Nervous about labor

Once I knew it was actually happening, I felt super calm. It was the waiting that was the worst part for me, and not knowing when it would happen. Just remember the pain is temporary and at the end of it you get to meet your baby!

It could be dreamy, I was really lucky, the pains was crazy so I went to the hospital was only 2cm but I hated the pain so they kept me in I had gas and air, helped so much omg best feeling in the world.. I was in labour for 14 hours, high the whole time because of gas and air. Walked around whilst not contracting then I stopped when contracting and sucked gas and air. Was in and out of the bath because I love baths so chilled me out. Felt the need to push so they ran my bath for water birth which was in another room. Got in the water was pushing for 20 minutes don’t really remember the pain whilst pushing but when the head was coming that hurt but only for like 3 seconds till the head is out and once the head is out you don’t feel the body because the body just flies out. During labour I also had the injection in my bum.. twice. But during pushing I didn’t have anything because I found it hard to concentrate and suck on gas and air at the same time Lol. Didn’t rip or tear.. no stitches needed!

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What injection?

Think it’s called pethidine, but you can only have it every 4 hours and only 3 times in 24 hours so they say to space it out incase you’re in labour for long so I had two and was trying to long out having the third one but waited so long I couldn’t have it because I needed to start pushing and they won’t give it you then, so I was literally on no pain relief whilst actually pushing.. 😭

My water broke and I felt no pain-I was already 5-6cm upon arrival to the hospital and could’ve had the epidural right away. I filled out the form for it but waited until I needed it. (I ended up needing pitocin b/c I sat there all night with no progress-but no pain either.) Then when the pain came on it was terrible, but I was also having constant, close contractions because of the pitocin. From the time I asked for the epidural until it was in and working was ~25min. No pain after that.

I was induced and the pain wasn’t really that bad for me. Just focus on your breathing during contractions. When I got to the point that it was time to push my adrenaline kicked in and I forgot about the pain. Just trust your instincts and the nurses and doctors will be there to guide you. I was terrified before hand and doctors, hospitals, and needles all trigger anxiety for me but all of that melts away the second you hear your babies first cry and see that little face! Just try not to think too much about it right now.

Just had my third a couple weeks ago and it was so far the fastest. I started having contractions 8a, Thur morning Mind you in two weeks early. Stayed home until contractions got closer. Got in the tub around 12p. Felt a pop, which was my water breaking, and they starting getting more intense. I was breathing through them but I had to stop what I was doing and breathe slow through each one. Try to breathe in as slow and as long as you can same with breathing out. Control it...took us about 30 mins to pack the rest of our bags, get in the car, and drop my boys off. At one point of me walking to the car I thought I had to push. Water kept gushing out. Finally got the the hospital around 1:12. Got upstairs and I was just holding onto my husband and breathing through contractions. I couldn’t lay down l so I was standing. Finally I had to push and I started pushing and he came out so quick. It only took me 40 mins to have him. 1:50p he was here and the pain was forgotten.

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Key is to stay calm and stay focused. Trust your body and you’ll have control. It was nice to not have meds. I could feel everything and my body was telling me exactly what I needed to do

You got this girl!!! I’m a first time momma..I didn’t know what to expect at all except all the stories I read. I did an all natural labor and I had mostly back labor. Listen to your body. Breathe...don’t hold your breath. Don’t tense up. I had 5 hours of labor and 15 minutes of pushing (it all happened SO fast for me). I listening to music to keep everyone out of my head...at that point I just wanted it to be me and the baby. My husband said I sounded like a cow mooing when I was breathing through the contractions...guess what? I didn’t care! And you shouldn’t either!!! I closed my eyes and moo’d and listened to music. I sat on the birthing ball for as long as I could...once I laid down, my water broke and I started pushing 8 minutes later. Anyway, You Do You Momma!! You Got This🎉❣️

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I was super loud too! Making sounds felt great to get through contractions 🙂 whatever works for mama

Your story sounds exactly like mine! I was a freaking 🐄

I switched to a natural home birth last minute. It was amazing, everything went so well I had my sweet peanut in my bathtub, small tear but no stitches. I was in labor for 49 hours but it flashed before my eyes yes... it was really painful for a while there and I felt like giving up I was scared and tired.... It goes so much faster than you think, just keep reminding yourself you are getting steps closer to meeting the most amazing human ever! You are a power house, you can do anything. Do not be scared to ask for pain management or help along the way... or even to be left alone! You are in control!

