Expecting Any Time (scared)

[Emma]

I am 20 years old and im expecting my first any time now. My husband and I have attended many classes for the birth and parenting in general but i am still very nervous. any advice as I await my little girl?

[Joyto5]

Congratulations on your upcoming Labor and delivery of you little girl.

Trust your body to know that it already knows what to do. All you need do is go along for the ride. You've taken classes? Which, may I ask?

Fear is a big problem when it comes to Labor. It can stall it and make it putter out. A lot of hospitals won't stand for that and will induce with pitocin to help you progress. Not very pleasant. You need to connect with other women who have done this for, forever! It's only been the last 100 years that women have been birthing in a hospital setting. Before that, Pregnancy, Labor and birth were normal, Natural things that every woman went through in order to bring their little one into the world. IMO, the medical community has scared women into making them think they can't do it alone.

Trust your body. It made that miracle your carrying. Your body also knows how to birth it! Let go of fear and trust yourself. Your in charge of your body! Good luck!

[Emma]

Congratulations on your upcoming Labor and delivery of you little girl.

Trust your body to know that it already knows what to do. All you need do is go along for the ride. You've taken classes? Which, may I ask?

Fear is a big problem when it comes to Labor. It can stall it and make it putter out. A lot of hospitals won't stand for that and will induce with pitocin to help you progress. Not very pleasant. You need to connect with other women who have done this for, forever! It's only been the last 100 years that women have been birthing in a hospital setting. Before that, Pregnancy, Labor and birth were normal, Natural things that every woman went through in order to bring their little one into the world. IMO, the medical community has scared women into making them think they can't do it alone.

Trust your body. It made that miracle your carrying. Your body also knows how to birth it! Let go of fear and trust yourself. Your in charge of your body! Good luck!


Thank you so much for the advice. I will definitely trust my body, as you saId it made my miracle.

Emma

[Peanut1207]

Just try to breathe and relax and enjoy the experience because as scary as it is, its so freaking amazing!!! I had planned for a nice normal birth and was considering doing no drugs but my little man had his own plan. He was super stuck and I ended up having a c/section. It totally wasn't my plan but baby came out healthy and safe and it was absolutely fine. The medical staff was amazing and so supportive and understanding. Ask for lactation help and let everyone you come in contact with know you want to breastfeed. I needed tons of help at the beginning, it's normal to need help!!!! You've never done this before. It's a completely overwhelming experience and so much fun! Congrats and come visit (i'm here alot...gotta lotta questions and my baby's 6 months).

[ZMom]

What great thinking of you to checkout this site! You're way ahead of where I was when I gave birth 4 months ago. I totally agree with Joyto5 to trust your body and relax. It's amazing what it can do and not do when you're stressed out and in pain. I would recommend to have a LC that you've selected on hand and ready to visit you in the hospital. Unfortunately, with my experience the 2 LCs at my hospital were too busy and just didn't have enough time to spend with everyone. The one visit we got was around 4 am (8 hrs after I gave birth) and we were sleeping and she wouldn't wait for us to get our baby from the nursery. The second contact we had was just a phone call. For the first few days you really need an LC that you feel comfortabe with available to meet with you AND your new baby. Best to you and your little girl- it's going to be an amazing experience!

[SingingMom]

Find things that calm you and enjoy them. Take a walk, listen to music that relaxes you. Get a massage.

The baby will come, and she will be beautiful. Try to be patient- anxiety and fear slow the process down. Try to have people around you who make you feel better. Find ways to redirect the people who don't make you feel better.

[Nipple_nectar]

Welcome to the boards! So, are you ready? Your hospital bag packed? ARe you going to breastfeed? When is your due date?

I look forward to seeing you around!

[ima062002]

I am not going to sugar coat things :) - the birthing process is painful but I have given birth twice without an epidural and while it wasn't pleasant to say the least it was awesome and empowering. With my first I was so drugged up that I didn't even feel her come out of me, it was like watching a movie, and I am still grieving that.

What helped me tremendeously was having a doula with me. A woman who has done this, who has helped countless women to relax, to cope with the pain, to move the birth forward. If your hospital does not have a doula program, you can find one via www.doula.org

Other than that, I second everything that PPs said :).

