Repeat Moms - What are you most nervous about with the labor/delivery/recovery process?

adirain

For me its the first time you have to get up and use the bathroom!!! To me that hurts more than delivery sometimes!!!  Youchy!

jpavenski

@aylacbw‌ that's awesome, I wish I could say the same about blocking out the pain! I too had drug free & will never forget it, of course it is all worth it. My fear is also not making it to the hospital in time. Last time I knew I was in labor but it wasn't that bad, I was at home until 5cm. Then only at the hospital 2.5 hours before my son was born. I would take fast over slow anyway but it was kind of crazy & confusing how quick it went.

djoliet

Pooping after delivery. Seriously I was so scared to poop afterwards the first time, not looking forward to it this time around. Peeing was no bigge. My nurse bribed me and said shed take that damn annoying iv out of my hand if I peed for her so I did.

Honestly though guys, don't judge me for this or think I'm weird but I'm dreading wearing pads after birth. I hate wearing them, they feel like diapers to me. I wear tampons for my period, so not looking forward to having to wear a pad for 2 plus weeks.

I'm also scared of tearing. I only had a 1st degree tear the first time and my son was a little 5 lb peanut. This baby is already measuring bigger so that makes me nervous

kellbell1982

I don't want the catheter again! To me that was the worst part and I went through three days of drug free labor which scarred me for so many years I was afraid to try again. I'm not trying to scare anyone but I had severe pre-eclampsia and nearly lost my life and my babies. Drink water!!!! I can't emphasize that enough and if you get a bad headache and/or extreme swelling during the third tri head right to L&D that's the only thing that saved me and my daughter

ashleyrh661

I'm most nervous about breast feeding. I wasn't successful last time with my son. He ended up being dairy/soy intolerant and it was terrible. I've already looked into finding BF support groups so I'm really hoping to make it till a year with this next babe.

I had a c-section last time and am planning a repeat. It went smoothly and I had an amazing recovery so I'm not worried about the birth.

Whitfry

I'm scared because it's all unknown to me. This is my first. So as voraciously as I read stories and talk to people, I understand there is no way to comprehend the reality until it's actually happening.

As a structured person who likes to know exactly what will happen, the not-knowing is the worst part.

honkytonk_kid

I'm only scared of another breech baby and/or another c/s.

LadySnowblood

I just want the chance to have a VBAC this time. I switched OBs, and my new one wants to look at the op report before she makes the decision of whether or not I am a good candidate. For some reason, they weren't able to get it before my last appointment, so I will have to wait another month (well, 3 weeks now) before I know. It's driving me crazy.

lewispm

I'm terrified of a repeat C-section, although I am not trying for a VBAC for medical reasons so C-section it is! The recovery was awful with just a newborn, I can't imagine it with a 2yr old plus a newborn.

Also, seeing my incision staples, the gas pains after surgery, getting the cath removed, nipple pain from BFing, not pooping for 11 days, wearing mesh panties and giant pads, the pain when you finally do poop, and the lack of sleep all terrify me. And if I'm being 100% honest, the thought of having an infant as difficult as my son was is absolutely horrifying.

starsailorr26

Honestly, the most painful memory of labor pre epidural was getting checked by the nurse in L&D triage. It was worse than the contractions I felt before getting the epi. I had a pretty smooth recovery and am just hoping for the same.

adirain

flmama622 said:

I'm nervous about not making it to the hospital in time. Last time I was in labor but I had no idea, thought it was braxton hicks since I was early. I was 4cm at the Dr's office and delivered 4 hours later.

People keep saying your second comes faster so that coupled with a 30 minute drive to the hospital kind of freak me out. 

WOW.  All my first three were all different labor times the last being the longest!

adirain

happymamax2 said:

Oh yeah and the massive hemorrhoids and the baby blues! They were so bad for me I literally for my mom like I was 5 years old again.

I forgot about that!  Bawled my eyes out on the way home with all three - and I didnt know why!  Ugh!

kellbell1982

happymamax2 said:

Oh yeah and the massive hemorrhoids and the baby blues! They were so bad for me I literally for my mom like I was 5 years old again.

My ppd was so severe and I remember the shame I felt when I tried to talk about my feelings with the other new moms I was stationed with and they acted like I was the worst mom ever because it wasn't all rainbows and unicorn farts after birth and it took time for me to bond with my dd after a really hard L&D where I nearly died

MissyCee

Other than the obvious being nervous about any potential complications, I'm nervous about getting the epi again. When I got it for DD it certainly wasn't painless, and when he stuck the needle in, my leg jerked out like I was trying to kick something really hard. And the guy goes "Stay...very...still." So then I was worried I'd have another spasm against my will and the needle would hit something and I'd be paralyzed. Probably pretty silly, but in the moment I was really nervous about it!