I loved my labor!! Yes it was so hard but the process is so cool and your body releases hormones to help you through each stage of labor (if you do natural- if you have an epidural you won't feel the effects of these hormones but you probably won't have to worry about pain too much either). Just focusing on my breath one contraction at a time helped me and I kept telling myself "It can't be stronger than me, it is me" Get up and walk around if you can, eat, drink, change positions, HIRE A DOULA! Hiring a doula is the best thing you can do if you're scared

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Ehh I did it natural and I know that hormones were released to help me but I didn’t feel them! Haha 😂

Here’s a positive you can focus on: it won’t matter how bad it gets once you see baby. You’ll forget most of it anyways. Listen to your body and your nurses and you’ll be fine!

Alright so I was the girl who passed out cold - like fall out of your chair wake up on the floor when we talked about epidurals in health class, watched the child birth video. Couldn’t listen to any of my gfs talk about their labor. I debated about not having kids I was scared 💩less about childbirth. Then I took a Bradley class and learned about Ina May and read her book on natural child birth. It totally shifted my mentality and I wasn’t scared. Labor was hard, but it wasn’t hard from start to finish. Contractions were intense but nothing worse than a hard workout. What I found most useful was to ingrain into my mind that the uterus is a muscle. Muscles contract. It doesn’t mean soul searing pain. Within 30 seconds of birthing my boy announced that I’d do that again in a heartbeat.

My water broke (nothing like the movies) I wasn’t contracting (or at least I didn’t feel anything), I just asked for drugs in my birth plan...it was all good! Only part that was painful were the underpaid, overworked medical residents who would shove their hands up my vagina (checking for dilation).

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This!

i don’t have a positive story for you. but i can say that morphine really doesn’t help- ask them to give you nubane as soon as they can. i think they have to wait until you reach active labor (4 cm?)

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I wonder if your body doesn’t process it well? Worked great for me

Morphine can work for some people...

I hoped to do a med free labor. I didn’t really do much to relax while contractions were light, and I should have. I highly recommend napping, and eating when you’re in early labor. Only be around people that make you feel calm and positive. 10 hours in, my contractions got strong. When I started to get scared, I started to feel pain. Unfortunately my husband was also nervous so he wasn’t able to reel me back in to a calm headspace. I went to the hospital, threw up a few times (which is normal), and finally decided to get an epidural. From that point on I felt so much relief. They did have to monitor the baby bc she was showing some signs of stress, and I ended up having a Pitocin drip due to low iron, but everything still went smoothly! 24 hours of labor, and an hour of pushing.Though we had to throw our birth plan out the window, I still feel so happy about our experience. Read any of Ina May Gaskin’s stories from The Farm to hear about other super inspiring birth stories! You got this mama 💗

My last pregancy was completely natural, absolutely no meds before during or after! Trust me, if I could do it, you can!!! My first I was induced and had epidural and almost had a csection. Very different experiences. Our bodies are amazing and I truly only believed this after my 2nd baby.

I was nervous about pain also. Chickened out and got epidural at 2cm before pain started (I was admitted for inducing labor) I don’t regret it. Needle felt like a bee sting, injection was uncomfortable pressure, but no pain from childbirth xD

You wont remember a thing about delivery when they put that baby in your arms mamas, you are going to be just fine, I promise.

I’m a total wuss when it comes to pain too! But I had both my baby boys naturally. My oldest sons labor was 8 1/2 hours long & it wasn’t as bad as everyone told me. My youngest sons was only 30 minutes long lol. Main thing is to breathe and count when you’re having a contraction cause that helped for me, doesn’t have to be in order or anything, just count. Also keep in your mind that women have been doing this for centuries and do it everyday still! You’ll be fine!

I had a natural labor but I don’t discriminate with any type of laboring process! You do YOU, mama! Whatever makes YOU comfortable! Everyone has their own opinions about how a birth should be but you do it you way! You are the birthing person! My labor was hard but wonderful. Looking back, what was most helpful was BREATHING! Moan like a cow! Low and long moans. Move your body! Walk around and go on the yoga ball. Laugh! Listen to good music. Kiss your husband. Sorry, this isn’t a positive birthing story but it’s (unsolicited) advice about how you can have your own positive birth story! You will give birth and it will be amazing!!! It’ll be perfect!

