Nervous about what to expect

[Gill09876]

Hi girls, my due date is soon approaching and feeling pretty nervous about the labour. It's my first baby (although had a natural mc last year) I'm so excited about meeting my little girl though. Which pain relief do u recommend or any tips that could help me?

X thank you x

 

[mrsolly]

The only thing I recommend is go in with an open mind. Start off on gas and air and see what happens after that. If u need more pain relief ask for it but u may only need gas and air! X

 

[CARNAT22]

My tips are stop reading the birth announcement thread, avoid all programmes like OBEM and don't discuss births with people you know who have kids.

Keep a totally open mind and know that it is such a small part of the whole baby journey.

It hurts, but it's a pain you get through as the reward is just so precious.

As for pain relief, see how you feel when the time comes. Don't go in with the mindset 'I'll have everything going' but start off with G&A and see how your threshold is.

Best of luck.

xxxxxxx

 

[MrsT2011]

I would really recommend a tens machine for the early stages - gives you something to focus on.
You will go through all sorts of emotions excitement, to feeling frightened and feeling vulnerable but wow it is so amazing when baby is placed on you - it doesn't matter how they get here!
I would read up a bit on labour the facts such as pain relief, the different stages etc but I agree with Carnat on avoiding obem or labour horror stories! X

 

[BunnyN]

I was kind of the opposite, I read everything I could about labour and birth and everything that could possibly go wrong and watched lots of birth videos. It helped me feel better prepaired and more in control but it depends on your personality. The unknown was more scary to me than solid facts but a lot of women are happier not knowing too much and that is fine too.

It was actually a surprize to me how amazing the whole experience was. Before the birth I thought of it as some thing I had to get through to have cuddles with LO but it was a fantastic experience for me, even the 38hr labour. Yes it's painful but the exhilaration is amazing too. I will actually look forward to it next time. I know not everyone has a good experience and you never know what is going to happen but it can be much better than you are expecting. I'm sure going through a MC is much worse, it's painful and devistating. I had a very early MC and it was awful even though it wasn't painful.

 

[diane]

I agree with everything BunnyN said, and I didn't even have a "good" labour! It really was an amazing experience and even though I probably cant have anymore children (at least not without a c section), if I could, I would be looking forward to the labour experience!

 

[kirsty27]

I agree with the sentiment go in with an open mind, see how you feel at the time. I was terrified first time round due to the unknown but went in with a 'woohoo lets get this done' kind of attitude lol. Although I didn't have the best labour and nothing went according to my birth plan I am actually looking forward to doing it again (and i am in no way a brave person when it comes to pain). Yes it does hurt, but you are aware that the pain is for the best reason ever. It was the most intense and emotional experience of my life, have never felt so many emotions at the same time. Your body was designed to do this remember xx

 

[mrswoody]

Go in with an open mind and do not get too fixated on one thing.
Labour is unpredictable and something you will not be able to control so just go with it.

All I knew was that I didn't want an epidural and wanted to stay active and not glued to the bed. I ended up glued to the bed and had the epi as I ended up in theatre, so I had one but not through choice.

It hurts but it is the means to an end and there is a reason for the pain which helps to have that in your head.

Good Luck xx

 

[BunnyN]

For me I think it was important to have firm ideas of what I wanted but to be open minded too, if that makes sense. Labour was not 100% straightforward for me and I know if I had not been so sure of what I wanted I would have been pushed into all sorts of drugs and interventions that I didn't want and didn't really need. I did compromise on a couple of things because it seemed like the best choice under the circumstances. Some things I thought I'd want in labour just didn't work or seem important anymore too.

 

[tweetyfoo]

Like the others said, go in with an open mind.

I wanted a water birth, and wanted G&A only.

I went into preterm labour so was glued to the bed. I discussed pain relief with the MW and told her that I wanted to try G&A only, but if I needed more I didnt' want diamorphine, I'd go straight to the epiduraldoes

I managed on G&A only (through nothing more than stubborness)

It does hurt, but I really enjoyed labour, and so do lots of other ladies

 

[Babygiz]

Totally agree go with an open mind. Tends machines are good to start off then gas and air, it does hurt but just remember and focus on what you will get at the end of all the pain. My labour wasn't straight forward it lasted over 5 days, waters didn't break until I was 8 cm yes they were the 5 days from hell but would I do it all again - definately, the smiles I get from my son each day are worth the pain I went through and more.

 

[BunnyN]

Totally agree go with an open mind. Tends machines are good to start off then gas and air, it does hurt but just remember and focus on what you will get at the end of all the pain. My labour wasn't straight forward it lasted over 5 days, waters didn't break until I was 8 cm yes they were the 5 days from hell but would I do it all again - definately, the smiles I get from my son each day are worth the pain I went through and more.

Sorry this is off topic but do you know why your labour was so long? How long did it take once you were in established labour? Is there a reason they didn't break your waters. I had a HB with a long labour (38hrs not 5 days). I was totally against having my waters brocken but i gave in in the end because I was stuck at 6cm for so many hours and the MW was worried.

 

[Babygiz]

I honestly don't know if I'm being honest, all I know is that I had the show on the Thursday morning and kept getting pains throughout the weekend, these were pains that I could handle but unfortunately couldn't sleep with. I went to the hospital and was monitored and was told that they were strong Braxton hicks on the Sunday but was never examined internally. The next day the pains were just as bad if not slightly worse and by this point I was exhausted due to no sleep. I rang the hospital numerous times but they kept saying as I was managing the pain and the pain wasn't regular have a bath and take a codine. The codine made me sick. By the Monday I was in a lot more pain so ran the hospital and said I thought my waters had gone (I had no gush, trickle but wanted to get examined and that was the only way). I got to the hospital and was told I was 8 cm dilated and was being transferred to labour ward, at which point in the labour ward I got on the birthing ball and my waters gushed everywhere. I had no pain in my front at all all the pain I had was in my back although I was told throughout my pregnancy that the baby was on the right position. Looking back now I believe he was back to back. It then took another 13 hours to get from 8 cm to fully dilated as my contractions stopped I was put on the drip and had an epi. At one point the hospital scanned me as I don't think they knew where the baby was lying.

 

[Bump37]

Hey! My 3rd baby is due on 23rd Dec; I used a tens machine for my other two babies, no other pain relief, and it worked fab!!! They were both big boys (8lb 13 & 9lb 3).

Just hired mine on line to be delivered in a couple of weeks for the next one

Absolutely worth a try