Plus when my H saw the needle before it was stuck in me had this look of shock on his face and he looked at me and said, "woah...that needle is huge!"...Thanks H, I appreciate it....LOL

malijo1025

@ashleyrh661‌ I am there on the breast feeding with you. I tried so hard and felt so ashamed that I couldn't do it. This time around I have done a ton of research and my mom is coming to stay with me for a few weeks. She breastfed 4 babies total and produced extra milk. She is an expert.

I also had a c-section due to a heart complication with my DD. My recovery was wonderful. Hopefully that is repeated this time around. Sending T&P your way for successful breast feeding.

thursday

I am nervous that I won't have a easy birth like last time. My water broke at 4am went to the hospital at 6am was induced at 7 got epidural by 8:30 am at 1.5 cm never felt a contraction just a little discomfort in my legs prior to epidural. Laid around watched TV until 4:30 starting pushing baby out at 6:05. Now I feel like there is no way I will have that easy second time around.

071115

I'm nervous to not make it to the hospital. Or being alone and then what. How do I get to the hospital? What do I do with my kids?

mangomimosa

1st timer here

::should not have clicked::

mariahd43

The first #2 after delivery... ouch!

Robi1

aylacbw said:

I'm not really nervous... I know I can do it. I had a med free birth with my last one and I am really excited to get to experience that again. I've blocked out the pain from my memory. I remember it hurt and that at one point I thought I was dying, but it just doesn't register. What I do remember is that feeling the second your baby comes out, it's the most amazing thing in the world. 

I'm not looking forward to contractions or the heavy bleeding after birth. I'm also not looking forward to the hospital procedures/policies like the nurses coming in every twelve freaking minutes to check my blood pressure. 

Mostly this. I had a great first birth, and I'm pretty confidant and low-stress about it. I guess what I'd like to avoid the most is having a baby that's breech or otherwise malpresenting, and thus forcing me to go to a hospital or risk a C-section, but other than that, no big worries. 

I do hope the stories are true that second labors go faster, since my first was a 23 hour labor with 2.5 hours of pushing, but I know that I can handle a long labor, so it'll be okay if it's another long one. I hope I don't tear, but the recovery wasn't too difficult so again, not a huge deal. I'm actually really looking forward to the labor process again! 

Ardmhs83

I'm nervous that I won't get my VBAC and could end up with another c/s.  I'm also nervous about the beginning stages of nursing and the no sleeping/zombie feeling you have for several weeks.  Praying for a non-colic, non-tongue-tied "easier" baby this time.  Also scared to death about PPD/PPA creeping back in...oh the awful insomnia that comes with the anxiety.  Trying to stay optimistic about all of this...didn't know for a while if we even wanted a second because of our first experience.  This one has to be better, right?!  

Ardmhs83

Oh and I must say after reading this whole thread...I don't feel alone in what I went through and also must say, damn are women amazing, or what?!

mrsmendoza13

I am extremley nervous about having another csection! Last time the nausea and pain was so bad afterwards! Plus this baby will be in NICU for a few days after birth so that defiantly is a stressor!

Haps92907

I'm also nervous about not making it to the hospital in time.  Last time, my contractions were 6 min apart *forever* and then suddenly 3 min apart.  H wanted me to call the doctor after they had been 6 min for a while, but I resisted because I didn't want to be turned away at the hospital.  I was 7 cm when I got there and they said it was probably too late for an epidural.  I cried and cried.  I was so scared. 

In the end, I was able to get one, which was good because I had not prepared for a med-free birth.  The whole labor and delivery process was really traumatizing to me though.  Maybe I am a wimp.  I was not one of those women who felt amazing at the moment of birth and fell in love at first sight. I had been awake for 24 hours though, so I'm sure that played a part.

LadySnowblood

WAMOM said:

Aww you ladies make this all sound so scary. But I will say my second delivery was easier than my first delivery. I didn't have an episiotomy my second time, pooping was a breeze, but the AFTER contractions which apparently don't really exist with your first suuuuuucked. They happen for a good day or two after birth because your ute decides to violently shrink back to size and it hurts. I am not looking forward to that again. Hello heating pads!

Oh yeah. I forgot about the pp contractions. I did get to experience that with my first. Not fun. I heard they only get worse with each birth? Please tell me that's wrong.

maisonduchoco2

Oh geebus, I just read the responses and am now cringing at the memory of my episiotomy. I hope I don't need that again. However, the stitching up was the worst part about it. My OB forgot to tell the nuse to take away the mirror that was RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY VAG so I could see everything. (  I really don't want to see that happen through the mirror again.

