Fear of L&D?

[nj_mom]

Calling all first time moms--

Is anyone feeling really nervous about their impending vaginal delivery? I have such conflicting feelings of guilt, fear and excitement: fear of pain and things going awry; excitement for obvious reasons; and guilt because this was a hard-earned pregnancy and I feel bad for allowing myself to consider any emotion save for joy. But when push comes to shove (pun intended), I am terrified of labor and delivery. Talk to any seasoned mom, and they will brag about enduring the most intense pain, days of never-ending labor and gruesome things like the dreaded episiotomy. Yes, I understand holding my baby will be worth every last bit of pain. But I am still just flat out terrified. I plan to have an epidural, but I still worry about progressing so quickly that there won't be time for pain relief...or getting too much medication and not being able to push. I have a feeling my anxiety is linked to my previous preterm loss; ie, on some primitive level, I equate labor with loss and no amount of logic or reason can erase that. But I am wondering...am I alone, or is anyone else a tiny bit terrified? And if yes, how are you coping?

[lori0615]

I have went through one vaginal delivery and I am scared to death to go through it again, I had issues with the epidural not really working cause I have a slight curve of the spine causing placement to be hard for them. I keep trying to tell myself this time could be different. I do have a better support system this time since I am married with a loving husband to stand by my side and can't wait to see my daughter.

[SHVEPS]

This will be my first delivery too, and while I've had a few nightmares about it :) I'm not quite in the panic mode yet. Maybe it's because I haven't gone through this before and I don't really know what painful contractions feel like. I know it's going to hurt A LOT but I am going to trust my body, my strength and my hubby's strength :) to go through it. In the grand scheme of things, what's a few hours of intense labor compared to a lifetime of worry, anxiety and sleepless nights? Although I know it doesn't accomplish anything, at this point I am more worried about her health and about things that can go wrong after she's born.

[happynifer]

i am not scared actually.
first time, planning an unmedicated birth with a midwife outside the hospital.
my bradley classes have been very helpful at preparing me, i've hired a doula, have a fantastic support network and me body was designed to birth a baby.....
i am way scared of what to do with her after she's here :)

[ivy_kween88]

I am not a first time mom either. Well I kind of am, I lost my baby boy Angel at full term so that is one of the main reasons why I'm so terrified. I had an emergency c-section with him so they put me to sleep completely. This will be a planned c-section just from the waist down, so scared! Trying to take it one step at a time. Everything will be fine, I try to repeat myself that!

[Caralea]

I am not a first time mom either, but.. this baby is my first planned baby and we're praying for a successful VBAC with little to no drugs/pain meds. My first baby was 6 days late, induced and ended up with a c-sec after 12hrs of labor, 7cm dilated and a completely healthy pregnancy. So the VBAC does scare me quite a bit. There are risks and benefits, positives and negatives. But in my heart I am very set on not having another repeat c-sec!

My midwife will allow me to go up to 2 weeks after due date to "spontaniously go into labor". Part of me is very excited to experience this finally, the opportunity of my water breaking or contractions happening on their own, etc. But the pain and stretching- kind of nerve racking. I am going to see a chiorpractor tomorrow and hoping he can help with my curvature (which I think caused the pain of the epidural being missed last time) and also with my hip pains... dear lordy this baby girl has dropped and caused some major pains!

[connorethansmom]

I know you asked for first time moms, but this my third time and I am still a little terrified.  My first was as you described was an intense experience and my second (induced) was very pleasant. I hope to go drug free on all accounts this time so I am doing a lot to prepare myself mentally for what is to come.  There are a ton of great books that are helping me cope, watching "pleasant" births on youtube helps, talking with my DH about my fears, but mostly I am trying to find time to help my body relax (not easy with a 4 and 2 year old and the holidays coming up).  Looking back after the last two times, I wish I would have relaxed more and been more go with flow (NOT my personality at all).  My body knows what to do, I'm just along for the ride really.  Something that helped me with my first was to visit the hospital often.  They had a nursing shop and a resource library on the L&D floor so I visited those to spots and got a feel for the floor, the people and of course I took the tour.