FTM - what irrational / ridiculous fear do you have about labor / delivery?

charmedlifex3 · April 2016

We've all got 'em I'm sure. Things you *know* are no big deal but sure seem like it with the prospect of all this less than 5 months away?

I'm afraid they will make me wear the truly hideous l&d gowns. I know (in theory) I won't care what I am wearing... But completely irrationally, ever since we went in for some scary BH contractions and I saw what they offered style wise, all I can think is "That gown was hideous. Nope nope nope."

#vain #ridiculous

ballofmeat · April 2016

I am delivering in the hospital I work in. So I'm worried about someone I know seeing my business. I am sure in the moment I probably won't care, but I can think of a few male phlebotomists I definitely don't want near me!

Katm89 · April 2016

I'm really afraid of getting the IV port and blood taken once at the hospital, which I know is silly because I'm about to push out a baby haha

Curls919 · April 2016

Allisun85 said:

We've all got 'em I'm sure. Things you *know* are no big deal but sure seem like it with the prospect of all this less than 5 months away?
I'm afraid they will make me wear the truly hideous l&d gowns. I know (in theory) I won't care what I am wearing... But completely irrationally, ever since we went in for some scary BH contractions and I saw what they offered style wise, all I can think is "That gown was hideous. Nope nope nope."
#vain #ridiculous

You are going to get so many bodily fluids on whatever you wear that you will be REALLY glad you didn't pay for anything "stylish" that you bring from home.

Curls919 · April 2016

I'm not a FTM but last time I was so afraid of bad tearing. Thankfully I was spared, but now I'm even more nervous this time around because DS came at 36w 3d and was only 6lb 6oz. So he basically popped out. By the "they grow half a pound a week in the end" theory I quite possibly would have had a 9lb baby (DH and I were both around that birthweight). I am so afraid of how big this one is going to be!!

JLyn821 · April 2016

Curls919 said:
You are going to get so many bodily fluids on whatever you wear that you will be REALLY glad you didn't pay for anything "stylish" that you bring from home.

^Truth.

charmedlifex3 · April 2016

Oh I recognize the irrationality of it...

tresamigos · April 2016

Since you're asking for ridiculous... A lot of women get puffy faces towards the end and I'm pretty sure I will too, and I don't want to hate all of my hospital pictures with the babies right after they're born. File that under ridiculous... and vain.

BritMC18 · April 2016

I have an irrational fear of catheters... no idea why.

cm716 · April 2016

@Allisun85 Jim Gaffigan has a bit about this. It's really funny. It goes something like 'oh you're labor? here put on this gown somebody died in yesterday'.

tmk0325 · April 2016

The whole birthing process scares me. From pushing the baby out to tearing. Ugh. Now that there are two in there my fear is i will deliver one vaginally and the other will flip and I will have to have a c section too and have double the recovery. My doctor said I can just go ahead and schedule a c-section right away if I want and I'm seriously considering it. Especially because the odds of having one are already high.

And if if we want a vain comment I also hope my face doesn't get like a balloon.

SkiChic626 · April 2016

Curls919 said:

Allisun85 said:

We've all got 'em I'm sure. Things you *know* are no big deal but sure seem like it with the prospect of all this less than 5 months away?
I'm afraid they will make me wear the truly hideous l&d gowns. I know (in theory) I won't care what I am wearing... But completely irrationally, ever since we went in for some scary BH contractions and I saw what they offered style wise, all I can think is "That gown was hideous. Nope nope nope."
#vain #ridiculous

You are going to get so many bodily fluids on whatever you wear that you will be REALLY glad you didn't pay for anything "stylish" that you bring from home.

I was going to say the same thing!

SkiChic626 · April 2016

Curls919 said:

I'm not a FTM but last time I was so afraid of bad tearing. Thankfully I was spared, but now I'm even more nervous this time around because DS came at 36w 3d and was only 6lb 6oz. So he basically popped out. By the "they grow half a pound a week in the end" theory I quite possibly would have had a 9lb baby (DH and I were both around that birthweight). I am so afraid of how big this one is going to be!!

@Curls919 DD was born at 38w and she was 9lb 13oz....I can't imagine what she would have been at 40+ weeks. This time it's a boy so I'm expecting he'll be as big or bigger. I'll take that repeat c-section now thanks lol

Bookhousegirl · April 2016

@rikopy swelling is my biggest fear about being pregnant through the summer (besides Zika). DS1 was born in March so it was still cold and I didn't really swell at all, but I hate the idea that I'm going to have swollen feet and ankles all summer

Totally vain, but if I have to walk around with a giant belly I would at least like to wear a cute little dress without having to worry about the state of my feet!

charmedlifex3 · April 2016

@cm716 Not helping!!! @bookhousegirl well... At least you won't be able to see your feet... Just pretend they are as pretty as when you saw them last!

