Unprepared....anyone else?

Nutrguru

So last night was my first childbirth class with my husband. I've never seen a live birth, but I'm not completely unaware. But seriously, they stopped (for what seemed like FOREVER) at every stage---crowning, sholders, placenta delivery... Ug, needless to say my husband and I both left class feeling a little under the weather. I just feel like I am the opposite of being ready for this to happen.

 Anyone else in the same boat? Anyone second time Moms promise it's not THAT bad

 On the brightside we toured the birthing area and it's VERY nice. My husband is excited for the jacuzzi

SugarW

Sorry, girl!  I'm in the same boat.  I started watching videos on youtube and got a lil nervous.  I know in the end its all worth it.  Can't wait to see what second timers have to say.  Thanks for the post!

jlpowers82

I feel unprepared definitely. Its very surreal to me right now that this is  happening. We aren't taking any classes and aren't going to watch any videos. To be honest, my DH doesn't have a strong stomach to see that kind of stuff and I just don't want to freak myself out more. My feeling is instinct will come into play and that millions of women have been doing this for years without instructional video's. I really don't want to see someone elses hoo-ha and I want as few people in the world to see mine, especially in the state that'll be in when giving birth.

MarshaBrady

There's a reason in all of my 30 years I've never seen videos or pictures of that.  I must be really naive b/c I hadn't thought about seeing that in the childbirth class.  Why can't I prepare and read about childbirth without having a visual of what it actually looks like down there when the baby comes out?  I'm just way too squeamish to see that. 

melmacd18

We just had our last class Tuesday night and the instructor broke out the post-natal supply kit.  I almost cried in class just seeing the perineal squirt bottle, Dermaplast, the maxi-pad thing that I thought was a diaper at first and the thought of the carnage below.  The birth videos freaked me out a little, but after a week to process, I'm feeling better about it.  Oddly enough, I'm more nervous about recovery than labor itself.  I guess maybe, I just need a week to process and accept.

dairygirl19

It is not that bad at all. I went into my first labor and delivery fairly clueless for a host of reasons and I came out of it just fine.

When you're actually in labor it is what it is and you do what you need to as it happens.

Most of it is also done and over before you ever knew it happened.

As for the post delivery disaster "down there" it sucks for a bit but IME it wasn't that bad. Good pads and drugs will get you through it fine. You just do it.

It's one of those things that thinking about it is actually worse than surviving through it.

krisim

dairygirl19:

It is not that bad at all. I went into my first labor and delivery fairly clueless for a host of reasons and I came out of it just fine.

When you're actually in labor it is what it is and you do what you need to as it happens.

Most of it is also done and over before you ever knew it happened.

As for the post delivery disaster "down there" it sucks for a bit but IME it wasn't that bad. Good pads and drugs will get you through it fine. You just do it.

It's one of those things that thinking about it is actually worse than surviving through it.

Agreed!  It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be!  

MPSW

...and the good news is, from where you're sitting, you don't have to see any of it! When you're in the moment, all the things you're afraid of or anxious about (pooping on the table, the mess of the birth, etc.) is sooooooooo from your mind.

Nutrguru

Thanks ladies! I know it will be what it is, but I certainly didn't have the stomach to see it.  I just can't wait to see and hold my son, I'm just digesting the process until that happens. Thanks for listening!

dairygirl19

hallamb:

Thanks ladies! I know it will be what it is, but I certainly didn't have the stomach to see it.  I just can't wait to see and hold my son, I'm just digesting the process until that happens. Thanks for listening!

Ditto the pp. Watching someone else's labor is way more gross than your own. You won't even see the 1/2 of your own.

Kristin131

hallamb:

So last night was my first childbirth class with my husband. I've never seen a live birth, but I'm not completely unaware. But seriously, they stopped (for what seemed like FOREVER) at every stage---crowning, sholders, placenta delivery... Ug, needless to say my husband and I both left class feeling a little under the weather. I just feel like I am the opposite of being ready for this to happen.

 Anyone else in the same boat? Anyone second time Moms promise it's not THAT bad

 On the brightside we toured the birthing area and it's VERY nice. My husband is excited for the jacuzzi

I think the fact that we are 2nd+ time moms proves it isn't that bad! And like PP said, you have the best seat in the house bc you don't have to see anything lol. I don't even remember delivering the placenta or getting the cath taken out, so it must have been reeeal  traumatizing

CocoBrynne

That is exactly why I don't want to take the childbirth classes, I think they will scare me more than help.  Even watching One Born Every Minute kinda freaks me out a little bit, I'd rather not see all the gory details.

Nutrguru

Well childbirth class will be more than just the gory details, it will be going over coping methods, breastfeeding, finding a pediatrician ect...