Scared of delivery??

Question

I watched some of the delivery shows on tv today and almost had a panic attack. I haven't started my lamaze classes yet, but will those breathing techniques really help? At first I was a little nervous about labor and delivery, but now I'm just plain terrified!! How do I calm down? I've made it this far. In the very very back of my mind, I know I can do it. But I can't help but be scared.

Answer 1

Our bodies are amazing, we are designed for this, keep calm. When we work ourselves up is when we experience the most pain. The less tense you are and the more relaxed the less the pain will affect you.

Will the breathing help? I'm not going to lie, it helps, but it doesn't make the pain go away. It's not so much the breathing itself as it keeps you from freaking yourself out. It keeps you on track and focused off of the pain, so in that sense yes it works, don't be fooled into thinking it's some kind of miracle cure for the pain of birth. Our minds can overcome the pain but it really is about where you are in your head.

My personal experience is that the pain gets so intense that your instincts get you through it and you have no time to remember formal breathing patterns, maybe so in the beginning but that's not the hard part. At some point you will feel completely out of control but remember it will be over quickly. It was like an outer body experience. Seriously!

I had no pain the first time around after worrying myself sick over it. I had an epidural and it worked beautifully. I was counting on the same the second time around and when it didn't work and it through me into faster, harder labor, I panicked BIG TIME.

I waited way to long to get it and was handling the pain very well, when it got really intense it was to late the epidural didn't work. The intense pain is bad, bad, bad. The pain before hand is more like a period cramp that gets worse and worse to the point that it's more than you have ever felt before. Close to a kidney stone if that helps, but its still that same type of pain as a menstrual cramp all the way through.

Good news is that it only last for a short period and then you have periods of no pain and complete calmness in between the contractions. If your not in panic mode you can use these times, just keep it in your mind you just have to get through that one contraction and you will have total relief for at least a few moments. One step at a time and it will all be over.

The pushing part is the easiest, you will want to, it will give you relief. Although you can get really tired if you have to push for long, I didn't push for very long at all. I found that I kept feeling as though if only I move this way or that way it would let up some of the pain, it won't.

These are some of the things I wish someone would have told me before hand.

Something else that I found amazing was that afterward there is no pain, it was strange to me that you could go from complete trauma to no pain at all.

If I have another baby I will have the baby natural. It's really the fear of the unknown. Now that I know, it's not that big of a deal. Lamaze seems to make women cocky, thinking they can handle it with simple breathing and then reality sets in and they panic. It's about understanding what to expect and to not think breathing is going to take away the pain.

Answer 2

~HUGS~ You will be ok.

I won't lie. Labor is a very painful thing, but the rewards are wonderful. I had 4 children, and I had all 4 with absolutely nothing for pain. That was my choice. There is no shame in requesting meds to help and I have to think more do then don't. Point being even with all the pain, I still did it 3 more times........

The Lamaze doesn't take alot of the pain away but it does teach you alot about whats going on around you which will be very benifical and it also help you to better relax and the more you can relax the less it will hurt. The more you tense up the more you feel those contractions so I fully recommend taking the Lamaze. It has its place.

Try to keep focused and relax the best you can. Talk to yourself if you need to. Just keep saying I can do this I can do this. The repeating oif the phrase will also help you relax naturally by releasing the chemicals in your body for it. You have to keep saying the phrase and try to shut everything else out. When you hear things or are in pain try to just let it go and keep repeating.

Labor does not last forever although sometimes it may seem like it. Tell yourself it will end soon. Now days they have alot nicer settings for labor and people to assist you through it. It might help to remind yourself your having a baby. Your bringing another human being into the world. Do or say to yourself whatever helps you through it.

Don't get your self all psyc'd out before you even go into labor. Its been going on for centuries and we seem to keep doing it. You will be fine. Its work, and its pain but you can do it as we all can. Good Luck. ANd try to hang on some of those happy thoughts!!!!!

Its natural and normal to be afraid. We all are the first one!!!! I know 2 woman who barely even had a pain!!! Lucky them although I'm sure its not so common.....