AliKay20 · April 2016

Besides the excruciating labor pain (expecting this to be level 100 in terms of period cramp intensity), I'm afraid I'm going to shit all over the bed, team of med profs, whoever and whatever as I push.

JournoGrl23 · April 2016

I have OCD and can't stand stains or anything dirty. So I'm extremely afraid of how dirty everything will be. I'm afraid of bodily fluids getting all over the bed and myself and am curious as to how long they'll make me sit in all that before I'm allowed to get clean. I'll be panicking the whole time. Honestly, I want a c section just to avoid all of that. I know how crazy that sounds.

mamaqdubu · April 2016

Adding to the vain and ridiculous, I'm one of those people that when I cry for any extended period of time, in the morning when I wake up i seriously look like I've been punched in the face several times. I've had to take work off because of it just so I don't have to be questioned 1,000 times if I'm okay. Anyways, I don't want everyone visiting me and taking pictures when I look like that, so I have an irrational plan of no crying (.... Lol not going to happen)

emmeline714 · April 2016

I am scared of getting 4th degree rip because my step son did that to his mom and DH did that to his mom, this my first child and she is pretty long and as well pooping I've heard too many stories I'm kinda anxious and worry

tisunge602 · April 2016

AliKay20 said:

Besides the excruciating labor pain (expecting this to be level 100 in terms of period cramp intensity), I'm afraid I'm going to shit all over the bed, team of med profs, whoever and whatever as I push.

I was waiting for someone to talk about pooping while pushing!

katie121209 · April 2016

I am afraid of the pain of the epidural needle and also pooping myself like mentioned above.

JLyn821 · April 2016

caitlinj187 said:

Adding to the vain and ridiculous, I'm one of those people that when I cry for any extended period of time, in the morning when I wake up i seriously look like I've been punched in the face several times. I've had to take work off because of it just so I don't have to be questioned 1,000 times if I'm okay. Anyways, I don't want everyone visiting me and taking pictures when I look like that, so I have an irrational plan of no crying (.... Lol not going to happen)

You might not cry. I didn't cry and I expected to. There's so much going on after the baby is born that it can be distracting. I'm a puffy ugly crier and can totally relate on that instance.

riveridgional · April 2016

I'm an attorney and was defending a medical malpractice case against an anesthesiologist who put in an epidural and the patient had a bad reaction. I won't say what exaxtly happened to the patient because I don't want to spread the irrational fear. But, it made me absolutely terrified of that tiny risk of it happening to me. Absolutely terrified. But, I'm also afraid of the pain of labor! It's just hard to get that case out of my head.

jamiesc58 · April 2016

I am a worry wart on a daily basis and have had all of the fears with previous pregnancies. Pooping, swelling, not looking good for pics, messed up epidural, etc. I was never "told" that I pooped and honestly after pushing out a baby, didn't care. The nurse told me that if you poop, that means you are pushing correctly.

My fear is getting to the hospital too late to have an epidural. I do not have a high pain tolerance to begin with but contractions are no joke.

Pepper6 · April 2016

Curls919 said:

I'm not a FTM but last time I was so afraid of bad tearing. Thankfully I was spared, but now I'm even more nervous this time around because DS came at 36w 3d and was only 6lb 6oz. So he basically popped out. By the "they grow half a pound a week in the end" theory I quite possibly would have had a 9lb baby (DH and I were both around that birthweight). I am so afraid of how big this one is going to be!!

This was DD's birth weight and she was born at exactly 40 weeks. Lol

Pepper6 · April 2016

katie121209 said:

I am afraid of the pain of the epidural needle and also pooping myself like mentioned above.

They give you a shot of lidocaine to numb the area before actually inserting the epidural, so you don't even feel it. Getting the regular iv port is way worse than anything related to the epidural.

amccul20 · April 2016

@rikopy even if you don't naturally swell when they pump you full of fluids expect that it will happen. just an FYI. I wasn't expecting that or the swelling after baby either! why didn't anyone tell me?!

