I watched the birth video from my last birth...

[BirthFree]

And I scared myself.
It doesn't help that it STARTS when I'm pushing but the intensity freaked me out. Oh man... . That birth was only 1.5 hours total, but I'm going to have to tone it down some or my kids will be scared if I'm as intense while pushing this time I think...

Yikes - that was just silly of me... pretending like it's not going to be that way is probably a good idea... for now.

[MamaHen2J&J]

Awww!!

I got scared watching THIS birth on screen! LOL

Just remind yourself you're prepared, just think of the seconds after all that hard work and how worth it they are!!

This last birth was the hardest most intense thing I have EVER done... I keep playing it over in my head because it was so amazing, so life changing!!

Turn that fear into excitment mama!!

[elfinbaby]

This pregnancy I actually stopped watching birth videos. I used to teach ncb classes so I watched a lot of videos. I hardly saw any last pregnancy due to the Hypnobabies rule of not exposing yourself to painful births (it's policy you know) and this one, I saw a few on YouTube and learned my lesson. I did not like what I saw or heard. I couldn't believe I actually used to love watching vids.

I think of it like this - what you're seeing is not what the mama is necessarily feeling. I mean, she (or you) can be intense, working hard, saying all sorts of things but, at that moment in time there could also be exhilaration, excitement, anticipation of meeting the LO that the camera just can't capture. When dh and I talk about my past births I think his interpretation of the events is wrong wrong wrong. He wasn't in my head and what he saw as difficult might have just been me responding to an urge or working really hard.

Don't get freaked out now! I'm just pulling myself out of the freak outs, lol. Every birth is different. I've been working really hard putting positive thoughts and images in my head. I've been focusing on my last birth which was amazing. Just amazing! 6 hrs. and practically painless. I think I furrowed my brow once which dh categorizes as a sign of pain: My previous 2 were less than 2 and 3 hrs = intense so I'm trying to focus on staying calm, positive, and confident which is what really helped me in my last birth. I think, regardless of my childbirth education/knowledge and experience, I went into fight or flight w/the first 2 b/c they came on so suddenly so I'm really working on keeping a level head.


Good thoughts mama! Do some affirmations. Dare to put yourself in the "What if I have the most beautiful birth ever?" mindset (that's Laura Shanley's article, right?).

[Spark]

Wishing you a clam peaceful labor that's kid-calming in every way!