giving birth-should i really be this freaked out?

Question

I am a british girl living in Spain. I am 11 weeks pregnant and i am having nightmares and panic attacks about giving birth. It all stems from the fact that here in Spain they don't believe in pain relief so most people end up having natural births. No gas and air and only serious cases get an epidural. The thought of having to do this with no help is really really scaring me. Has anybody out there had a natural birth that can comfort me on this matter. I really don't think I can do this.

Answer 1

I have had 5 natural births and am planing my 6th. The best advice I can give is education, education, education.
You can do this! The women who can't, are the ones who are absolutely determined to have an epidural and don't prepare themselves.
The more you know about what your body does and needs to do during birth, the more able you will be to be able to handle it. You have to work with your body, not against it to manage the pain. Listen to your body. If, during labor, you feel more comfortable on your hands and knees, do it. Learn how to relax during your contractions. Start at the top of your shoulders and go all the way down to your toes, breathing deep and letting all of your muscles go loose.

There is a great website www.bradleymethod.com, that tells all about the Bradley birth method, which focuses on Natural, Husband coached birth. They offer classes in the US, but I believe you can also find instructional material to help you and your partner prepare. It is the method my husband and I have used all these years, and I don't know if I could have done it without. You will be fine. I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 2

Well it is normal because being pregnant is beginning to hit you and the seriousness of the task.

It is a natural process and your body is an amazing machine that will not do anything to hurt you and it will do everything to help you.

I would say think seriously about an epidural - they are not without their risks and can potentially damage people. If you can cope without one your are mimising the risks that all medical procedures carry.

The pain of childbirth is something that helps the mother to give birth and it is not pain like you have experienced before it is different in that way.

You could consider coming back to the UK to give birth and if that is an option then it might help calm your fears. Also if your family (and your partner's family if that is the case) are mostly resident in the UK it would give them an opportunity to fuss over you in a way that is expected for a new mom.

I have two sons and their births were totally amazing.

You will be totally 100% fine, enjoy and remember to trust your doctors and your instincts, especially your instincts.

Good luck.

Answer 3

You can do this....see if there will be a possibility of taking a warm bath or shower while having contractions, I have heard this can make you feel much, much better during the active labor part. Also have heard walking during labor helps a lot, as well as having someone to massage your lower back. For the hard labor part, see if you can take some classes with breathing exercises and/or focusing techniques to get through the worst parts of it.
A doctor I saw earlier on in my pregnancy before I had to move gave me some great information to, that I have kept in mind whenever I get scared about delivering......She said most people start demanding pain medication when the pain level peaks, because they think it is going to get worse, but in most deliveries it actually levels off after that point. So keep that in mind too maybe, that when it feels like it is at it's worst, it probably is and is probably going to smooth out from there. Sometimes I think panic and worry make us hurt so much more than we would be normally, so relaxation should be a focus in the delivery room. My mom had two natural deliveries, and she assured me that neither one was all that bad, and she agreed with what that doctor said that it did hit a point where the pain level peaked, and then levelled out from there.
I don't have to go without pain medication, but I react badly to most pain meds, and do not want an epidural at all, so will likely have to avoid pain meds. I don't know if any of this helps, but I think we can both do this! And, like another answerer on here reminded me in an earlier post, women did it naturally for thousands of years before epidurals and drugs came along!

Answer 4

You may give birth without medication, but that doesn't have to mean you give birth without pain relief! There are TONS of natural pain management techniques, including relaxation techniques, water birthing, massage, and many more. In a country where natural birth is common, you'll receive the BEST natural birth care because they will know what to offer you. Natural birth is healthiest for you and your baby and will avoid many possible complications from the interventions that are common in the U.S. where I live.

The BEST thing you can do is to LEARN. Read about birth, read about what your body was made to do and how labor works. Read natural birth stories from women who have done it successfully; that is unspeakably encouraging.

You are strong and you CAN do this! I had my first daughter naturally at home with no drugs. My recovery was INCREDIBLY quick as I had not been drugged, hadn't received an episiotomy and hadn't torn, etc. By the time I'd taken a 2 hour nap I felt completely normal again. My daughter was healthy and wasn't born under the influence of powerful drugs. And I felt stronger than I ever had! Natural birth is one of the greatest experiences women can have - don't be afraid of yours, welcome the opportunity to actually *experience* your child's birth!

