With my first pregnancy, I knew I wanted a natural birth and I was fortunately able to have one. I was overdue and in prodromal labor for about five days before I gave birth. I think in the end this actually helped me because when I finally arrived at the hospital my son was born within two hours! But now that I am just days away from my due date, I'm started to doubt whether I can do it again. Maybe it's nerves? I'm not really sure. Anyone else feel the same way? If you went natural with your first were you able to do it with your second?
Re: Second time around, doubting myself...
Yeah, I was definitely worried I wouldn't be able to get through labor again (my first was med-free through pushing for 4+ hours, and then an unplanned c-section).
But when labor started, it was familiar enough from the last time that I was able to deal with the contractions really well. The only time I doubted myself was during transition - I was thinking I wasn't relaxing enough, but it was just that I was quite far along. It's a really common thing to worry about labor, no matter how many times you've been through it before .
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
I went med-free both times. And I wont lie, the second time around I questioned whether I could handle it again. I'll probably wonder about it this time around too. Its normal. You know better what to expect/worry over. Just keep in mind, like PP have said, every labor is different. Start with what worked for you the first time around and if that isnt doing it, then try something else. Just try different things until you figure out what helps you/makes you more comfortable.
You can do this. Good luck!
Wedding 6.18.04 Cole 11.20.06 Gavin 3.31.08 Parker 07.15.10 Logan 04.03.12
I was definitely more nervous the second time than the first time. I think that's natural because, hey, now you know what you're in for! Part of me is even more nervous again this time. But both this time and last time I'm just drawing strength from the fact that I've done it before, and focusing on that!
Don't worry, mama, you can do it!
I was a little nervous before I had DS. Part of it, I think, was because I was having a home birth for the first time so there was still an element of the unknown even though I'd been through labor before. I worried a lot about what would happen if the birth was harder, if I wanted drugs and they weren't available because we were home, etc. Reading positive birth stories helped me a lot, venting to the few people who knew and were supportive of my HB and NB, and doing positive affirmations everyday were all really good for my mental state.
My second birth was harder (OP presentation, bigger baby) but I still got through it no problem and had a much easier recovery than with my first.