Did you ever fear dying while giving birth?

I want to know if any of you mamas had this fear. I never did, I never have so I am not quite sure what to say or how to react. My sister is due November 15th with her first baby. She's very short, she is only 4 foot 10 and she's told me before she doesn't think she can deliver vaginally, although her dr says her hips are good size and doesn't see a c section in her future. I just found out she has a detailed letter of her wishes if she dies while in labor. It just seems odd I guess, I was afraid of the pain with my first but of course, that's expected, you're passing a baby, it's obviously not going to be the most comfortable thing in the world. It scares me to know she has these fears and I have no idea what to say to her. I know women can die during child birth but she honestly fears she WILL die. Literally, not just "die of pain" but actually die. Is this a common fear? IDK, I guess now I'm just really worried and don't know what to say to her to make her feel at ease. Any advice?

Not before I gave birth but during my C section I was pretty sure I would never live to see my son.

im worried about complications because of my repeat C section, not dieing from labor..  

Quoting Mommyof3inSA:“ I want to know if any of you mamas had this fear. I never did, I never have so I am not quite sure what ... [snip!] ... common fear? IDK, I guess now I'm just really worried and don't know what to say to her to make her feel at ease. Any advice? ”

Tell her that my aunt and mother are barley 5ft tall and both gave birth to children over 7lbs each vaginally with no problem. My mom MIGHT weigh 100lbs.

i had a nightmare about it the other day... i had watched jersey girl where jennifer lopez died from an anurism while giving borth and it freaked me out!

I understand the c section, it's surgery and I thought I was scared I was going to die from just gallbladder surgery but I haven't ever heard of someone fearing vaginal child birth. It makes me sad she's scared as badly as she is  

Quoting Mommyof3inSA:“ I want to know if any of you mamas had this fear. I never did, I never have so I am not quite sure what ... [snip!] ... common fear? IDK, I guess now I'm just really worried and don't know what to say to her to make her feel at ease. Any advice? ”

No! It never crossed my mind that dying was even a possibility, truthfully....... That's sad!

I'm only 4"10 and I never feared dying during a vaginal birth--I never even thought about it. But, I was never really able to attempt one.
I remember right before being put under with general anesthesia for my c-section, I feared something might go wrong and I wouldn't wake up.

Quoting Not tellin:“ Tell her that my aunt and mother are barley 5ft tall and both gave birth to children over 7lbs each vaginally with no problem. My mom MIGHT weigh 100lbs. ”

That's what I told her, we have a family full of shorties. My mom is 5 ft, my great grandma bless her heart was only 4 foot 8 and she delivered 8 babies perfectly fine. My mom had a lot of complications while in labor with her, they tried to do a c section but my mom wasn't able to sign for it and my dad refused so I guess maybe it could be linked to that, idk, just kinda makes me scared for her, I hate knowing she's scared. She's my baby sister  

actually, the thought that i WASN't going to die was what got me through tough parts of an unmedicated labor...remembering, 'okay, this really hurts, but nobody ever died of pain in childbirth'...if she is concerned about her size, tell her that her body wouldn't grow a baby that it couldn't push out. there are instances with cephalo-pelvic disformity (hips too small for baby's head), but they are extremely rare. they are definitely more rare than a lot of OB-GYNs even realize. if she's a reader, tell her to read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. It has a special section about women's bodies and how we are perfecty made to give birth to the babies that we grow inside us!  

I'm 4'11 & I had two vaginal births, one was even un-medicated...... I believe the thought crossed my mind but I realized it's not that common..... poor thing..... I was more worried about the pain!!

With my oldest, it didn't cross my mind until I was in labor - and literally on the verge of death. Both of us almost lost our lives that day.

I'm 4'11" - my size had NOTHING to do with the problems though. My son had Sagittal Craniosynostosis, and no one knew. I was in labor 36+ hours. I developed a uterine infection, and then started bleeding heavily. My son was in severe distress. Finally, the midwife agreed I needed a c-section - it ultimately saved both of our lives. He couldn't move because of his lack of soft spots, and...ugh. It's really a long story. But size had nothing to do with it. My grandma is 4'9" and she popped out five no problem.

my SO woke up teary eyed the other night cause he dreamt i died during birth.


I have never feared about it myself though

Quoting *Lyn:“ actually, the thought that i WASN't going to die was what got me through tough parts of an unmedicated ... [snip!] ... has a special section about women's bodies and how we are perfecty made to give birth to the babies that we grow inside us!  ”

My midwife told me that as well, my mom had 5 c-sections & I was so scared I wasn't going to deliver vaginally, but that statement calmed me down really quick & she was right! my babies were perfect size!!

Quoting *Lyn:“ actually, the thought that i WASN't going to die was what got me through tough parts of an unmedicated ... [snip!] ... has a special section about women's bodies and how we are perfecty made to give birth to the babies that we grow inside us!  ”

Thanks. I know her dr has reassured her her height has nothing to do with it and she has a really good dr who rarely does c sections to begin with and has explained all that jazz to her. I just didn't think it was a normal fear many people have. I am going to talk to her about it, I just don't know how, I hate knowing she's afraid of something, especially something like this.