Are you afraid of labor?

larahouseman · July 2014

So I think I may have found the silver lining of my PgAL brain. I was chatting with some friends (some pregnant, some with kids, some neither) and they all agreed that they either were terrified, or had been terrified, of labor.

I think I'm so focused on the fears about staying pregnant that I really haven't given labor hardly a thought. I'm only 12 weeks so maybe as it gets closer and I get more confident in the pregnancy I'll feel differently, which is why I'm throwing this out there.

So what about you? Are you afraid of labor?

Curbs12 · July 2014

I am definitely afraid of labor/giving birth just because it is something I have never done before so I don't really know what to expect. I try not to think of it, because I know I've gotta do it and it will be so worth it in the end!

MrsHamon09 · July 2014

I am almost 32 weeks and labor is deffinetly a fear just because its unknown territory for me.

MsAmandaPants · July 2014

I was terrified! I took a series of birth classes and did a lot of reading and feel much better. I feel empowered knowing that my body is built for this and have a better understanding of exactly what is happening physically/biologically/chemically. The classes talked a lot about different birth scenarios, from natural, to medicated, to problematic and everything in between, so I feel somewhat prepared that something won't come totally out of left field that I never heard of (i.e. forceps, vacuums, augmentation, c-section, etc.) . Of course, nothing can totally prepare you, but learning as much as I could helped bring down my anxiety level about it at least a little bit.

Patch89 · July 2014

Maybe it's just me.. but i CANNOT WAIT ! i am actually looking forward to the whole process. I am adamant i will only use gas and air and thats if i must. it might sound odd but i see it as a challenge.. to sail right through ! telling myself i can do it. Maybe because of my 2 prev losses i am all ready for labour? i did have a little experience with my 2nd loss which was at 22 weeks.. so i have a rough idea. BUT, all in all i cannot wait to embrace the pain and plough through it!! lol either way we have to go through with labour so may as well grab the bull by the horns! oh, and i have a really high pain tolerance.. so maybe I'm wanting to see just how high?? Im saying all this now but i could have a small contraction and be like GIVE ME AN EPIDURAAAAAAL hahahah hopefully not! 2 weeks left till due date!!!! x

Samuelismomma · July 2014

Not afraid of labor..the pain. Afraid of not knowing it's true labor or stand around like an idiot when it is..like with ds at 29 wks. Got to hospital was dilated to 3 because thought it was Braxton hicks:(...oh and I hate, hate iv's because they can't get my tiny veins! If I can get thru all that I'm good:)

2redtulips · July 2014

I am a little anxious about it, because I don't know exactly how it will go. However, at almost 37 weeks, I am pretty much over being pregnant. I am ready to meet the baby, and that overrides the anxious feelings.

I also think of all the women who have been through labor before me and that calms me so much. I know it's not fun, and I know there will be pain, but I have embraced that it's something I have to go through and I feel confident about getting through it.

rox825 · July 2014

I'm definitely afraid of labor. I'm going to take a class at the hospital and read some books, hoping to feel a little better after that! But yeah, terrified.

gingerkid9989 · July 2014

Definitely! I'm afraid (as other PPs have said) of not knowing if I'm in labor. I'm also afraid of the pain because I've had a few really bad periods with hellacious cramps. I cried like a baby. Lol. So I know that I probably won't handle contractions well. :O

carlsonbaby2014 · July 2014

I was feeling a lot of anxiety about it (and still am to a degree) but decided to sign up for a well-rounded child birth class that covers a lot of scenarios and approaches to child birth. Just being proactive in getting myself and my husband some education about the process was a huge relief. It's also a 10 week course, so we have a lot of time to think about everything and come up with questions.

[Deleted User] · July 2014

I'm not afraid of the labor process itself, and I wasn't really the first time, either. It's not fun but since I have to do it if I want my baby, I just don't think too much about it. Other than my epidural wearing off before pushing last time which suuuuucked, I had a pretty easy labor so that's probably helping me not worry too much now.

That said, I do worry about complications, in particular the cord being around baby's neck or ending up in an emergency situation.

