[willow79]

I think it's the fear of the unknown. Doesn't really matter how much you research/plan, you never really know what's going to happen.

I'm 23weeks with my third and I'm still starting to feel nervous about the birth. My first was pretty horrible & my second was a breeze.

Just remember in the scheme of things it really does only last a short time.

I think it's the fear of the unknown. Doesn't really matter how much you research/plan, you never really know what's going to happen.

I'm 23weeks with my third and I'm still starting to feel nervous about the birth. My first was pretty horrible & my second was a breeze.

Just remember in the scheme of things it really does only last a short time.

[GoodGollyMolly]

OP I was scared too, I think it's perfectly natural to be afraid. PPs have had some excellent advice. I found reading Birth Skills (recommended by my MW) to be extremely useful, not just for the techniques, but also for making me feel like I could actually do this!

I had no big desire for an all natural birth or anything but totally surprised myself by beig able to cope with the pain ok, I was in transition by the time we got to the hospital and DS was born 90 min after arriving! (there was lots of loud yelling on my part though but it was more groaning which was helping me cope rather than panicky screaming!)

I felt amazing afterwards and so proud of the way my body and DS had cooperated so lots of people have good stories about birth.

Now learning to breastfeed - that was a huge (and much more painful!) challenge that I wasn't ready for- my one piece of advice is to make an appointment with an LC even if you think you'll be fine. (we're happily BFeeding now)

Best of luck OP and no matter how your little one arrives it will be an amazing day that you should be incredibly proud of

[deejie]

I think it is simply fear of the unknown.

Movies overdramatise birth because movies are meant to be dramatic. For every woman in a movie screaming her head off, cursing their partners and thrashing around there are many women out in the real world who handle labour with a bit more grace Even in real life, nothing beats a dramatic story of days of labour and excruciating pain and so on and so forth. But you must remember that these are an individual's experiences and no one can say what will happen with your baby and your body.

Myself, I had one not so good birth and one awesome birth. You don't hear so much about awesome births because most people don't want to hear it!

Personally I found labour to me as much as a mental and emotional challenge as a physical one. If you can get yourself in the right headspace with a good support team around you it becomes much easier. I really recommend looking in to hiring a doula/private midwife to be an extra support person who can focus solely on you and your emotional/mental/physical wellbeing. A PPs suggestion of reading Ina May Gaskin is a good one.

Good luck:)

[Pooks*potters]

It can be horrible but it doesn't have to be. Educate yourself on your options and choose what is right for YOU. What is great for one woman may not be for the next. Everyone's birthing experience is unique.

[Guest_Retro_Mumma_*]

I was sh*t scared.

My mum almost died giving birth to me and the pain was so bad I thought I seriously thought I was going to die but you know what?

Its all worth it.

Im pregnant and doing it all again because yep its scarey and yep it hurts more than anything I could ever possibly imagine but you get through it and its all worth it.

[WaitForIt]

I was scared.

Then I started thinking about bringing the baby home and now I'm thinking 'birth? pfft, who cares, its one day. wtf am I going to do with a baby????'.

Sorry, I'm probably not helping... my point is, the whole thing is pretty scary and life changing, it would be a very calm person to just waltz through it all without a care in the world.

[*molly*]

Thanks ladies, I'm really touched by all the thoughtful and supportive responses! I'm starting to feel a lot better about it all and you've given me a lot of ideas of what to start reading up on.

Just waiting for DH to go out before I start watching birth videos - he's extremely clucky too but they might be a little bit confronting for him at this early stage!

[Nut]

There is a series that was running on Foxtel ages ago which may be still running, but you could probably find it if you searched for it. It's based in a birth centre in the US. It's a bit more natural and the stories are not so focused on what is interested and they don't all have epidurals (quite common in the US it seems, if the shows are anything to go by).

I think it's called 'Birth Day'.

Attended two births and it's a wonderful thing to be a part of.

[Miso_Missieys]

For my first I hit about 30weeks then kind of compared it to being on a rollercoaster and no chance of getting off, not that I wanted to but the thought of labour started to make me nervous and then because it was such a smooth labour I wasn't nervous at all for number two, and boy was I wrong. He was posterior and it was awful. Now if I fall pregnant again i'll be really nervous. Labour is of course very painful, however it's kind of something that is worth it, at the end you have your baby in your arms and all is forgotten for that moment. Cant be too bad right, we keep going back for more You'll do fine, don't go in with any expectations, just let your body do what it needs to do, you'll be amazed at what the female body is capable of! Good luck. V

[Raley]

I was quite scared but just thought i would go with the flow.

Then established labour kicked in and it was getting a bit uncomfortable. They offered me and epidural and I took it.

I feel like a cheated a bit as it wasnt that bad when they gave me the epi, but next time i hope to go for alot longer before i cave. I was just scared and took the easy option (which i enjoyed very much at the time!).