Its sore but it's not as bad as u imagine, once I saw my baby I forgot about it all anyways and I'd do it all again in a heartbeat, her being placed on my chest and looking at her for the 1st time was the most amazing and best experiences of my life

I was as well hunni jus try to stay calm and just listen to your body

honestly I don’t think anything will take away the nervousness. I was induced and I was so scared. I was scared about the pain. I was scared about how much it was going to hurt. I didn’t want to feel the pain. I was scared to push I didn’t want to feel anything. Yeah contractions hurt like a bitch took me 10 hours of pain till I was able to get the epidural. I felt so much better. Then it came time to push. I wasn’t ready. I was still scared but I had to push my baby out. I was embarrassed because I kept shitting lol but every time I pooped they told me to keep going haha. Thankfully!!! The epidural caused me to not feel a single thing when he was coming out! I didn’t see crowing or anything. My doctor didn’t even tell me what was going on. I knew he was out when I just felt his body slide on out. It was THE BIGGEST relief of my life. They through him on my chest. He cried. It was the best feeling in the world. I couldn’t believe he was real and in my arms. Then he pooped on me lol. But SO WORTH IT ♥️

You can do it mama! I went in wanting a med free labor as long as I could handle it and using some awesome techniques I totally did it! We got these hard spiky balls that I used to squeeze during contractions and they helped to distract from the pain. Deep in and out breathing. Also walking around as much as possible and doing squats during contractions helped it progress so much quicker. My first baby and from beginning of contractions to her being born was 10 hours and I pushed her out in about 20 minutes. Also a good partner is so important! Good luck!

Honestly you will be amazed at what your body is capable of enduring! I am a wuss about pain too and it was all so worth. As hard as it is try not to think about it. Other people’s stories only scared me and every woman will have a different story. You will be okay and it will all end sooner than you think and you won’t even think about the pain once your baby is in your arms.

You will do great, remember that we have been doing this as long as we have been on earth 🌍 !!! Not going to lie, it hurts but you knew that! It is so worth it and you can and will do this gf! I had to have an emergency c-cention and it was worth it.

I have to say prepare for the worse and hope for the best. My labor was about 4 days of pure hell and constant pain. It was the absolute worst experience in my life. But, I would do it again in a heartbeat for my son.

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First of all;Don’t be afraid of judgement. We’re all women here supporting eachother. If you want a natural birth I suggest researching breathing and different positions. Your partner too. If not, it’s TOTALLY OK to get the epidural. 80% of the women at the hospital I delivered at get one. Nobody tells you that though, they just want to shame you for using medication. If you’re nervous you ALWAYS have it. I had an epidural twice, both my labors were induced but also not very long. My 3mo old I pushed for 30min. Do you mama! My babies are both super healthy happy girls!

Epidural all the way! I was nervous too but honestly when it came time I worked through any pain until I got the Epidural. After that it was all pressure. No pain. And after wasn't bad. Sore but not in a lot of pain. The world and any pain if any will disappear once you see that little face. Good luck mama you got this!!!

I had a c section and epidural I didn’t feel a thing. Use a yoga ball to loosen your muscles to get ready for the labor keep looking up different types of labor because I wasn’t expecting to have a c section.

I had my son all natural, no epidural! I was actually more scared of getting the epidural and the consequences that it would come with than feeling the pain. I’m sure you’ll do fine, you’ll be surprised how much a women’s body can actually take. 😌

Positive? Bringing a child into the world we live in so you can OBSESS over them non stop lol. No matter how positive a story is there r always multiple challenges along the way wether it be before labor, during or after-big or small...that came with them all. Nervousness is good. Means you’re alive. You’ll be perfectly fine. :)

I was always terrified about labour...I was convinced I wouldn't cope. At 39+6 I got weird pains ...nothing like I would imagine labour pains to feel like so went to a out of hours doctor... he told me I had a UTI and gave me antibiotics (never had a UTI either) so for the next 24 hours tried to relax and breath through the pains thinking it was just the UTI while watching movies. At 11pm...I got to a point where I thought ok these pains are not stopping anymore and I decided to go upstairs and get dressed as I did my waters went. When I got to the hospital they examined me and was shocked that apparently I had laboured at home and I was already 10cm dilated...I kept saying i dont think i can do this...they all laughed at me and said my pain level must be high so yes u can haha, within 50 minutes baby was born with just a bit of gas and air and that only took that long cos baby was big and they struggled to get her out. She came out with help from forceps and a cut. Planning baby no 2 haha 12wks after birth.

Labor is different for everyone but I know soaking in the jacuzzi helped me! Also breathing through the contractions. It’s painful. I’m not gonna lie but women are the ones to give birth for a reason. We are absolute bosses!

I will say, with the kind of back labor I was in, I would rather push 10 heads out my vagina before having back labor again. So really pushing out your baby isn’t the worst part lol.

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And I had a natural birth. Next time I might have a epidural if I have back labor again.