BkBaby118 · July 2014

I haven't really thought much about labor yet, but I want to take a birthing class to mentally prepare myself at some point in the next few months before I'm due (November 10). I also have 2 pregnancy books that I haven't looked at yet, so maybe after I take a look at those materials I'll feel a little more knowledgeable!

megbmeg · July 2014

Like you @larahouseman I'm still more worried about loss than I am about labor. That may change as I get closer to EDD.

I'm an afraid of being in the hospital and feeling helpless or stranded. I felt that way after my ectopic surgery and it was horrible. I hope that I get lucky to have a good team on staff that day, so that whatever is going on, at least I feel like they're on it, and they're communicating with me well.

We're signed up for a birth class (a well rounded approach) that I think will help and I plan to do a hospital tour. I think that will make it easier to at least know a tiny bit of what to expect.

SamanthaLaura16 · July 2014

I am without a doubt petrified of labor...for some reason I always have been. I have been in the room for one birth that went amazing but it didn't really help. My mom almost died with both my brother and I so for some reason I just imagine that labor is going to be traumatic for me. I am of course really hoping that it is not going to be.

chicagojackie · July 2014

I'm not afraid but I already had DD.

Labor was fine. The contractions were manageable especially after the epidural. The waiting to be fully dilated was difficult but... The pushing was the hardest part for me personally, such an athletic feat

E&B0811 · July 2014

I'm not afraid of labor and delivery. I'll just be so excited to be meeting my little girl :-) Like OP and some of the other ladies, I worry more about loss and cord accidents than how much it will hurt or how intense the delivery experience will be. Too, I am very confident in my doctors and the care I will get at the hospital.

Meanwhile, I'm sure it's easy to get lost in the excitement of meeting baby when I'm only 18w4d. Ask me again when I'm 30+ weeks and my answer may be different.

JustinsGirl2011 · July 2014

I'm like a lot of you... not afraid of the actual labor/pain but unsure of what I cannot control & nervous about complications. I'm also hoping I can avoid a c-section. Can you ladies recommend any good books? I want to try to go natural if I can.

AnyMax · July 2014

I think I am still in denial that this is even really happening, so labor just isn't something that really crosses my mind much. We spent so much time and energy trying to get pregnant and staying pregnant, the focus just became so much about being pregnant, that I have a hard time visualizing my baby girl coming at the end of all this.

mandi195 · July 2014

I'm not scared. I look at it this way, women have babies in bushes in other countries, and get up and continue with their day. We have amazing medical teams, midwives, hospitals, doctors, and epidurals (if we so choose). Also, I've done this once before, and had to schedule an induction (no drugs, just broke my water and my body went from there) with my son, so I knew when it was happening.

I think everyone is different. I guess I'm just so looking forward to that moment, that there's nothing that could possibly make it less than beautiful for me.

tiffmatt · July 2014

Just thinking about TTC LO#2 had me scared. Labor with DS was 37 hours if intense contractions, all natural. It was a big challenge. Gearing up for #2 I was scared and nervous, but now that I'm pregnant again I'm trying to focus on being excited. I still have PgAL brain, but it's different this time around. I think I have a greater sense of how much things are out of my control and an -attempting- to accept it.
That being said, having a doula is such a worthwhile investment. My doula w DS was such a help both in preparing for the birth of my son and day of. Once I get a little further along I plan on asking her to be my doula again.

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Are you afraid of labor?

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Began trying for a baby January 2012
BFP 4.25.2013 EDD 1.3.2014 MMC 6.3.2013 D&C 6.19.2013
BFP 11.3.2013 CP 11.6.2013
BFP 3.31.2014 EDD 12.10.2014 Baby boy Carlson born 12.19.2014

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Want a personalized experience?

Are you afraid of labor?

Re: Are you afraid of labor?

Began trying for a baby January 2012BFP 4.25.2013 EDD 1.3.2014 MMC 6.3.2013 D&C 6.19.2013BFP 11.3.2013 CP 11.6.2013BFP 3.31.2014 EDD 12.10.2014 Baby boy Carlson born 12.19.2014

Choose Another Board

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Began trying for a baby January 2012
BFP 4.25.2013 EDD 1.3.2014 MMC 6.3.2013 D&C 6.19.2013
BFP 11.3.2013 CP 11.6.2013
BFP 3.31.2014 EDD 12.10.2014 Baby boy Carlson born 12.19.2014