I know, and I'm anxious too as it'll be my first induction, but there are lots of horror stories for natural labours as well!! It's the unknown, you could have a very straightforward labour and birth. There's no reason why you still can't have a waterbirth-I'm planning on getting in the water? And I have to have iv antibiotics during labour and they still said it's ok as long as I keep my hand as dry as possible.
I've not had an epidural before so can't help with that.....both my previous labours I just went with it, and honestly pain relief never even entered my head. With my first labour, I was put on the drip as the last 1/2 cm wouldn't dilate, even though my body was naturally already pushing, and apart from contractions being then back to back, they weren't any more painful. I did end up having a spinal as he got stuck, and I had to go to theatre for him to be helped out...but it wasn't by choice to have the pain relief and I didn't at any point think to ask for it.
My second labour was totally different, and he arrived very fast completely naturally.
You really can't control what happens. I was having a water birth with my first, was in there ready to go and started pushing- but then had to bail cause he got stuck.....my second I didn't get time to have one....labour is difficult to plan, and I don't know anyone that's had the 'perfect' labour they had planned. I didn't bother writing a birth plan with my second or this one, just popped essential info in there.
Try as much as you can to go in with an open mind, and go with it. You might find you've worried unnecessarily, or you might end up having a bit of a crappy time, but when you're in it you don't really know that's what's happening until you look back on it!
The most important thing is that baby arrives safe, and labour is genuinely a tricky thing to predict.
At the end of it you'll have your beautiful little boy and congratulate yourself on being a clever and kick ass mummy for getting through it and producing a beautiful little life.
Sending hugs xx
