trust to be there with you. You can also relax by listening to calming music and if you can sleep alittle so you will have enough energy later on you get through the last part of your labor, when you start to push. Good luck to you, you'll do awesome!!!!!!:)

Answer 2

I had no drugs whatsoever during childbirth, my baby was born at home. Most of the other posts will tell you to get an epidural. I disagree, but that's just my opinion. Make you own choices and don't let anyone bully you into anything. Read all the facts and figures and decide for yourself, but be aware of the risks of everything you do!

In my experience, the contractions hurt but not in a terrible I'm dying kind of way. They took my breath away and I felt like I was being squeezed in a giant juicer! I wouldn't have catergorised it as pain though, squashing, pushing, pulling, pressure, but not pain exactly. Very uncomfortable though. I was very relaxed and moving about at home, that helped a lot, I spent most of my labour upright, that made it a lot faster.
The only moment of true pain was when my baby crowned, it's the only time I yelled, but it couldn't have lasted more than a minute. I was so relaxed I needed no stitches, had a fast easy birth, my daughter was 7.4lbs and perfect. I did it all without even a headache pill, and was up using the bathroom a half hour later, and walking my dog the next morning. This is with my first baby, everything happened 100% as nature intended and when you do it that way, the pain and recovery period is minimalised.

That is only my experience. Be positive and I'm sure yours will be as good.

Congratulations and good luck!!

Answer 3

Words of wisdom: Relax, Relax, Relax. That is the best advice. When it is time(hopefully) you will have all the people around you that know what they're doing and will guide you along. Seeing you baby for the first time is the greatest feeling in the world and makes everything worthwhile. Good luck and try and enjoy the ride.

Answer 4

Nothing to be worried about - all will be fine. Make sure you have some good music to listen to while in the delivery room(this always helps me to relax), and know that it will be over soon when you will then have that lovely baby in your arms. Labor really is not as bad as some make it out to be. Yes, there will be some pain, but nothing unbearable - you're gonna do great!

Answer 5

Take control of your labor now. Learn all you can about what's going to happen. Exercise the relevant muscles daily. Practice relaxation - that's very helpful for your mind and body so you don't fight the work your contractions are doing. Have someone there to help you through who also knows what is happening (the father or someone close to you).

See www.bradleybirth.com

Answer 6

One word. Epidural. LOL.

Avoid watching birth on television.
Take someone with you to the hospital who will be your advocate and make sure you have what you need to be as comfortable as possible. Labor nurses may be trained to do what they do, but they aren't always brimming with compassion.
Take a hot water bottle with you; you'll be cramping a lot during and after labor. It really helps.
Speak up for yourself. If you feel like something needs to be done don't be afraid to stand up for yourself. This goes for getting pain relief, having someone check on the status of your baby, changing position, and anything else that feels very important at that time.
Above all, remember that the labor (as long as it may seem) will be short compared to the lifetime of joy you'll have with your baby. I've done this 3 times (once totally without pain relief) and-- well, I didn't stop with #1. :) Try to focus on how excited you are that you'll be meeting your little one soon. My prayers are with you! Best wishes!

Answer 7

Once the baby is out.. it is over. I would be more terrified of being sent home with a baby to care for then being in a hospital with people to care for you! My words of wisdom are...it is only as bad as about half of what you think. And... on the bright side.. it gets over rather quickly and forgotten even quicker. Good luck and congrats!!

Answer 8

Well a friend of mine is soon to be having a baby as well, and man is she antys. All I can really say is that when it's all over, you will be glad you went thoru it. Granted I wasn't so lucky, I was pregnant at the age of 15, but I just couldn't go throu with it. I could put my baby up for adotption at all. I went throu it, and I know what it's all about. I aborted my baby girl. I know what i did was wrong in so many ways, but I was young and very scared. Just keep your head up and say, "I can get throu this, I have to for my baby."

Answer 9

it's ok, once you start, your instincts will help you - the contractions start off short, mild, and far apart, allowing you to work your way into it, then there's the epidural (I'm sure every woman who's had one said what I did - whoever invented this is going straight to heaven! lol), and it goes so fast, my first was 24 hrs, my second was 11 hrs, but it seemed to go by so fast, and before you know it, you're pushing out a baby! then the pain is pretty much done, and you are overwhelmed with exhileration and power!
It's easier said than done, but try not to be afraid, (I was terrified at first too), try listening to your favorite happy music, and bring it to the hospital with you, it's a lifesaver!
Good luck!

Answer 10

It is perfectly natural to be scared and I think you should allow yourself to feel that.

On that note though, be positive, have a flexible birth plan that you can focus on to work through the pre labor jitters. I found having my family with me really beneficial, they kept me calm and laughing and there was always someone then willing to walk the hallways with me. When it came time to push actually my dad rubbed my forehead and my mom rubbed my shoulders and my husband helped me push, it worked out really well having supportive people there with me.