re: 34 weeks &terrified!

I mean, it's like this. Horrible things happen in EVERYTHING we do.

People die in car crashes every day. Are you paralyzed with fear when you have to get into a car?

The thing with labour and delivery is, the more worked up and nervous you are about it, the more difficult it will be for you.

Just try to push it out of your mind, and trust your doctors and nurses, and trust your body. This is what it was built to do, and the overwhelming likelyhood is that everything will just fine.

Quoting Zbornak:" I mean, it's like this. Horrible things happen in EVERYTHING we do. People die in car crashes every ... [snip!] ... and trust your body. This is what it was built to do, and the overwhelming likelyhood is that everything will just fine."

Exactly!!
If you panic is will actually hurt more. i remember my midwife telling me when the 'flight' response kicks in your body goes into overdrive drawing all the blood to your major organs, including drawing it away from your uterus muscles. If they have less blood they have less oxygen to work and it will hurt more.

Quoting Charlotte'Louise Gunn:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Fo Shizzle My Nizzle:</b>" Stop listening to everyone else!! ... [snip!] ... back pain for months after.. I think i should just stop listening to people! As there just making my stress head worse lmao x

Epidurals do have side effects. There definitely is a risk involved.... like with everything else we do in life. You have to look at statistics and then decide if you are willing to take that chance. For me... the statistics were not staggering enough for me to not want the epidural. I was willing to take the miniscule chance..... but that's me. To be honest, in that moment when the anesthesiologist came in, he could have stuck me in the eye ball with that needle... I didn't give a smurf... I just wanted to feel better lol.

Quoting ★311161.69★:" I had people tell me I was crazy/naive for wanting to give birth without any pain relief, and asking ... [snip!] ... me and I would go through it everyday if I could, just to experience the most wonderful feeling you'll ever feel in your life."

I told lots of people that I wasn't going to have pain medication during labour before my first was born. Most of them just looked at me as though I was crazy. Some people told me that they knew others who had wonderful experiences. Some told me how awful labour was for them. I listened to everyone but I am a strange person, these stories didn't bother me. It didn't bother me that people didn't believe I could do it. I don't really care about the opinion of most people (peer pressure was never an issue for me growing up  ).

My mom's comment was the only one that bothered me. She said "But you don't do well with pain". She was right. I have a lot of anxiety and when I do hurt myself I get very anxious and worked up. I get scared that it is something serious (a broken bone, will need surgery, etc.). However, labour and birth was different. I learned everything I could. If I became anxious about something, I stopped reading about it and looked at it again later. I talked to my midwives. By the time I was in labour and on my way to the hospital (even for the induction), I didn't feel any anxiety at all.

I wish I could go through labour again. It was amazing! However, we are happy with just two children and I would not want to go through the first half of pregnancy again (morning sickness). I didn't have any pain medication and I didn't want any (during the pushing stage of my first child's birth, I was loud and I thought to myself "So this is why so many doctors and nurses want everyone to have epidurals, they are much quieter!"  , the thought made me smile  ).

When the time comes make sure to go at everything once at a time. Dont worry about how far dialated or when your water will break if in the hospital already. Worry about breathing and staying comfortable. When or if you get an epidural worry about breathing thru the contrsctions and not about the needle and if it will work or noy. If you focus on one thing at a time not only will your heart rate stay down but the time will pass faster. If you are worried about whats happening constantly you stress yourself out.

ok when people say "you forget the pain once baby is born" I would say NOT true, I can remember every single detail of my pregnancy and birth experience with my daughter, and now that I am weeks away from having my baby boy... HECK ya I remember it. Am I scared or nervous NOPE because with labour and delivery pain there is an end in sight   once you give birth the pain is gone. It isn't like other types of pain. That is what helps get me through it! But you don't forget, you just have a special miracle now to focus on   which makes it all worth it!

Quoting runningmom:" ok when people say "you forget the pain once baby is born" I would say NOT true, I can remember every ... [snip!] ... helps get me through it! But you don't forget, you just have a special miracle now to focus on   which makes it all worth it!"

I agree, I remember too!

<blockquote><b>Quoting Charlotte'Louise Gunn:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Fo Shizzle My Nizzle:</b>" Stop listening to everyone else!! ... [snip!] ... back pain for months after.. I think i should just stop listening to people! As there just making my stress head worse lmao x"</blockquote>




I had 3 inductions, all with Pitocin and i had great labors with no pain!

Follow your mind, heart and body.
I always get epidural but I tell them when i want it on and off. I don't get it due to pain. (For me epidural is just a precautionary measure) I get it so in case of an emergency, it will be already in place. I make them turn it off middle/end because I want to feel and do everything myself. 

The contractions i felt was strong in the end but time baby and afterbirth came out, they stopped.
Out of 5 deliveries..I still cant describe a contraction...best i can give you is period...strong period.
YOU can do it. Don't let others mind warp you.
I have friends who do natural and would never get any pain meds...they make me look like a rookie...lol
They said it is mind over body....and it is.
Practice relaxing and breathing... and allow the mind to take you away. 

only 6 more weeks to go! I'm also scared but excited at the same time.
I've decided that I'm getting the epidual. I've got a pretty high pain tolerance but the pain of labour isn't something I'm wanting to deal with. Everyone is different and you have to do what makes you feel most comfortable and in control.
After having some pretty wicked contractions the past few days I'd have the epidural now if I could LOL!

<blockquote><b>Quoting Janice Rider-Lehtovaara:</b>" only 6 more weeks to go! I'm also scared but excited at the same time. I've decided that I'm getting ... [snip!] ... and in control. After having some pretty wicked contractions the past few days I'd have the epidural now if I could LOL!"</blockquote>



Nothing wrong with some pain management.