1st pregnancy and freaking about labor!

ttfn1516 · March 2012

so this is my first pregnancy and im freaking...(need more details lol i know). having some serious concerns with labor and not sure how to work through them. im 20 years old and 10 weeks prego thursday...needing some serious advice from all you please helppp!

sdwyer0202 · March 2012

Ahh, Yes. I was in teh same situation as you with my first. I was 20 when she was conceived, and after the excitement, the feeling of "Oh no, now I have to get this thing out of me" set in. I was terrified! Here is what I can tell you plain and simple. A few hours after delivering my daughter, my Best Friend came to see me. My exact words to her were" Whoever says you forget this kind of pain was wrong. I am NEVER doing this again". I still agree with the first part. I don't believe you ever forget how it felt. I do, however, think the pain is TOTALLY worth it. I will admit, I had a rough delivery, which didn't help, but trust me...YOU CAN DO IT, and you will be so extremely happy that you did!

irish city girl · March 2012

I know it's a scary prospect, but trust me, once you get to the end you'll want to do whatever it takes to get the baby out. You can do it and it won't be that bad when you're going through it. If it were terrible, no one would have more than one child. Yes, there are people that have traumatic delivery experiences, but most of the people I know, got through it without too many problems. I know one friend was upset by her experience, but less than 2 years later, she's pregnant with #2. It'll be okay!

kmwills · March 2012

You're young! Your body was made for this, literally. It's what your body was built to do. My advice would be to exercise (pregnancy-appropriate, of course) throughout your pregnancy. The better shape you are in, the easier labor will be. Also, when you go into labor, your body just kind of takes over and you go along for the ride.

My OB told me that my body would not grow a baby that I couldn't deliver. And if there are any difficulties, a C-section is always there to fall back on. With a trained medical professional (OB, midwife, whatever you choose) to help you through, you'll be just fine.

Congratulations!

kerilcrocker · March 2012

itl be fine hunny it hurts really bad but its a different pain that seems to just go away just after you see the perfect little thing you have done it all for, its more of an amazing experience than something you should concern yourself with youll be fine have faith. im on my fourth by the way lol so i am talking from experience.

L8kissie · March 2012

TYFN, with my first child, I had a long labor and it wasn't fun, but it was survivable. You don't really forget the feeling, but the prize afterward is sure great. Your body was designed to do this. There are graffic books and articles that you can read, but everyone's labor is different. My cousin literally pushed 3 times and her son popped right out. You are incredibly strong and can handle this. Really! Your body will know what to do.

FrickandFrack · March 2012

I really enjoyed my labor and can't wait to do it again although this time I would like to try med-free. It is scary to think about when you are a FTM but don't let it overwhelm you.

redjetta22 · March 2012

I think there's always that moment with the first where you realize "Ok there's a baby in there and going to come OUT!?!?" Lol Just look around at every person on the earth and remember everyone came out of somebody! Having a baby is amazing and scary and extraordinary, but also very ordinary. You'll be fine. :-)

AnaKat405 · March 2012

This is my first pregnancy, too, and labor was always my biggest fear. One of my friends had twins when she was 17. She told me about it afterwards saying they were going to do a cesarean and she begged them not to, so she was going to birth vaginally, then she begged them to please do a cesarean... lol. She said she hadn't really considered those were her only two options for birthing her babies! As it turns out, she birthed the first twin vaginally, the other got the cord wrapped around her neck so they had to do an emergency cesarean. Yikes!

Years later, my sister had her baby. She showed me the birth video and I was sure that fixed me on having kids! For probably a week after the birth her entire face was purple and her eyes were bloodshot from all the blood vessels she'd burst while pushing. She said because of the epidural she couldn't feel anything when instructed to push, so she just strained and beared down the best she could figure out how. I also got to see the big snip the doctor made for her episiotomy, and while I knew that they cut you, I didn't know the scissors were that big and the cut was that big!

