Feeling really nervous about birth

[greenmom2girls]

I am 39 1/2 weeks today, and I am all of a sudden feeling really really nervous about labor/birth. DD#1 is 3 years old, and I had pain meds during her birth and this time I am going natural. I am so much more educated now about interventions, etc. I have been doing Hypnobabies during this pregnancy, and I really wish I felt more calm about this. I am just really afraid. I feel really unsettled and need to do something to calm myself down. Any input/suggestions?

[Kindermama]

Try some meditations. Kelly Howell's prayer meditation on Itunes is good. It's a good 30 minutes long. Write down or talk to someone (your partner) about your fears. I used some Bach Rescue Remedy and homeopathy to help myself too. (Gelsemium is a good remedy for anticipatory anxiety prior to a birth). I took Pulsatilla because I was in that kind of state. Watch birth videos on YouTube. Read birth stories on Mothering. And lastly....BREATH! It does hurt but it is the best pain in the world....the instant relief you feel when you baby comes out cannot be matched! 

[Yeeska]

If it helps, Hypnobabies really does work. Keep practicing the skills that you've been working on for Hypnobabies. Birthing From Within, even just the book without the class, has a lot of good stuff.

[Shinyredstar]

I figured out after my second was born that when things were at their worst that what I really, really needed was for my husband just to hold my face in his hands, look me in the eye, and very calmly remind me that I was in transition and that it was going to be over soon. Worked like a charm with my third son, and I'm hoping it will with this one, too. It was just what I needed to get myself through the rest of the labor. Maybe you could reflect on your last experience (even if it was with meds) and think about what some of your triggers were or maybe what you wished someone had done (or hadn't done!) at the worst points to make it better and try to communicate that before?

And if it's too late for that advice, I hope it went well! ;)

[CherryBombMama]

The thought of all that pain is so daunting, isn't it? 

My first I had pain medicine as well, my second was completely natural, and let me tell you, I had more pain with my first than with the second. What I found that helped me was to *breath.* Whenever I felt that tingling inside my gut that meant I was going into panic mode, I would take this huge deep breath in, try to center on exactly where this bad feeling/thought was coming from and push out that negativity with a nice, strong breath. At first I felt so silly and not sure what I was doing, but eventually it help. I very much focused on relaxing all my muscles, especially my "peeing" muscle (haha, what is that called?!?) which I found was always very tense. Then during labor, when I would feel a contraction coming, I focused in on it, found it and breathed it out while relaxing every single muscle.

I loved being in labor the last time. 

[vanni]

Maybe you've had your baby by now... but if not, you'll do great! My daughter was born 2 months ago and I also did Hypnobabies. I was also anxious a few days before birthing. Do the fear clearing and "visualize" tracks, listen to the birthing day affirmations. Definitely consider bringing an IPod or having a cd player so that you can listen to the tracks while your at the hospital/birth center/at home. At the beginning of the course I didn't think I would want to listen to the tracks during birthing, but then realized how helpful it would be. Kerry's voice was instantly calming to me, even if I wasn't consciously listening to what she was saying. You will do great. If you've had your baby already, many congrats!