Amy and Jay

My 1st labor was rough (pushed for 4 hrs, tearing and a bad recovery) and it was rough on DD so I'm scared of a repeat performance. My 2nd was much easier so fingers crossed for that ;-)

LadySnowblood

Oh I know, they are awful @WAMOM. It didn't hit until after I came home from the hospital. I felt like I was going into labor all over again every time I nursed for a couple of days.

Kdeanda

Since I'm having Csections back to back, I'm worried about the recovery while taking care of my daughter. She will only be 13 months. I'm also afraid of getting up to pee and basically needing someone to help me in and out of bed for about a week and a half post Csection. Us mamas sure are amazing though. We got this.

neko621

After having PPROM at 26 1/2 weeks the first time around, I just want to make it to term.  I'm going to have another c/s, it's already been scheduled, and I'm ok with that.  I just want it to be a good experience and not so traumatic and scary.  And I want to take my baby home from the hospital with me.  My two were in the NICU for 70 days.

starsailorr26

Oh yes, I'd forgotten about the PP contractions. I only got them while nursing but still. At the time they made me shudder because I clearly remembered the pain of the contractions.

ashleynicholee93

I'm scared that the csection is gonna hurt more the 2nd time around. And I'm scared I'll get another infection and not get to see my baby for 3+ hours after it's born.

pregarella

I am also pretty terrified of not getting to the hospital in time for an epidural.  Every single mom I know that had their second, the baby came shooting out of them before they had time to blink. 

 

mommyofkaylin

I just want a successful vbac. I don't want another c section. 

jess412love

I am scared for many reasons. With my son I was induced at 39 weeks, when labor wasn't progressing we broke my water, this caused a placental abruption. I ended up needing an emergency c section. I woke up 3 hrs later confused and disoriented. I ended up needing a blood transfusion, and don't really remember the first day with my son. Thankfully my son was born 100% healthy, with abruptions this is not always the case. I will have a scheduled c section with this pregnancy. But I'm definitely nervous!!!

morristhecatmom

I am moving from a 36 hour induction at 42 weeks experience to a home birth this time. I've been wavering between the birth center and home and I'm starting to lean more towards home because the idea of packing up my new six-hour old baby in a car in the middle of March just doesn't seem ideal. Just not knowing what to expect in a different environment makes me nervous but I'm glad to know that I feel like I'm in better hands now.

Fortunately my physical recovery afterwards wasn't bad and they only need two minor stitches (I know it doesn't work for everyone but seriously perineum massage truly saved my vagina in this case).

I'm worried that despite the circumstances being different I'll have another 36 hour labor (maybe even longer) with no option of pain relief. Although I know if I hadn't been induced my labor probably would have been much different but still.

JennyP0222

I am not exactly LOOKING FORWARD to labor and delivery, but I am not dreading it. My experience was fairly routine, just a very long labor. My biggest fear is getting pre-eclampsia again. I got it post partum and had to go back to the hospital a week after delivery. 3 days on magnesium while recovering from delivery, no sleep, had to get a cath,  and cluster feeding a newborn that I was too physically weak to hold because of the magnesium. Awful experience. My doctor has advised me to take a low dose aspirin a day as a way to minimize my risk of recurring pre-e but that is all I can really do. Just really hope it does not happen again. 

janda426

What the fuck am I getting myself into???

Is not being able to pee common? I have an irrational fear of having to pee and not being able to.

sweaver93

Honestly, I'm scared of my husband not making it. Last time I had to convince my doctor that waiting 12 hours to induce(38 weeks, no dilation, just was diagnosed with pre-eclamsia) so I could drive 10 hours round trip to get him.

My other fear is not being able to do it. It sounds so stupid, an with my other two I wasn't scared. I went in and did it all conoletely natural and with my second, I didn't feel the contractions at all when I was actively pushing unless I was leaned back. With my first I tore on both sides, the doctor ony mentioned one. And that was only because the stitches. With my second, no tearing but she did get stuck coming out and ended up fracturing both of her collarbones. It was terrible for her. My new doctor is insisting I get a c-section now at 37 weeks and that I have to get an epi. I don't want a c-section, and my neurologist mentioned that the epi could easily make my headaches into a lasting thing and way worse than they are now. Plus I've heard it's really painful and I wanted it natural again. I've already said if I get a c-section it'll be under ga and even that scares me. I'm already nervous about delivery and I'm barely 13 weeks. On the up side, this time my in-laws aren't allowed at the hospital, so they can't show up immediately after I give birth and throw a fit until my husband goes out to eat with them.

Edit: autocorrect hates me