Getting little panic attacks about labor

[PerkyKP]

I'm 41w4d, and as much as I'd like to meet my LO, I've had a few contractions that hit me pretty quickly where I think OMG this could be it. And my first reaction is panic. By the time I've tried to calm down and relax the contraction is over and there are no more, or they settle into just BH.

Talk me down from this... I guess I was hoping I'd eaaaase into labor more than be thrown in -- maybe that's my fear?

p.s. - for all intents and purposes, this is my first labor. DS was a CPD/failure to progress induction/totally unnecessary CS at 41w3d.

[Patrick's mummy]

Well, my first DS was an induction at 42 weeks which ended in a distress/failure to progress CS after about 24hrs of agonising augmented contractions which did very little to dilate my cervix.
I've had two labours since then, and one VBA2C but let me tell you, normal spontaneous labour does not hurt in the same way as induced labour. you may or may not have a gradual build up - I did the first time, and the second time labour hit me like a freight train and baby was here within a few hours. Either way, it's all good. Your body knows what it is doing, your baby is ready and you will cope.
It's natural to panic when you have the first few ctx but you soon get into a rhythm with your own unique way of coping with them. This time, I paced and knelt through them in the dark covering my face with a baby blanket?!? WTH? Then I got in the shower and the water really helped. (I had a tub but there wasn't enough time to get it ready )
Yes, you will panic. Let yourself panic your way through a few, then switch your brain off and soon enough you'll have found a coping mechanism. Hypnobirthing breathing might help youget started - take a long inbreath pufffing your belly up and then count your way down an outbreath the same length. It's mainly a distraction but it's a start!

Trust me, this time you're going be fine. Your body was made to do this.

[rightkindofme]

Well, she took forever, but labor wasn't actually that bad. You can do it.

[PerkyKP]

Originally Posted by Patrick's mummy

It's natural to panic when you have the first few ctx but you soon get into a rhythm with your own unique way of coping with them. This time, I paced and knelt through them in the dark covering my face with a baby blanket?!? WTH? Then I got in the shower and the water really helped. (I had a tub but there wasn't enough time to get it ready )
Yes, you will panic. Let yourself panic your way through a few, then switch your brain off and soon enough you'll have found a coping mechanism.

LOL at the baby blanket. That helps, thanks for the input. I like the idea of letting myself panic for a bit then just getting into it.

[Patrick's mummy]

Originally Posted by PerkyKP

LOL at the baby blanket. That helps, thanks for the input. I like the idea of letting myself panic for a bit then just getting into it.

nak
well i think it's natural to panic because you know it's the beginning of something big, your life is opening up before you..........
you're going to do fabulously, just let your monkey do its thing

[PerkyKP]

Originally Posted by Patrick's mummy

you're going to do fabulously, just let your monkey do its thing

That is exactly one of the phrases from Ina May Gaskin that I plan to have in mind!
"Let your monkey do it"

[adtake]

Something that helped me a bunch during contraction was to just thinking to my self..this is helping baby out...opens everything up and gets baby out. It doesn't make it less scary, but it helped to focus me.

And when pushing does happen and you may or may not be vocal, just remember to use low tones when vocal. It makes a world of difference in the pushing.

You just have to know you can do it! Keep remembering that..over and over. I can do this, I can do this. And remember you have a world on moms on here with you...pushing with you , routing for you and sending all those great labor vibes your way.

It's all going to be worth it in the end. You get a baby...no matter how he/she gets here, no matter the pain...when it's all over, you get a baby!

Best of luck!!

[Shanana]

My labor started with my water breaking, and I have to say I was rather freaked out for a while (ctxns didn't start for several hours). I was shaking a little and just felt frightened overall, even though I had done a ton of work preparing for this birth, and it ended up being a totally amazing experience. So I don't think it's a bad sign to be a little fearful. I suspect it's pretty normal .

[NatureMama3]

Originally Posted by Shanana

My labor started with my water breaking, and I have to say I was rather freaked out for a while (ctxns didn't start for several hours). I was shaking a little and just felt frightened overall, even though I had done a ton of work preparing for this birth, and it ended up being a totally amazing experience. So I don't think it's a bad sign to be a little fearful. I suspect it's pretty normal .

:

Mine was amazing, in a different way, but still amazing and you'd be surprised how much strength you have inside even when you are sure it is all gone.

[LBMarie9]

Originally Posted by NatureMama3

:

Mine was amazing, in a different way, but still amazing and you'd be surprised how much strength you have inside even when you are sure it is all gone.

Can't wait to hear the whole story! congrats! hooray!

[Galatea]

Yeah, totally, I get that. But when it happens for real, you will be okay. I second the low tones. Move around to find a position you can relax your body in, and make low sounds, like a cow.

[cj'smommy]

I hear ya I panic a bit when I think about it too.