Due date approaching !

I feel the same! Its my first time, and im just constantly thinking about it. I dont know how im going to manage. I just feel like i wont be good enough? Is it normal to feel like this 😭

I’m following this post as I am 38+3 today and I’ve been feeling the exact same… nervous, anxious, emotional, excited…. The fear of the unknown! Worried about what my life is gonna look like when she’s here… I think it is normal to feel a level of anxiety at this stage but just gotta try and be positive, embrace it as much as possible and try not to feel overwhelmed… it’s scary but it will be over soon and we will be on the other side with our beautiful babas 💖 life will be different but hopefully for the better xx

It’s very scary but I am very excited xx

The unexpected is scary but in my experience it was nowhere near as ‘bad’ as I expected! Don’t get me wrong my first birth was definitely painful but there’s so many options available to help you manage it 😊

My waters broke naturally 39+5 (10pm), it was more of a constant stream rather than a big gush. 2 hours later my contractions started and I ended up at hospital at 9am which they kept me in.

I started off in a birthing pool with gas and air which didn’t help with the pain but helped me focus on my breathing. I was sick so had to have an anti-sickness injection.

I got out of the birthing pool maybe at 12pm as the pain was becoming too much and had a pethidine injection (you cannot have this in the birthing pool as you can get drowsy). I was a bit out of it for a while but it relaxed the hell out of me & I continued doing my breathing exercises.

At 4pm I started pushing and 30 minutes later my LB arrived. I had a 2nd degree tear which I didn’t know about until they told me!

Hey! I’m 38 + 2 with my 5th baby. I tend to labour hard and first so can only tell you what i experience. My contractions don’t start with much of a build up, they are pretty intense straight away so no mistaking it!
My labours were between 2 and 4 hours long at the most and managed with no pain relief other than 2 water birth’s. I was really frightened when I was pregnant with my 1st but I honestly think it was way better than I’d imagined and it’s all so worth it. Holding your baby for the first time is just THE most incredible feeling ❤️

How did you find the pain ? I’m just frightened of how painful it’s going to be xx

def normal, I feel the exact same. It’s actually warming to care so much though, shows you just want the best for your baby 🤍

I mean it hurts, there’s mo sugar coating it BUT not as bad as I’d imagined it would be and you have pain relief options you can choose if you wish too. Water births really help with the pushing stage

I was induced with my first, yes it was painful - fully expected 🤣 I was in labour for 18 hours total but I don’t remember much of it 🤣 you forget all about it as soon as your baby is in your arms 🥰 Your body is made to do it and thousands do it every day, you will be absolutely fine. Listen to your body and if your struggling, accept pain relief! 🤍

I feel the same. First baby.. have a thing about pain.. unsure how I’ll cope etc. I’ve been doing hypnobirthing and finding it really helpful. Listening to lots of positive birth stories, positive affirmations, mindfulness and meditation around birth. Remembering my body is meant to do this. It’s pain but it’s not SUFFERING. The pain has a purpose and my body is doing this to give me my baby. I plan to try and relax as much as possible from the start. Headphones in, in the zone, eye mask. BREATHING techniques for sure. Concentrating on riding each surge like a wave. I’ll use a tens machine, gas and air for sure and the epidural if I really need it.

I’m a therapist so I really try to remember what I’d tell my clients. Tolerating uncertainty is the worst part. Driving my worry and anxiety up beforehand is pointless and makes things worse for me. Focus on what I can do and what I can control. It will be painful.

But I will cope and I will manage and I will do it like the MILLIONS of women before me have done since the dawn of time 💪🏽

We’ve got this 👊❤️