4 weeks till baby due and in a panic - help!

TaraMcK87 · October 2015

4 weeks till my due date, just started my maternity leave and all I'm doing is sitting around, thinking and just besides myself with fear about giving birth! I'm petrified! Can I please have some words of encouragement pretty please!
Thank you so much in advance!!

jscasher · October 2015

Women have been doing this for like, a gazillion years.

You got this.

carliebell13 · October 2015

Take some deep breaths mama. Look up positive affirmations and prenatal guided relaxation online. Spend at least half an hour every day just concentrating on your breathing (check out J breathing from hypno birthing or yoga breath for labour) with your eyes closed and saying to yourself that your body was created for this very purpose and it can and will bring this baby into the world. Try and calm your heart and mind and your body will follow. This will be so good for you when the time comes because you will have practiced calm and relaxation and your body will be less tense and baby will move more fluidly through you. You CAN do it. The more you stress the less you'll believe you can though. Stress is your enemy. Relaxation is your teacher and your friend. You have time to learn and rest so use it well. Hang in there mama you're almost there. Xx

Ceridwen77 · October 2015

Read a childbirth book. They have helped me feel empowered and prepared.

VexedMommy · October 2015

What is it about giving birth that worries you? Is it pain? Many women cope just fine without any pain medication and there is very good pain medication available if you choose to take it. Instead of letting birth be one great big bundle of OMG! WTF! AGGGGHHHHH! I suggest you read about it. Learn specifically what happens to your body and the possible things that could happen. Like a PP suggested, educate yourself and research. Most women get through childbirth pretty much unscathed. There are many second, third, fourth, and even fifth time moms around so it can't be such a bad experience that women aren't willing to put themselves through it multiple times.

drowe214 · October 2015

Try to enjoy this time, it could be a week or 3. Get lots of sleep and do little things to stay busy.

angelinthepit23 · October 2015

This is why I'm working up until labor. I'll drive myself nuts at home. Have you started a baby book? If not this would be a great thing to keep your mind of the stressful part.

gipfish · October 2015

Just remember, you are not a victim of labor. It will start on it's own, but you can be intentional and stay in control of it. Labor isn't something that just happens to you. It is a time when you can actively help your baby.

Bettytteb · October 2015

angelinthepit23 said:

This is why I'm working up until labor. I'll drive myself nuts at home. Have you started a baby book? If not this would be a great thing to keep your mind of the stressful part.

Ditto. Well almost. I needed to choose a day to start my leave so I decided I'd work until the Friday before my due date (due date is a Tues.). I think if I was just sitting at home waiting for baby to arrive I'd go batty! Although a little extra time to get things done would be nice.

OP, in addition to PP's suggestions, maybe you could use this time to do the things you like to do that you wont have much of a chance to once baby arrives. I know if I weren't at work right now I'd probably be playing the piano, organizing around the house, reading for fun, watching Netflix, and taking walks in the woods to see the leaves changing!

happily_to_be_married · October 2015

I wanted to work up until I went into labor, but I am currently on bedrest at home. I went into labor early and they had to stop it. I was also diagnosed with gestational hypertension so I have to try to stay as calm as possible. I can't even get things done while being home and it was driving me nuts. I am trying to read up and become knowledgeable on things before going into labor. I am catching up on shows and reading books that I haven't had time to read. Yesterday I painted each nail a different Halloween design, just because I had the time. It is hard when you can't be up and moving around like you are used to, but I am trying my best not to stress. I don't want to bring on labor early again. Hope this helps.

GracedGuest · October 2015

What helped me with DD was reading childbirth books and birth stories online. Reading other women's stories helped me feel empowered and prepared for whatever might happen during my daughter's birth. I read the easy, painless birth stories alo with the long, difficult birth stories... It helped me feel mentally prepared for whatever my labor experience would be..

FilbertTree · October 2015

The way I see it is that if millions of women through history chose to do this more than once (myself included...although I didn't really get a choice first time around but that's another story) then it really can't be that horrifying. If your fear stems from people in your life are regaling you with labour horror stories, tell them to stop. Those stories more often than not come from someone's need to be a martyr and the centre of attention, and not actually from a really horrible experience (although some women do have awful experiences, it doesn't mean that everyone does).

I read the birth stories in Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and found them to be incredibly empowering. Some are way too crunchy for me, but on the whole it was a fabulous reminder of the fact that we can do this. I'd been really doubting myself, second guessing my desire to go med free, just freaking out about the whole thing...but those stories helped to reassure me that birth needn't be awful.

Arm yourself with knowledge. Read about the physical process so you understand what your body is doing. Ask your OB or midwife questions. Don't be passive. With DS I pretty much resigned myself to my fate and didn't advocate for myself. My experience wasn't hideous, but it wasn't ideal either. This time I'm more knowledgeable and more confident; I've read and researched a lot more and I know what I want and what I don't, I know what my hospital offers and what it doesn't, and I know how to ask for what I need.

And just a side note; it's really nothing like Hollywood would have us believe.

modanz1 · October 2015

Worrying is not going to change or help anything. (I know, it's easier said than done to stop worrying) But the best thing you can do is relax your mind and body, not only will you be less stressed but it will actually help make the labor process smoother. It is only temporary pain, discomfort, etc. Keep telling yourself you can do anything for a little while!

NovemberSno · October 2015

You have literally grown a HUMAN inside you! A real, live human. Getting it out is nothing compared to that! You don't even realize how strong you are. Don't stress, get out of the house, go do some fun things before LO gets here. Know your options as far as birth and be flexible. Know that just because your birth may not go exactly how you plan, doesn't mean you failed. And keep in mind you have grown a human inside you, this ain't got nothing on you!

eatcrayonspooprainbows · October 2015

Take a class. Tour the hospital. Both helped ease my nerves

lopezalonso · October 2015

I was also petrified before giving birth to my first and to be honest I'm starting to get a little anxious the second time around. However, it does help me to think about how we are built for this and how after the first time I thought, "giving birth is no spa treatment, but this definitely wasn't as bad as I expected!"

japostolova · October 2015

Generally, when the pain starts and grows consistent ( for me it was intense & steady period like cramping), you will know if it's consistent and doesn't subside you either a. Call your ob or b. Go to the hospital. Generally your body miraculously knows what to do to prep and get the baby out. If you need assistance, trained medical professionals are standing by. Your job is to remain as calm and focused as possible. It's not usually a sprint but rather a marathon. Brace yourself and work on your mental endurance to get you through

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