Anyone else freaked out about delivery??

[liz87mk]

Hi, I am due October 30 and this was somewhat of a suprise. It might end up being a Halloween baby. I am happy about being a parent and everything and I am actually starting to enjoy the fact that my baby is inside of me growing but at the same time I am totally freaked out about the delivery. I've never been to the hospital for any injuries. I've never been in any excruciating pain. I just can't imagine myself getting stretched out that big and tearing and all this other horrible stuff I've heard. What if the epidural doesn't work or something goes wrong? I've always had a phobia about pain and going to the hospital. I'm afraid I will show up at the hospital and be so freaked out I can't do anything. Is anyone else this freaked out? Or has anyone else felt like this then had a good delivery experience? I know I'm probably just being silly but I can't help it...

[*Babylon*]

I've always been a wuss when it comes to pain. Never broke a bone or had a severe pain(the most painful thing I had was the removal of my "wisdom tooth") so yes, delivery freaks me out! I've read some truly horror stories and the fear of some serious tearing(or the episiotomy) down there is just too much. When the time comes(end of september), I'll first see how far can I go without the epidural, but once it's too much, I'm sure I'll be begging for it.

[Kerisweetpea]

well i am a big wuss like you guys!!! and i am pregnant with baby #2 so it cant be all that bad! but i did have it pretty easy. i will tell you a couple of things about my delivery......
first my water started to leak, i just thought i was peeing myself. then realized i wasnt! but i went into the hospital at 11pm and was so scared i could barely walk, and i wasnt having any contractions. i wanted to turn around go home and forget that it was happening! but that wont work! then the lady was signing me in and the door was right there! i really just wanted to run out! but anyway i walked all night still no pain (lucky me) but when my Dr came in at 7am i was 5cm. so he told me to walk some more. he came back at noon and i was at 6cm so he decided to induce to help things along. i got the drugs about 20 after 12 and about 12:30 it felt like my son had just kick the winning goal in a soccer game, and then i started to have contractions every 2minutes and yes it hurt like hell but i wanted to try to go without any drugs and by the time my son came out at 1:14 it felt like 5 minutes went by. i had to have a episiotomy done then i tore a little after wards too! i didnt feel anything the only thing i felt was a little poke from the needle where he numbed me before he cut. it kinda felt like a pinch. not bad at all. and trust me i didnt believe ANYONE when they said the pain will go away as soon as you get your little baby in your arms! its true i dont even remember delivering the placenta! and i dont remember him sewing me back up! but then again i got lucky.
i know its hard not to freak out about it but try not to. its not all that bad and the nurses will be there to help you out and give you all the pain meds you can have!
Good luck and let us know how it goes!!!

[giraffes_buddy]

It's funny - with my son, I was terrified - no, make that TERRIFIED - of a vaginal birth for the same reasons. I actually had hoped for a C-section because I thought it might be easier.

This time around, I'm terrified of a C-section. I think I'm figuring out that the fear of the unknown is worse than the pain. Not that I'm discounting the pain by any means, mind you, but Mr. Epidural was my friend the first time 'round.

[lismom2]

You are not silly to be scared of something you've never gone through & have been told horror stories about. Start by reading POSITIVE birth stories. My favorite book this last time around was/is "ina may's guide to a natural childbirth" by ina may gaskin. Whether you decide to go natural or not, this book is a treasure! It descibes the birth process fully, like how your body works during labor & delivery, different techniques, and is FULL of very positive birth stories. It's also worth checking out 'just in case' medication is not possible. Good luck on your delivery & congrats!
ps- pardon typos please, nak

[*Babylon*]

one of my friends has a 1 yr old, and she had a scheduled c-section.. she was relieved that she didn't have a vaginal delivery, she mentioned the biggest mistake she made was watching those birth videos, that were worst than any c rated gore movie. I have graciously avoided watching videos, but I'm still freaked out.

[hlperkins77]

It is SO scary to anticipate delivering your baby since you've never experienced something like that before. My grandma always said "it's called labor for a reason". Doen't you just love old people! I've heard that the more in shape you are during your pregnancy, the easier your labor will be. I walked 5 days/week w/ my 1st 2 and had uncomplicated deliveries. Just found out I'm expecting baby 3 and started my walking routine this week! I'm less nervous this time around, I was actually most nervous w/ my 2nd baby. It's worth looking into having a drug-free delivery, yeah the pain is pretty wild but you have NO side effects after delivery. The second both my babies were born, I felt amazing. And I didn't have a cathader (sp?) or an IV nor did I feel sick afterwards. Just educate yourself and forgo listening to peoples horror stories (they tend to like to share them for the response factor). Good luck to you.

[giraffes_buddy]

hehehe - I know what you mean. I think watching those videos might have helped put the fear of a vaginal birth in me. Then again, I got see a lot of pain management strategies in motion on those shows, and that actually helped.

But then I have to stop and think about those videos of c-sections. They're always so calm and easy-going in the videos, but I know from seeing friends how much harder they are to recover from, and those videoes usually don't show that. Nor do they normally show how much easier it is to recover from a vaginal birth. Watch them if you're interested - but have a grain of salt and some logic available.

Either way, birth is a scary time. There's no denying that. But it's also happy, exhilerating, hopeful, and wonderful.

However it happens for you, you'll do fine, *Babylon*. If a big ole' wuss like me can do it, you'll make it through in a breeze.

[*Babylon*]

A c-section is something I really don't want unless there is some serious complication, but again, knowing that my hoohoo will be all torn and stitched is not something I'm looking forward to. I don't know about you guys, but mine has been always treated pretty nice so stitches, cutting, tearing... urgh...

Although what freaks me out even more than the pain is the fact that because of the language I won't be able to understand what's going on or explain what I'm feeling at any given moment.

[jeadra2010]

I am I never had to have a C section, I am having baby # 5 I cannot wait, I had 3 of them without drugs, I had to have an epidural with # 3 because he was a 9 lbs baby, to me labor is the final step to see the fruit of my labor, a perfect little person you had inside you all these months after it is over all the pain is gone bye bye.