What helped me is what put teacher in classes told us: think of lain relief options as a tool box: you can have preferences, but ultimately tje whole toolbox is yours, so you can decide and agree with your birth partner whay you want to use, in what circumstances, etc. I was induced and at first was walking through contractions to a playlist /videos about the stars (I find the narrator voice calming), then had gas and air and then an epidural (best decision ever).

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Unless u turn up to the hospital too late like me haha

Focus ur breathing and keep ur mind thinking ahead toward the end of the tunnel. The reward is greater than the pain.

Emotionally my labor sucked but with the epidural I didnt feel a thing below my waist. It was amazing. So amazing in fact that they had to take me off for a half hour because I couldn't feel a thing. Of course I kinda puked on myself before but that is because I stopped breathing because of how nervous I was. The pain for me before the epidural felt like menstrual cramps. I even delayed going to the hospital because I was like I thought I was going to feel a chainsaw going off but nope just cramps.

Are you going to use comfort measures? Have you already thought about the comfort measures as you prepare for your birth? If you need tips and advice I would love to help.

I’m with you girl! I’m due in a week and can’t stop thinking and stressing about the pain and whole process. But we got this!!!

Don't fight the pain. Acccept the pain and relax through the contractions for as long as possible. If you get scared of the pain it gets infinitely worse. Once you get to the point that you're unable to relax and you're screaming in pain and begging for it to stop you're not far away from delivering. 👍 it was the worst pain I've ever experienced, but the worst of it only lasted about an hour.

I've had 3 children my first two I did completely natural and oh man did it hurt my last one I got the epidural and it was amazing. My best advice if you want an epidural is to wait until your at least 5 cm then get the epidural and the rest of your labor will go by like a breeze. If you try for a natural try to walk around as much as you can before they put you strictly on the bed. The pain hurts there's no way around that until you get the epidural. Once I got the epidural I didn't feel the contractions and I didn't even feel when he was born, that's how good it was. Good luck mama

I prepared myself for knowing this would be such an awful pain. With that being said, contractions were worse than pushing her out.i had an epidural at 4 cm, by the time she was coming out one side had completely worn off. If they let me play music this time I'm gonna sing my way through a lot of it😁

Following this thread because I’m due in July and I’m definitely feeling the same way.

I was super scared about the pain because I’m a complete wuss too! But when the time came I was actually still at home until I was 6cm dilated and had no pain relief! I thought when I went in I might have gone for the epidural if I was in that much pain but I just stuck with gas and air the entire time and it wasn’t as bad as I thought! My baby was measuring above average and when he came I didn’t tear and was back home 4 hours after birth:) it’s such a beautiful experience and so so worth it. And I promise it’s not as bad as you may think it’s going to be. Wishing you good luck!

I spent part of the day thinking I was really hungry and was eating garlic bread, was at my nieces bday party. And getting annoyed the hunger wasn’t dispersing. An hr later went to hit the piñata and my water broke with all the adults went “oh fuck” Turns out the hunger pains were contractions

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Wow!

I had the epidural after being induced because I wasn’t progressing quick enough, honestly loved it. I felt all the pressure of the baby coming out and a tiny bit of pain when he was crowing but it was amazing. It really is an unreal experience and I hope I get to do it all again xx

This is why i am choosing to have a c section. I can NOT get over the fear of pushing a kid out of my vag. Just the thought of it makes it hard to breath. Also a huge huge wuss and have zero tolerance to pain. Atleast with a c section they can give me pain meds till i recover.

I am also terrified because I don’t handle pain well! This thread is helpful and encouraging. I’m due in about 1-2 weeks at the end of April, eek! Congrats to the moms who made it through!

I had an amazing birth experience. My day began with a check-up and we ended up going to the hospital. I planned on having any and all pain killer drugs available stuffed into my body oh, but that is just my choice I don't know yours. When I was in triage they told me I needed to walk around for two hours, when the contractions got bad, too bad for me, I walked into triage. I was given fentanyl immediately and then was calmely able to wait for my anesthesiologist to administer the epidural. That was also incredibly easy I did not feel a thing. I watch Disney movies I had a wonderful time. The actual pushing took about an hour for me. The epidural doesnt take away the pressure and it can be painful. It feels like you have to poop really really badly but if you don't stop or you have your partner help you then when it's over you honestly don't remember anything and you never do again. I loved every single second of it. Don't be nervous. Be prepared to make changes to your plan and you'll be fine and happy.

I had a nice experience. It was 24 hours before I gave birth and only felt pain for like the last 5. Even tho only half my body took the epidural the pain was bearable. It’s all worth it when you hear and see your little sunshine. And when you hold him or her that’s it you forget everything. So be calm keep your mind entertained keep people around you who bring out the best in you and know you will soon be holding your peanut.