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February 2013 Moms
ggatlanta
member
No risk factors - so why do I have "PTL on the brain"?
ggatlanta
member
[Mobile bumpies: title is No risk factors - so why do I have "PTL on the brain"?]
I have no real reason to worry; I have no complications thus far. Apart from the fact that pregnancy is the least glamorous endeavor I've ever undertaken, all is well with me and with baby. I love being a boring patient.
Yet with every odd sensation, I find myself taking three deep breaths and calmly planning what my next step would be if I was in fact in labor. I think things all the way through: how long I will wait before I alarm my husband by admitting the issue; how long before we give in to the gravity of the situation and alert the doctor; how likely I expect the doctor would be to ask me to come in if a particular pattern continues...
I don't panic: I just think, "Could this be it?" and wait for a sign one way or the other.
All this anxiously watching is exhausting me. I imagine it's how 37-week-ers feel, except I don't want baby to come now. I can't stop feeling this need to mentally prepare for something to happen - multiple times a day. I feel acutely aware of the possibility at all times. And even though I am pleased I can stoically keep panic at bay, staying up three hours at 3AM "just to make sure" I don't have a second BH contraction cannot be helpful. I do not need to practice staying this calm, this often.
Am I being obsessive? Give me a reality check. Anyone else inexplicably on ultra-high alert with each new symptom and sensation?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: No risk factors - so why do I have "PTL on the brain"?
Durring my last Dr. appt. the doctor said "congrats you have graduated to the final phase...now you need to know the signs of labor." AHHHH...what? I havent gone to my baby classes yet, so I dont think so! I am sure it is routine for them to tell you just in case something happens. I am like you...wonderfully boring pregnancy with no risk. Try not to stress out. I have been focusing on other things...finish Christmas shopping, wash all baby stuff, finish writting thank you notes from shower. Make a check list of things you need to accomplish and dont worry about the things you have no control over. Your body knows what to do and will let you know when something is really happening (that is what I tell myself). Good luck and Relax...Calm Mommy = Calm Baby
I think you are completely normal. All of these sensations are new to you and you want the very best for your baby. Even though I've already had one, I feel the same way because the first time around my water broke without any warning signs. I have no idea what the normal beginnings of labor are like.
And yes, it does get worse the farther along you are. By 39 weeks I was so big and uncomfortable that I couldn't wait for labor to start. Dads (and new grandmas!) start to get jumpy at that point, too.
This is a high stress time so I think its totally normal for you to feel like this. My recommendation would be to focus on what you can do right now. You can't control your body or the baby--but you can prepare a plan if you do go into pre-term labor. I'd suggest thinking it through and writing it down--then you don't have to obsess over it all the time because its on paper.
Then focus on what you can do now to prepare such as finishing the nursery, buying essentials like diapers, finding a pediatrician, etc.
If that still doesn't help try setting aside a "worry time" each day at the same time. So when a worry comes up you can tell yourself--"No, I'm not going to obsess over this all day long. At 3:00 I have 15 minutes to worry about it" When the time comes just go ahead and worry yourself sick. Set a time limit on it though and when the 15 minutes are up you have to shut it down. This strategy worked so well for me that I totally forgot to worry altogether!
Hope this helps! Good luck!
Going to use these starting today! Thanks so much!
JuliaBug, in my world, that is a nightmare situation... I was really hoping this was just something that happens on TV, so I am extra sorry it happened to you (and I hope you were at home)!
I'm honestly not sure what would be worst: the mess, the stress, or the uncertainty of what's going on. (I'd think, "Wait, did I just pee in my pants or go into labor? Hm, well, I mean, I guess I should smell it? Oh man. Please let me have some extra pants in the car.")
It honestly wasn't that bad at all. It was the day before my due date and I had already left my job, so I was home. I felt a little wet pop, ran to the bathroom, got my pants off and on to the toilet before the actual gush of water came. There was no mess for me to clean up.
I carried a few towels and a change of clothes in my car for weeks before I was due, just in case!