Answer 3

I am 26 weeks pregnant with my first, and I'm feeling the same way...I researched alot of different things I could try. I went to hypnobirthing.com, because alot of people were telling me it worked for them. I couldn't afford to take the 3 hundred and something dollar class. So I bought the book off of Amazon.com for a few bucks, it came with a cd, and the more I read, and the more I listen to the cd, the more I'm becoming a little braver each day. I believe I can face this delivery head on with no problems. I plan to do this naturally, and this method is making me believe that I or anyone can do it. Please check out the website. Even if you don't use the method, the cd is great for relaxation, and since you sound like you have the jitters, it will certainly calm you and put your mind at ease.

When you have your baby with HypnoBirthing®, you will not be in a trance or a sleep. What you will experience is similar to the daydreaming or focusing that occurs when you are engrossed in a book or a movie or staring into a fire.

You will be conversant and in good spirits--totally relaxed, but fully in control. Awake throughout, you will be aware of your body's surges; but because you will have trained yourself to reach complete relaxation, you will be able to determine the degree to which you will feel the surges. You will experience birthing in an atmosphere of calm relaxation, free of the fear and tension that prevents the muscles of your body from functioning as nature intended them to. In this calm state your body's natural relaxant, endorphins, replaces the stress hormones that constrict and cause pain.

Answer 4

Being scared is soo completely normal. It truly is. I just had my 6th child in May and I was still nervous. Its natural. Each birth is different and you really do not know what it will be like and you are worried baby won't be okay and you are worried you can't handle the pain. Trust me, you will make it through. Its like running a race you have to finish.. you don't know if you are capable but if you push deep inside you will be shocked at what your body was created to do. And God will get you through it. It is scary, exciting and everything you are feeling is really and truly normal. I never did Lamaze... but some woman say it helped. I had 3 with no meds and under 2 hours , it hurt like hell but when you hold that baby you totally forget it and it is well worth it. Some people have pain and are sick and they arent pregnant and not getting a baby out of the deal... so keep that in mind. I had 2 of my kids with epidurals and really felt nothing. From 1 to 4 centimeters its painful but really nothing major. And I just had my last with an emergency c section which shocked me, I was freaked to have one, but we both made out fine and its another experience under my belt.
You will be fine ! You can do it... you will have a whole new respect for your body, life and love that baby like you can never ever even imagine. Hang in there momma.

Answer 5

The breathing techniques will help A LOT so pay attention and practice. Are you planning to have any kind of pain relief during labor? An epidural truly takes away all of the pain, but you may not want to do that. Even without drugs, time passes and the baby will come and then you'll forget how much it hurt. Good luck!

Answer 6

Trust me you are not alone! Seeing those videos made me freak out also! I didn't take Lamaze class because I went into labor early. I can tell you that if you do have an epidural, it is not so bad. Also, you will not actually be seeing what is happening. It is nerve wracking to watch on tv but when you are pushing out baby, it is different. It is wonderful.

Answer 7

Don't be scared. It's not as bad as you think. I was a little nervous about my delivery too, but if I had to do it again, I would rather do the delivery part than the pregnancy!! :))

And remember, don't take epidural just because you are scared. At least wait and experience the pain and then decide.

Good luck!

Answer 8

One way to calm down is to tell yourself that after all the pain you will have your baby in your arms and you will forget about it. I know that sounds cliche but its true. As soon as I held my son for the first time I completely forgot about everything around me (even the doctor stitching me back up) Also, do NOT listen to the horror stories that people tell you. Everyone is different, you may find yourself handling it so well that you will surprise yourself. Just relax and if you do take lamaze they will help you with techniques to keep yourself relaxed!

Answer 9

I remember i was just like you when i was pregnant. I was in labor for 16 hours. I went 14 hours with out the epid, during that time, i can tell you hurt more than anything i have ever felt. I couldnt handle it anymore so i got one. Anyway when i was in labor and trying not to give in to what i call the greatest thing ever invented, the nerses breath with me and it really did help the pain. But if you are planning on getting the epid, dont worry you feel it but i does not hurt. I was actually laughing through mine. But i am just one person. Good luck.

Answer 10

Labor and delivery was my favorite part of the whole thing. (I did have drugs though, and I would definately recomend them) I know it sounds odd but it feels so empowering to know you are about to give life to something. The breathing is mainly to make sure that you actually breath because it is really easy to either quit breathing or hyperventilate. Don't let those shows get you scared. I'm sure you will do fine. Women have been doing it for years.