So terrified about labor and delivery :(

[FelishaNichole]

I am 20 years old having my first child by january 20th 2012. I am SO scared that for the past few months i have had nothing but sleepless nights on the computer researching every single little thing about labor, pain medications, and just overall how bad my experience can be. How nervous should I be, because I have a feeling im not going to make it through this labor. Im so scared. How well do certain medications work for pain and what about the epidural?

[kallkath]

First off, the woman that said their are women having multiple babies..so it can't be that bad is 100% correct and my grandma said the same thing to me when I showed concern my first pregnancy.

I have a 4 year old, I was 21 when I gave birth to her, I am currently pregnant with another girl due in January.

I was terrified as well for months before it actually happened.  I kept thinking, oh crap there is no way back now..this baby is going to have to come out of me haha.  Of course you don't know what to expect!  It is a very complex thing giving birth.  I got an epidural (thank God).  I was induced (she was 3 days late so they put me on Pitocin).  I tried to go without an epi (I knew they'd have to put a catheter in and for some reason, the thought of that going in my pee hole terrified me..even more-so than a needle and tube going in your spine).  I couldn't deal with the contractions any longer..an hour or so was enough for me.  not sure if it was labor or the Pitocin but I kept having to go take a poop...I would have a contraction getting out of the hospital bed, one walking to the bathroom, one sitting on the toilet, one getting off the toilet and another going back to the bed..repeat 5 minutes later.  I got the epidural, didn't hurt...felt weird when they were feeding the tube in the spine...by the time they put the catheter in I was numb.  I did not feel a thing after that.  I tore pretty bad and I heard myself tear (so did boyfriend) so that was kinda disturbing...didn't feel it though!!  So see, you really have nothing to worry about.  I've heard inducing causes worse contractions..so if I'm not induced this time..I may wait it out on the epi so I can move around and stuff.  Just make sure if you tear they get everything out of you (guaze)!!!  They didn't on me and I had a pretty nasty infection 5 days later.

[nikodonner]

I'm 23 and a first time mom also I'm due Jan 19th 2012 and I am scared about this also I went to the hospital last night for Braxton hicks contractions and spotting they monitored the baby for about 30 min I was scared I was going to be giving birth soon it was freaking me out but all n all my baby was fine an not on the way they just told me I was dehydrated and I need to be drinking alot more water. I hope it's not that scary when it's actually that time...

[zazou]

I always believe to go into it with positive thinking. One thing I will say, there are many women out there having 2nd, 3rd or 4th etc. pregnancies so that is a sign that things are not that bad.

I was induced with my daughter as I had complications and I had a natural birth i.e. natural for means without any form of medication. I did not have an epidural and induced births are more intense, that's true, and I will not have any epidural if I get induced again, it's an experience I will carry for the rest of my life and am proud of it.

It is normal to have anxiety pre-birth. Talk with some family members or friends who have had children so they can reassure. Just remember nothing is more rewarding that seeing your beautiful baby at the end. You'll be fine :-)

[waitn838]

everything you are talking about is completely normal.....i was so nervous with my first baby and i researched everything and thought i had as much knowledge as i needed but then my situation changed, baby was past due date and my water broke with no contractions....i ended up being induced and had an epidural and he is now a healthy 7 year old.....my 2nd baby decided to show up 8 weeks early, again water broke and no contraactions....i thought i was prepared for everything again but WRONG....i was on blood thinner (heparin) and could not get an epidural because my blood was too thin when this unexplected event happened so i went the "natural" method...i had many does of stadol "pain med" to help get thorugh the pain but i made it

the point is no matter how much research you do or what you think things happen...you will make it through the labor....your docs and nurses will take good care of you

im currently preg wth twins and getting my first c-section and my tubes done at the same time.....im so nervous because ive never had a c-section and i stopped googling because i was freaking myself out

best of luck to you