Starting to have some fear

[myrmom]

I suddenly realized that I'm going to be in labour one day soon(god willing) and I suddenly realized it's going to hurt. I have been thinking about my natural birth with my second son and how I managed so well with it and that is what has kept the fear at bay, but now I keep thinking about my first birth and how long and painful it was and how I didn't handle it well at all. What if I can't do this? What if I can't get through it? What if it's another long hard labour and I just can't face it....ugh.

I so desperatly want another natural birth becasue I remember how amazing it felt aftewards compared to my medicated birth.

I just needed to get that out....maybe now I can work through it.

[ibusymomto5]

I get these feelings every single time towards the end. In fact it gets worse with each pregnancy, I think because I know what I'm in for. But.. you definitely CAN do it! You've done it before and you can do it again.:-) The one thing that helps me other than lots of prayer is to read up on good birth stories and good, positive books, like hypnobirthing or Bradley.

Oh, and you're so right about that great feeling afterwards. Keep thinking on that!

[ellesmom]

At this point I welcome the pain. When I think back on dd's birth I remember it was like a roller coaster. It was crazy, intense and when it was all over I wanted to get back on that ride! So maybe I am crazy, but I keep reminding myself of that feeling. When I get nervous I just visualize myself in line for the roller coaster

[lee1203]

I'm both scared to death of labor and delivery (having never done it before and not being overfond of pain ) and looking forward to it. I'm also not sure it will ever happen at this point. (I'm not even 41 weeks yet. Why am I so gosh darn antsy?!

[Amber Lion]

Momma. The waiting (for anything) is always the worst part. I bet once labor starts for you that you'll fall into your rhythm and do great! I'm reading positive birth stories everyday, so I second that suggestion. It helps to remember that with all the different variations of what labor can be like, we can do it!

[ibusymomto5]

Originally Posted by ellesmom

At this point I welcome the pain. When I think back on dd's birth I remember it was like a roller coaster. It was crazy, intense and when it was all over I wanted to get back on that ride! So maybe I am crazy, but I keep reminding myself of that feeling. When I get nervous I just visualize myself in line for the roller coaster

He he... That's exactly how I usually describe my feelings about labor/birth. It's so like being in line for a roller coaster to me too. It's that antsy, "why am I doing this, but I have to because it's too late to turn back now" feeling. And yeah, as crazy and intense as it is I always feel on top of the world coming out of it and almost immediately want to go back and experience it again.

[AugustineM]

I get nervous too. I think it is really normal. Last night I saw orgasmic birth, though, and I completely made any "fear" go away. I have anxiety, but it's really different than fear, if that makes sense. I know that I can do it. I know that after I do it I will be on such a natural high and state of euphoria that I will NEVER experience in my lifetime again. I keep reminding myself to take it one day at a time, one contraction at a time, and not try to get overwhelmed with the big picture. I think trying to stay in the moment, and centered, is so valuable.

It's a huge, life-changing, mind-blowing event that we are going to embark on. Yep, it can be painful, but it can also be completely exhilarating!