When I finally decided I was ready to conceive I started watching birth videos on YouTube. I looked at all the options I'd heard about (hospital, birthing center, water birth, home birth, natural vs medicated, etc), including some that I didn't (never heard of unnassisted until I started investigating) and started deciding what I wanted my birthing experience to be like. Then I started researching books, workshops, message forums, etc., to provide me with the information and tools to get me there. Anything can happen, I realize that, but I have time to prepare so that I can make the best effort to have my ideal experience.

And as someone else mentioned, you're young! Your body was absolutely created for this! You'll do just fine. Congratulations!

turtlerun · March 2012

First of all your body was made to do this and you can and will do it regardless of what you hear, read, or are told. For me personally, when the time came I could care less how my DS came out just that he came out and was healthy. The rest kind of gets foggy with time because your main concern is your baby as soon as it pops out. GL and try not to worry too much. You have a long road ahead of you.

Jimsgirl5821 · March 2012

I was nervous to, but like anything else...its never as bad or terrifying as you imagine...it actually wasnt bad at all in my opinion. You are so focused on the fact the baby is coming, all your fears and phobias go out the window. You will do fine

My only advice is have your bag packed (being prepared will help you feel better), bring something to do (laptop, books, etc) so you have distractions and arent focused on your nervousness and make sure you eat something before you go to hospital. I went in at 7 p.m. one night and didnt have my daughter til 5:26 the next evening...that whole time I wasnt allowed anything but ice and maybe a popsicle.

Kalye · March 2012

I am just as scared I am 22 and expecting my first. Its funny because a week before we found out I was actually in the room when my best friend gave birth to my godson. That was her second and I was so scared that I would freak out seeing everything that was going on. It was a sight to see but in the end once he was born it was worth it. It was amazing to see and hes not even mine! We were deffiently built for this and will get through it

just remeber what the reward is at the end.

kg_08 · March 2012

At exactly 10 weeks pregnant with DD I remember sitting down on the floor and bursting into tears. DH asked me what the matter was, and I replied, "The baby has to come OUT!!!!!"

It's a natural fear. Just do your research and be as well informed as you can on the different scenarios and options. I prepared myself for the worst, and while labor wasn't a picnic, it wasn't as bad as I thought.

LizLovesJason · March 2012

When I was pregnant with my first, I was also terrified of giving birth. It helped me to look around at all the people I saw everywhere I went--work, the store, etc.--and think about the fact that every single one of them was born to someone. Women have been giving birth since the beginning of mankind! Your body was designed for it, and you're young so it will probably be easier for you.

My first labor was an induction and I won't lie--it was long and grueling and exhausting. However, the instant my DD was born was the most profoundly beautiful experience of my life. Despite all the difficulties of giving birth and caring for a newborn, I had my second 24 months later, and now I'm pregnant with my fourth. (Granted, the last two were C-sections, but those aren't a walk in the park either!)

You'll do just fine. Just focus on the end result--seeing your precious baby's face for the first time!

lisastro · March 2012

I'm pregnant with my first and thinking about labor scares me, too, so I don't. I figure it's too late to change my mind now. It's going to happen whether I like it or not. I'm going to wait until the third trimester to panic. Lol.

jennygirlmt · March 2012

I was really nervous about labor, the ring of fire terrified me. I eventually stopped reading about it, I decided between my body kicking into instincts and docs/nurses coaching me it would be fine. My delivery was perfect. I can't even put into words how perfect, easy and fast it was. I got an epidural which removed every ounce of pain, but when the time came I could feel everything I needed to push. She came in 3 pushes. Regardless, the delivery will be temporary and love for that baby will be forever.

While reading about everything about delivery didn't appeal to me, I really think that educating yourself on options is great and empowering. As long as you go in knowing that no matter what your ideal situation is (water birth, med-free, etc) it may not happen and you need to be receptive of emergency plans of action, then I think your experience can only be good. Good luck!

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