Giving Birth Fears

this has been on my mind constantly since about 20 weeks, (I am exactly 25 weeks today) and I just cannot seem to get all the worries I have out of my head, I am literally to the absolute bones of me PETRIFIED of giving birth and I have no idea what to do about it? I sit there searching positive birthing stories most days to try and ease my mind but nothing is working? it doesn’t help that my pain tolerance is so so so bad like even getting my bloods done feels like the end of the world?! 🫩🥹

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I would say that I had a really positive birth story and I believe a lot of it was to do with mindset. Gearing up to the birth, I kept hearing that birth is the most painful human experience etc but that somehow really fascinated me. I was really interested in seeing how far my body could really go physically and what it would be able to endure on its own.

I was induced on a Friday at 3PM and by Saturday 3PM, I was already 5cm and in active labour. By 9PM that same day, baby was born! I asked for the thigh injection when I entered active labour and pretty much survived on gas and air after that.

I had my mum and husband in the room as support and I think that really helped as well. Get your birth partner(s) to apply pressure on your lower back, try upright and different birthing positions throughout and let the midwives guide you through. Also as prep, look into the pain relief options just so you’re able to go into it knowing what’s what and any side effects etc.

Final tip, don’t be super rigid about your birth plan, just be informed!Sometimes things don’t work out the way you expect them to, so just be flexible and really study the process of birth (including the various stages of labour, methods of induction, c-section process, instrumental delivery etc) so that you’re an active participant in the birth and are able to give informed consent as needed

I won't tell you my birth story because it really wasn't good but that wasn't due to the birthing process but due to a condition I didn't know I had and a reaction to medication I had never had before. All I will say is I was terrified too, absolutely none shakingly terrified and I had nightmares about it even before being pregnant. I had this overwhelming fear that something would go wrong and I wouldn't live. Eventually for my health and sanity i pushed for a c section so I could be in a more controlled environment and lucky I did because that's the reason I'm here today. X I now want a second baby and the fear isn't there anymore because it was a fear of the unknown for me. I hope you can find a little peace before the big day

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Body views

This is my second baby, one thing that always bothers me and I never really hear other people discussing - so maybe no one else feels the same - is how we go from feeling the most beautiful in our body (late pregnancy) to literally days later feeling a bit confused and upset when I look at my own body (post birth).

I know my body won’t look like this forever, but the odd squishiness and shape of my belly, angry looking red stretch marks, the extra weight in random places on my body that’s still to shed, engorged boobs, for me a C-section scar etc. It’s a hard shift for me mentally to go from the high confidence and self esteem to feeling a bit disconnected with my own body.

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Possible pre eclampsia/HELLP

Hi all, I have been quite unwell the last week and triage doctors are taking things quite seriously now and I'm getting a bit scared.

I started with mild on off headaches, nausea/loss of appetite, dizziness and been suffering with night sweats/shivers and horrendous heart burn over the weekend. Didn't feel baby much over 12 hours or so, so went in to get checked.

No high blood pressure or protein in urine, however I do have raised liver enzymes and declining platelets (even from my bloods 3 days ago).

I am due to move house 3 hours away in a weeks time and will be 35 weeks tomorrow.

Has anyone had similar symptoms and it been something else or any experience of the conditions and what were the outcomes. I am so anxious, don't even have my hospital bags packed 🫠

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