LadyBear10 · April 2016

@JournoGrl23 This is my fear too! I just cant stand sticky, slimy, gooey mess, but I don't have OCD. I keep telling my DH that I really want LO at least patted down before handed to me... which sounds awful and I know day of I probably wont care. All the bodily fluids give me anxiety...

kmlovato · April 2016

LadyBear10 said:

@JournoGrl23 This is my fear too! I just cant stand sticky, slimy, gooey mess, but I don't have OCD. I keep telling my DH that I really want LO at least patted down before handed to me... which sounds awful and I know day of I probably wont care. All the bodily fluids give me anxiety...

All of this. This is one reason why I wouldn't be able to handle a birth at home.

mkfolse22 · April 2016

I'm terrified of an epidural. I had a bad spinal tap in 2009 that left me in pain for about 4-5 months. I was stuck 6 times. I thought they did real damage and I was going to need to see a specialist. I haven't thought too much into what kind of birth I want to have but that fear has me leaning towards natural cause I don't want to go through that again. Even watching a woman get an epidural in nursing school made me cringe!

JournoGrl23 · April 2016

@LadyBear10 I told DH I want the baby cleaned off before I hold her too! I would like to think in the moment I won't care, but I probably still will.

Mrsrundell · April 2016

@jamiesc58 Yes! Me too.. I'm afraid I won't realize I'm in labor and won't get to the hospital in time to A) Get an epidural or

will have the baby at home. I literally live like 5 blocks away from the hospital.

I'm scared they will have a mix up in the nursery and give me the wrong baby or that someone will kidnap my baby from the hospital.. I don't want them to take him from me at all, just hand him over right when he pops out and I'm never letting him out of my sight!!

I'm also really scared of how bad everything down below is going to hurt after the baby is born, once I am home and I have to take care of a real, live human all by myself.

Also - I'm not scared of actually pooping, I'm scared that my hubby will say something embarrassing about it during the delivery and draw attention to it.. He needs to stay above waist level and keep his corny jokes to a minimum.

EDIT: I did not know how to make the cool little sunglass emoji before now but, that is awesome and will probably add it to most of my posts going forward

Curls919 · April 2016

@Mrsrundell - my hospital gives you an ID bracelet when you are admitted and immediately after birth they put one on the baby's ankle. They have ID numbers and every time they brought me the baby they check the numbers so you know it's yours.

bearsandbeets7 · April 2016

@Mrsrundell my hospital did the same as PP. DH and I both got ID bracelets when I was admitted and the baby had one on her wrist and ankle when she was born. Also our birthing center was completely separate from other areas of the hospital. DD had an alarm bracelet on her ankle where if someone took her out of the doors or even got too close to a window the entire birthing center would lock down. When/if you tour the hospital where you give birth they will probably go over their specific procedures with you.

gadzooks_3 · April 2016

My DH tends to panic, I am worried he will panic and I will yell at him like a bitch about getting better ice chips.

charmedlifex3 · April 2016

One more! I am scared of breaking blood vessels in my face (again) It happened while vomiting a few weeks ago, and it didn't hurt but it absolutely looked like I'd been hit in the face. I don't really want to greet this little baby looking like a panda....
Luckily when it happened before, DH is the nicest guy in the world, and I am known for being clumsy, so friends and family *assumed* I damaged myself. Thanks guys...

@liljabee This exact fear was why we hired a doula. Someone in the room who he knows to say "Yes, I know it seems like she's lost her damn mind. This is normal. I'll handle the ice chip situation, go have a breather in the corner."

cm716 · April 2016

@jamiesc58 this happened to me with my second. Mu labor was four and a half hours from first contraction to last push aaaaaand I probably should stop the story there.
.

Bookhousegirl · April 2016

@liljabee I had this exact fear with my DH, he tends to get really worked up in high-stress environments, but he ended up being amazing and totally calm and I've heard similar stories from others. I think once he saw how much pain and stress I was under he realized he had to be the stable one (even at the points where I was grabbing at his collar screaming obscenities

)

Katm89 · April 2016

@Mrsrundell I'm so scared of the same thing that I won't be sending our baby to the nursery and DH will go with the nurses if they take the baby out of the room. I know they have bracelets but that shit still happens! lol not very often but still

squishy0511 · April 2016

I'm afraid of pooping, my water breaking all over my chair at work, or in front of my coworker's (like is it really a gush? That would be pretty embarrassing trying to clean an upholstered chair at work!)

No more Miss! · April 2016

@squishy0511
I didn't have a big gush. It was more of a popping sensation and it dripping down my leg. I was able to roll out of bed (without getting any in bed) and get a towel. I sat on the towel on my couch and in the car on the way to the hospital.

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