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Natural Birth
2 weeks till due date, getting a little nervous!!
Our due date is fast approaching, and I'm starting to get a little nervous as the reality of impending labor and childbirth is sinking in 
So something I've been worrying about is whether uncomfortable pap smears are any indication of how painful childbirth will be. It would seem to me that since a pap smear is a pretty unnatural thing that it shouldn't be an indicator of how things will stretch out down there. I just need a little encouragement, I'm starting to get some illogical fears
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Re: 2 weeks till due date, getting a little nervous!!
I would think that birthing anxiety is very common, but try to focus on the positive things-You're two weeks closer to meeting your LO! Have you taken a birthing class or done any reading/research about natural birth? If so, practice and focus on what you've learned. Take the time now to rehearse any relaxation techniques you've learned. Continue/start doing any stretches, excercises, Kegels and walking- all things that will help prepare your mind and body for labor.
For me, I thought labor would feel like REALLY bad cramps. But no, it was totally different and completely indescribable. I wouldn't label contractions as painful, but more severly uncomfortable. The word "pain" to me equals sharp pain, and it wasn't like that, just an intense tightening of (what felt like) everything between my belly button and vagina. I just focused on getting through each contraction, knowing that the discomfort had a purpose and that it wouldn't last forever! I kept faith that my body knew, instinctively, what to do and all I had to do was let it "do it's thing".
You mention something about "how things will stretch down there"...I found it amazing that my body could change so drastically to accomodate a 7lb 9oz baby. It was fascinating to watch (yes, I had a mirror) and I was even more amazed a few days later when I had the chance to look at my ladyparts in a mirror to see that it didn't look nearly as bad as I thought it would. Just a little tired ;-) But, just as my MW and friends promised, it went back to being itself again in a few months!
So, push those crazy fears aside and focus on the prep and the LO on the way!
It's totally normal to have fears about pain. I know I did with our son. The good news is, is that (at least for me) the pain didn't come all at once. It didn't go from zero to 100 in no time flat. Your body works its way up to the strongest contractions. I say just take each contraction one at a time. Don't focus on how much longer you have to do it...just focus on your body allowing your sweet baby to be born.
Good luck with everything and you are going to do GREAT!
Hmm...I don't know for sure, but I do have the same problem! For me, the midwife said it is because I have a narrow pubic bone...so the speculum truly is more uncomfortable for me than for others. I would think there is partially a mental component to it, too, though.
And after going natural for 8cm with my first.....(using lots of techniques, walking, shower, etc, but also things I hated like external monitor every 30 and internal exams- those hurt me so much at the end of pregnancy!)...I did end up with an epidural (and pitocin) and ultimately a c-section for baby stuck in my pelvis.
Now, I debated telling you that, but I think it is good to at least be aware of the possiblities so that you will not feel that you failed. Because most of us are made for birthing, but not everyone or at least not in every situation. It's like our eyesight....something simple like eyesight fails many of us...that's just living in an imperfect world.
HOWEVER, (can you tell I am terrible at absolutes?), I am a very preemptive person at times, so I don't know that my c-section was definitely necessary. It was a hard decision, though. Basically, I had back labor the whole time which was manageable up until 8 cm, when my son apparently became stuck in my pelvis. Then....it was bad. (I think my water had been broken by this time, too, though) So, anyway, it was so bad that the epidural was just heavenly. But they didn't think I could push...I had no urge. So they turned it off. And...the horrid pain returned. So instead of waiting for someone to be able to come back and turn it on...I requested the c-section. I was in terrible pain. They couldn't reach the baby to pull him out. But...he was not in distress. But I didn't want to wait until he might be, so I choose the c-section.(I had reached 10cm, but he was at -1 station...basically hadn't descended and his head was also sideways and jammed.)
So, I hope that clears it up some! Yes, I have a suspected narrow pubic bone and pelvis which may have made my son become stuck...but he had also been posterior and he only moved to a sideways position.
I may have truly needed a c-section; maybe not. I wasn't willing to take the chance and find out basically! Now this time, I have an RCS scheduled in my 40 th week, but if I go into labor before...I will attempt VBAC. I just couldn't make up my mind between them. If I truly am small in that area, it may not work again or it may be really rough, but then again....c-sections are major surgery(more dangerous for mom and future pregnancies) so since I feel that VBAC can be safe for the current baby if we are careful and well...maybe preemptive again....I am willing to see what might happen!
I hope everything goes well for you! Odds are that they will! If not, try to remain open-minded. There aren't always right and wrong answers for everything...but there is what is right for you.
I think everyone gets nervous. You kind of have this realization that one way or another this baby has to come out! It really is incredible what our bodies are capable of. I didn't find pap smears to be similar to childbirth. To me contractions were like waves coming and going it felt very intense, but also very natural. Like my body knew what it was doing and my job was to just roll with it. Keep in mind that contractions will come, but then you will always get a break. So when things start to pick up, take it one contraction at a time. Focus on getting through that one and don't worry about the next one until it's here. There was a hypnobirthing affirmation that I always thought was helpful, "Every surge (contraction) of my body brings my baby closer to me."
You can do this! When your baby's birthday comes think of all the women around the world who are laboring with you. And think of all of the women who have been doing this for centuries. You are giving your baby a beautiful birth.
I've had two med-free births (the first was induced) and the worst pain with the first was the IV they put in. And the worst pain in my second birth was the catheter they put in to stop PP hemorrhaging. The labor part was no picnic, it was more 'work' than pain. Just stay focused, stay calm, breathe normal, close your eyes and relax.
The pain of a pap is definitely not an indication of how you'll handle labor. They really are two different kinds of pain.
I remember having that same thought! I would look at my huge belly and think how the heck is this going to work?! Even now it's hard to believe, and I saw/experienced it first hand!