Reassurance needed pls

@Hannah I was hoping for pain relief, I was induced and there midwives didn’t believe that I was progressing so quickly and wouldn’t examine me. By the time I got through to the birth suite it was 7 mins before having her. Her heart dropped so with the panic there was no time for pain relief. My advice would be to listen to your body and do what is best for you, there’s no shame in having all the meds you can have. All that matters is getting little one here safely xx

I was also very stressed about this. The first 8 hours were fine - paracetamol, tens machine, ball. I’m not going to lie because I don’t think it’s helpful - it did end up being the worst pain I’ve ever felt BUT while I know that it was the worst, I already can’t actually remember what that felt like. I’ve spoken to other mums in my NCT group and they felt the same. It’s really fleeting. Be open to all pain relief. My labour was probably so bad because my placenta started coming away during labour. I planned to move on to gas and air but I was weirdly immune to it - it had no affect on me at all, which was unexpected. So I had an epidural and it was MAGIC. I was able to regroup, calm down and get ready for pushing. There’s no shame in getting pain relief - in fact I’d say don’t push through it too long. As you can see some women can’t get the pain relief they want because labour has progressed too far. You’ll be fine, you’ve got this!

I had my baby 10 day ago - I also had the worst anxiety about it to the point I was being sick in the night crying all sorts - now I regret that so much because I felt I ruined such a precious time by being so worried about something natural and amazing that gave me my perfect boy. Your body is made to do this and will tell you what you need to do if not do it for you - just listen to that and use the midwives they are amazing. You can do this and you’ll do amazing at it🥰

@Leighan mine was similar but I was in hospital as I was induced. The midwife was not bothered by my contractions and said as a ftm it would take a long time. I laboured on the toilet in the hospital as it was the best position for me to deal with the pressure. Transferred to the birth suite at 4am and she was born at 4:17. Her heart rate dropped and it was a case of get her out asap. They were going to give me a local anaesthetic but my body was pushing before they had chance. My only regret is that due to the stress/panic around her birth no photos were taken of us during or after she was born xx

I had really bad anxiety re. pregnancy/birth so referred to perinatal mental health team who booked me in for elective section if not spontaneously started before as wasn’t sure about induction. Also put on my notes early epidural and could ask for a c-section whilst in labour if I felt I wasn’t coping well … started spontaneously anyway and baby’s movements changed, went into hospital, started getting regular contractions 5 mins apart for an hour lasting a minute-midwife didn’t seem too concerned and didn’t check me so went home as all fine Bath at home where started to ramp up and really thought I couldn’t do it and was not coping well- thought just in early labour and anxiety making it worse Went back in asking for epidural/poss c-section but was fully dilated and wheeled straight to delivery- too late for anything Had laboured at home and no pain relief and glad it happened the way it did now. Didn’t need to be as anxious as I was at all! Built it up to be worse in my head