I hope you have decided to bf and we are going to see you around here. We are a friendly group on this board :).

[whitnessforhim]

Just coming by to say welcome to the boards!!
I think every women is scared the first time around. I personally can relate but it really is just like they tell you...once its over the labor is but a faint memory in your mind! You'll do great!

[Emma]

Welcome to the boards! So, are you ready? Your hospital bag packed? ARe you going to breastfeed? When is your due date?

I look forward to seeing you around!

I am as ready as i can be. OF COURSE im going to breastfeed, are there really any other options. lol. My due date was yesterday.

[MadisonsMommy]

Congrats! I was almost 20 when I had my first. I took a hospital tour and almost cried I was so scared and nervous. But when the time came and I was in labor it was like something came over me and I knew I had a job to do and that was all I could concentrate on. My hubby and my best friend where there to do anything. Good luck and let us know! You will do great! We will be awaiting the good news!

[tifttu]

I'm going to sound like a freak here, but really this is the advice I wish someone would have beat me other the head with when I was pregnant with my first:
Do NOT go to the hospital if you "think" you are in labor. Do NOT go to the hospital to "see if you're in labor." If you are in labor it will progress, it will become all consuming, there will be no need for anyone to tell you that you're in labor.

With my first I smiled at my husband and said, "the contractions are getting regular and are 5min apart, I think I'm in labor!" So me and my completely NOT in labor self went to the hospital where I was treated to probes, pokes, an induction, and a c/section.

With my second. I stayed home until the doula and my husband started to look all bug eyed and told me I had to go NOW. I started pushing in the car and had my baby without a single intervention within about 15min tops of getting to the hospital...it was WONDERFUL!

Don't be afraid to vocalize during contractions. I'm convinced that the noise scares the pain away. There was never a point where I wanted meds or thought I couldn't keep going. It was very powerful and I would love to do it again...I just don't think I want 3 kids ;)

Congrats and welcome!!!

[MadisonsMommy]

Hey Everyone! Emma is in labor right now! Her hubby is posting updates on the Pregnancy, Babies, and Parenting forum!

[Jmom1010]

welcome and congrats I'll hope on over there.

[Amybev]

Hi I'm new to the boards as well - I had our first son 2 weeks ago today - I spent most of the 9 months panicking about childbirth, took the classes, read everything etc -- and much to our suprise our son came 2 1/2 weeks early - nothing like we had planned -

--my water broke while I was getting dinner ready, had no contractions, went to the hospital - long story short -- 4 hours later I ended up getting an emergency c section as baby went into distress because my placenta started to rip away and I was hemmorging. All my panic about labour never happened - I only had about 30 minutes of contractions before everything happened!! Somehow my husband and I got through it and my anxiety wasn't that bad throughout it!!

[ima062002]

Amybev - congrats to your baby. I kind of hope that Emma will see all about ripping placentas, hemmoraging and emergency sections AFTER she comes home with her baby ;). Glad everybody is fine and kudos to you for having been able to stay on the calm side throughout it.

Emma had her baby btw. I peaked in the other forum. I hope she'll be back here and post a bit about it and maybe even throw in a picture :).

[Jmom1010]

welcome Amybev

[emmapants]

I won't say any more about the labor since everyone covered it. But I will say that the first 6 weeks at home are amazing and full of trial and error. Try to get as much rest as you can, don't freak out if you feel blue it is hormonal and completely normal - just let your husband know so that he can support you and don't be afraid to call your OBGYN if you feel like you need to. Getting out of the house for a walk did me wonders and a new baby can totally go outside despite what people say. If people come to visit and they want to take the baby from you to "help" with diaper changes etc. and you don't want them to - tell them that you're just getting to know her and that they can hold her for a minute but if they really want to help they can cook, vacuum, whatever. I really wish I had done this in the beginning because my MIL kept taking the baby away from me and making me feel so sad. Don't stress too much about the cyring - they eventually stop. Learn how to nurse lying down - even if you don't want to co-sleep - it will get you through the first few weeks.

Good luck - this will without a doubt be the most joyous ride of your life!!!

[Jmom1010]

Yes nursing in bed is a life saver.