Is there anyone else who has anxiety about labor?

barah07 · July 2015

I was just wondering if anyone is nervous about labor? With only 3 months left I'm excited and nervous. What if something goes wrong? What if my baby or I don't survive?

indy_chic · July 2015

I am nervous. ..mostly because we are doing vbac and there are some risks with it. But im mostly nervous about the silly issues ie. Poohing during delivery, weird smells etc.

Bingj · July 2015

I'm nervous and I've already done it twice! When I start reading about it, my palms get sweaty and my heart pounds. I have to stop myself from thinking about all the different scenarios. Right at the end of my previous pregnancies is when my excitement overshadowed any anxiety and I just wanted to be be done and holding my baby in my arms.

rhiannonbaca · July 2015

I am having a c section and I am nervous. I know it will be a different experience than a vaginal birth (I'm a ftm) but still nervous about it. I think it's natural to feel this way, can't wait to meet our little baby

BabyOIsComing · July 2015

I'm just starting to feel it. Up to this point I've just been trying to get used to all the immediate changes. Now it's getting close! I just keep telling myself there's no turning back, I'm in good hands, so just take it easy and do what the doctor tells me to do!

LiveNLove44 · July 2015

I try to avoid thinking about "what ifs" since they are often out of my control. The best thing you can do to avoid that anxiety is to not get stuck on the "what if..." and focus on what you can control. Distract yourself from worry by focusing on other parts of labor/delivery/PP. Baby is going to come out one way or another, and worrying about it can make the process a lot harder! You can do it

carlymarie021 · July 2015

Im with @LiveNLove44 can't think about the what ifs I know it's hard but you will drive yourself crazy.

ameares721 · July 2015

Perhaps it would be easier to ask if anyone does not have anxiety about labor? It's kind of a big deal. And overwhelming. Not to mention life changing. Nope. Definitely NOT freaking out!

MamaOwl15 · July 2015

I'm trying for a VBAC. I'm nervous about labor because I've never been in labor. My son was delivered via c-section at 37 weeks. I don't know what to expect and if freaks me out.

kfry22 · July 2015

I for sure do. I have a blood issue called Von Willabrands disease that causes my blood to not clot. I'm scared of bleeding uncontrollably. Plus I had scoliosis spinal fusion when I was 13 so I'm scared for my back. Because of that epidurals are out of the question. I just hope everything goes well.

bgriest · July 2015

Love this post! I was just driving home from the vet (guinea pig is having seizures) and thinking about how much anxiety I have about labor and delivery.

What is something goes wrong? What if he doesn't survive? What if I don't survive? How bad is this going to hurt? Am I going to poop? Will I be able to do it naturally? Will I cave in and get an epidural? Am I ready for this?

Etc.

leighann1 · July 2015

I wasn't...until I went to our first childbirth class tonight. Now I'm like:

Bingj · July 2015

@leighann1 LOL!!!

emmaline8 · July 2015

I keep getting freaked out over the weird stuff, like IV's or needing stitches. I'm not too keen on needles. I know those are silly things to fixate on.

carlymarie021 · July 2015

Yes

christina4436 · July 2015

leighann1 said:
I wasn't...until I went to our first childbirth class tonight. Now I'm like:

That's why I'm not taking classes! I worry enough :-/

dparker721 · July 2015

I've been stressing about childbirth since I first got my period in middle school....right now, I'm using the approach that if I ignore it, it'll go away. That's obviously not a good approach at all, but with 3 months left I can't start hyperventilating yet!

adunlap6651 · July 2015

I am nervous but with my first I had a postpartum hemorrhage due to the Pitocin I believe, I am nervous of having one again. But I am really nervous that he is going to come early since my body is starting to change and I am 27 weeks. I just don't want him to come to early I wouldn't mind if he comes after 36 weeks but not this early.

Knottie16832459 · July 2015

I'm so glad I'm not alone here. I've been thinking that I'm just a terrible mom, this is natural and I'm supposed to be ok with it but I'm like a toddler facing nap time. I don't wanna, I don't wanna! I've been there for a dozen births, helped raise many kids from newborn, but this, giving birth, terrifies me. Im waiting a few more weeks for my next ultra sound to confirm the my placenta moved up but at the last one it hadn't. I'm ok with a c section, I've had many surgeries in my life, but none with known complications going into it. But I'm loving the Snooki meme!

Krysta6 · July 2015

The closer I get the more nervous I get and I've even thought oh no how do I back out of this and my friends all say the baby has to come out somehow! We watched an L&D video in my birth class and while I've watched videos before they must have been edited beautifully because this one was slow and graphic (close up of head coming out for like 10 minutes). I felt traumatized after watching it but I remember that I'm not the one that will be watching it I'll be busy pushing. It seems that any of my friends who I've watched pregnant hit a point in the pregnancy when they are ready for the baby to come out (usually they are highly uncomfortable). I feel like this is natures way of preparing us for the task at hand, so when the time comes I think we will all be ready and prepared! For now I just obsess on the nursery and all the items the baby will need to keep my head from terrifying me.