Answer 5

Hi- When I first became pregnant nearly 3 years ago I wasn't even considering natural child birth. Once I began considering the option I talked with the women in my life who were older and had children. I was encouraged by those who had natural deliveries. My mother in-law had my husband with an epidural and was so miserable that with her second and third she chose not to have it. I've gone through two natural births. A single child and twins. With my first birth I and my husband attended classes for a course called "The Bradley Method" (book as well). It's basic philosophy is that child birth has been done for millennia with out pain medicine and that it is something that all women are capable of and that one's husband/partner is the best person to help coach and support you through this event. The basic premise is that if you and your partner are taught (in depth) what happens with you and the baby during labor and delivery that it will make it easier to over come the pain. They also teach you and your partner methods to help the labor and birth process along as well as methods to help with pain (such visualization, massage techniques). Very in depth prenatal course (3 months of classes weekly) a lot of outside class work and such. I highly recommend the course and sincerely want you to not feel so scared. It isn't anything you can't handle and you literally forget the pain with in a few seconds of it being over.

Answer 6

Oh sweetie! It really is ok! Get some books on the subject and work through your fear issues by reading other "positive" natural birth stories. You may also want to get a doula or a midwife. Do they have doulas in Spain? That is basically someone who can be your support person thoughout the labor and even after you give birth.

Remember, we were made to have babies! In Japan, I think only 2% of women have epidurals. We are just weenies!

I planned to have a waterbirth with my first, which is supposed to be a wonderful way to ease the pain naturally, but my water broke early, so they couldn't do that.

If your labor goes well, you can do it without any medications. Just practice lamaze and the breathing techniques, and all of that! You can do it!

http://mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=6143&cn=282

Answer 7

The contractions harm essentially the most throughout labour now not while the youngster comes out. And sure with a csection it does go away you in agony for weeks and you're constrained as what you'll do for a whilst. A traditional vaginal beginning is continuously high-quality until there's a clinical emergency. I'm a tender mum and had my first at sixteen and i'm now pregnant with my 3rd. My first labour was once thirteen hours and it was once all drug-unfastened however very individual, i could do it once more in a heartbeat. Giving beginning is an amasing revel in. When the youngster comes out its kinda like doing a poo as whilst you push its precisely the way you pish whilst you do a poo and likewise the feeling of while your babys head is correct there earlier than it crowns is like being very constipated despite the fact that in some way its exceptional as while you're constipated it's going to typically harm as constipation isn't ordinary however pushing your youngster out is and your vagina is designed to stretch to deal with your youngster after which slash again to ordinary dimension. When your babys head crowns is usually a little uncomfortable and repeatedly stings a little bit however its doesnt't final lengthy and there are matters which may make it extra at ease. My moment beginning was once as soon as once more drug-unfastened and my 3rd goes to be a homebirth. Childbirth isn't some thing that are supposed to be feared. Unfortunately many films,television suggests, media and household and peers all have poor detail on it which from an readily age scares us into pondering that beginning is a clinical emergency in which you have to panic, rush ton the medical institution and that its a terrifying revel in while correctly its intended to be a rather, high-quality and ecstatic revel in.

Answer 8

I had a horribly long labor with my 1st child and hey - I am doing it again because I know that anything can be better than the first experience. Child birth is highly scary, especially when you have no clue at what to expect other than there will be a lot of pain involved. But just imagine what you are getting in return...a beautiful baby!!! I am 24 weeks with my 2nd child and I cannot wait!! Good luck and try not to be afraid, just keep thinking about that baby you will have as a result.

Answer 9

I have not personally given birth yet. I'm due to in about 6 months and I am going natural. I know lots of women that have went without any type of medication, and they are all alive and well. Most people say that the pain is bad, but it is something that can be handled. I would still talk to your doctor about the epidural, should you choose that course. It is your right to deliver the way you want. Good luck to you!

Answer 10

First, it's natural. We all freak out about it! I used to just detract myself when that "terror pang" got me going since I figured it couldn't stay in there! Second, I never had a natural contraction. When my water broke, they had to induce me. I only ever got to 3cm. The doctor gave me an IV of Demoral and some other narcotic that made me tired at first, but I felt the contractions. They even catheterized me without an epidural, which hurt! I was in labor for 12 hours, without anything but the drugs before they had to do a C-section. My point is that it was painful, but really you do get through it even without pain meds. It's not horrible! Really, you can do this! Perhaps discussing this with your doctor could get you an epidural, too. Good luck!