JamieDubs · July 2015

My plan is to be as prepared as possible. I'm a very anxious person and expected to be losing sleep worried by now - and I'm not!
I've been reading everything I can to become informed, I'm attending evening prenatal classes with a friend , one month out I'm doing a one day condensed prenatal class with my husband since he can't come to the evening classes, and I plan to have a Doula at labor.
Feeling good so far

savedbygrace1213 · July 2015

I am definitely scared! I just have to remember that God is with me!! And so is my husband (although I'm pretty sure we will need an extra nurse just for him..

Rikki_5 · July 2015

I definitely have some anxiety. Mainly because this is all new territory for me. I just want to have birth my way and since I’m doing it in a hospital I have a feeling people will try to push an epidural on me, not that there’s anything wrong with that. I just keep telling my doctor I will have an open mind and I hope she does too. I really want to give birth in the squatting position, and will do so if I don’t get the epidural. If the doctor doesn’t like it that’s her fault—I’d love to contribute to her education.

batmom05 · July 2015

I have fleeting moments of nervousness, but nothing crazy. I think for me it's just wondering how it will differ from the first time. My only anxiety is what if I need a c-section. The thought of being awake and exposed makes me anxious.

I think my big point of anxiety, c-section aside, is what happens if my water breaks in the middle of the night. Hubby leaves for work at 2:30 am and I would be home alone with DS until he goes to school at 9. If something happened overnight, hubby would need to drive 30 minutes home from work, we'd need to drive 20 minutes in the opposite direction to drop DS at my parents and then 40 minutes from their house to the hospital. Since I've heard second babies come faster and my first L&D were pretty quick, I'm a little nervous about that.

Otherwise, I'm not too nervous about the whole L&D thing. My first pregnancy was riddled with complications and short of a few hiccups DS was born uneventfully. This has been an uneventful pregnancy with what is shaping up to be a much smaller baby, so we shall see!

baconlady · July 2015

I just wanted to say ya'll got this!

It is definitely scary . Just take it day by day and when the big day arrives just keep the eye on the prize. Regardless of "how" baby comes into this world or how tough of a labor it may be , it won't last forever. With my first I thought I was going to freak the hell out because by nature I tend to be a worrier and surprisingly remained calm .

michellelynn6 · July 2015

Maybe it's the hormones, but for the first 12 weeks, I was really stressed about labor... but then a few weeks ago, something kicked and I'm so excited to go into labor and give birth. I'm just so looking forward to it, not scared or nervous about it. I know it will hurt and be generally unpleasant, but... I just feel really excited about experiencing it for the first time.

lavenderlisa · July 2015

I'm nervous that I will have to have a cesarean birth. My mother and my older sister do not dilate so they had c sections with all there children. I'm just praying I can have this baby naturally.

abkenyon · July 2015

Not freaking out, not nervous. FLAT OUT DON'T WANT TO DO IT! I am in my own little bubble like it's not gonna happen (of course it's going to happen and yes we are doing everything to prepare) and putting one foot in front of the other every day. When my water breaks I will have no choice but to go along for the ride but I ain't thinking about it now.

Rikki_5 · July 2015

does your water break b4 labor starts or after?

komorebi · July 2015

@Rikki_5 i had mine broken once, otherwise it always broke while pushing. Don't let them break it. The contractions get so much harder. You want that cushion. And once it breaks you have a time limit to deliver since it's a protective layer against infection.

komorebi · July 2015

I'm always a little nervous. You'd think doing it a few times would lessen the worry but i respect the process enough to know that it's worth a little anxiety, and a ton of preparation! Knowledge really is power in this process.

adcoxmt · July 2015

I have my moments where I start to balk and think it will be impossible, but reading birth stories honestly helps a lot. There are some terrifying ones that may not calm you down, but even those let you know that it's possible even if it's the hardest thing you've ever done. But, try Ina May's Guide to Childbirth! The first part is full of birth stories that help you realize just how possible and natural the whole process can be. Some of the stories might be a little "crunchy" for you (I'm far from "granola" but I do plan to avoid meds if at all possible) but they really have helped give some realistic and positive insight on childbirth and how it will all be okay.

meghan82 · July 2015

ameares721 said:

Perhaps it would be easier to ask if anyone does not have anxiety about labor? It's kind of a big deal. And overwhelming. Not to mention life changing. Nope. Definitely NOT freaking out!

yep... agree with this 100%! i am nervous about it. mostly nervous about the things that go wrong. and the recovery/taking care of a newborn simultaneously. it seems like it will be SO hard. also, my doc mentioned concerns that the baby might get too big (i am petite plus had one elevated result on the 3 hr glucose which can be associated with higher birth weight) which would lead to her recommending a c-section. so even more things to be anxious about! hooray.

Want a personalized experience?

Is there anyone else who has anxiety about labor?

Re: Is there anyone else who has anxiety about labor?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards