Due next week

[mrsdala]

Im 38+4, and getting increasingly aware of how soon baby is due 🙈

Part of me is excited, I can't wait to meet my baby, but most of me is tired, fed up and scared.

At the moment, I'm just waking up every morning, wondering if it'll happen today. And my back hurts and I'm too tired and frustrated to distract myself from the inevitable.

Husband knows I'm worried, but I don't want to tell him how scared I really am 😔 how did everyone else get through this thier first child?

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

Labour wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be (I took advantage of pain relief) and then you get to have a gorgeous baby to take home and it’s just brilliant. My husband and I keep saying why doesn’t anyone tell you that you won’t care about the sleepless nights and dirty nappies because it will be so fabulous cuddling your very own baby😆.

[Lucy51108]

Hi it's not as bad as you think take advantage of the drugs offerd to you and as soon as there here u will forget about all the pain...hope they come soon for you this is the worst bit now just a waiting game...good luck hun

[Annh17]

I know how you feel, our 1st is due next week. I’ve got too have a c section due too baby estimate large, but I still worry every day, what if I go into labour, any little twinge I’m like ooo is it the start of it. I’m constantly asking my husband where he is working today, incase he’s a couple of hours drive away.

But I know 1 thing for certain, is we really can’t wait too meet our gorgeous little baby xx

[ALLY81]

Yep unfortunately its normal im 38 weeks with baby no4 and still feel excatly the same !!! its the not knowing thats the worry but so long as you have your bags packed and phone nos to ring to hand youll be fine dont forget if you are unsure dont be afraid to phone hospital or midwife for advice and take each day as it comes maybe go for little walks or a drive for a bit each day or cook or bake or read just to pass the time you'll be fine all the best xxxxx

[kiinem]

Hmmm,no need to worry or be scared mrs Dala because i had my first baby too last year,labor was not too bad due to a pain relief,be positive all will go accordingly.all the best

[SilkeP]

I know how you feel - I'm 35 weeks with No3, and the worry I find gets worse with every pregnancy.

I'm one to certainly not say 'don't worry, you'll be fine' and 'rely on pain relief'. Because as lovely as this all sounds, it isn't an option for some of us. Before my first I did the NCT course. I THOUGHT I was prepared for it all: I wanted a natural birth, in a pool, no epidural, possibly gas. I was hoping for nice massages from my husband, calming music playing, taking my fingers and 'blowing out candles' type breathing...

And NONE of that happened. We got stuck in rush hour traffic, I was in horrendous pain, there was no bath tub available to me and I was in so much pain, all I asked for was an epidural. I was declined one as I was only 2cm. I then delivered my son less than an hour later as it suddenly happened all so quickly, before that his head got stuck though... Then my placenta didn't deliver. I'll spare you all the details but it was horrific. I'm not telling you that to scare you more, but I felt resentful afterwards as everyone had painted such a lovely picture of birth (obviously with some pain), with the ultimate 'you can always get pain relief'.

My No2 arrived within 16 minutes and there was no time for pain relief. Sure, it was quick, but I genuinely thought I was going to die as the contractions just came and came and came with no break. I went from 2cm to delivery in 16min.

I am terrified of having No3 now. BUT I know I need to prepare myself mentally more for the possibility of having no pain relief due to speed... and have been recommended yoga and hypnobirthing. I know you haven't got that much time left, but just go on phone apps or youtube for some hypnobirthing/calming your mind down type sessions. Because you cannot rely on getting your way, or getting the pain relief as and when you want (there may not be an anesthetist available when you want it...), try and focus on the things you can control, which is mainly your mind. Also, I'd highly recommend a TENS machine, it is one you can either buy or rent. You have it at home, so you can put it on as early as you like and I felt it was distracting me from the pain quite a bit. Focus on breathing etc.

I may sound a bit hippie and I'm not, but I feel I had to learn the hard way that you can plan as much as you like in terms of relying on medical staff/medication which may just not happen, so anything you can do for yourself in terms of keeping your mind calm can only be a bonus!

Having said all of that, the moment I held No2 in my arms, all the pain was gone and almost forgotten about.

[Kempton]

I don't really have any advice but just wanted to say try not to be scared. Of course the unknown is unnerving but remember women do it every day. Maybe we're all just super heroes but you will be fine and your current discomfort will be long forgotten in a short while!!

Definitely get as much rest as you can now and maybe do some nice things with your hubby (it might be a while before you can again!). I'm sure every new mum must go through these feelings but you got this!!

Best of luck and enjoy your little bundle!

[Lovefood1984]

I was completely in denial I’d have to give birth so when I went into labour at 39weeks it caught me a bit unawares. However it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be for a first, mine was a 5 1/2 hr job from start of period type pains and I did it on gas and air and just an episiotomy to help my daughter out and although I kept saying during it I just wanted it to stop (I’ll not lie it’s not fun) you soon forget and you’ll have your bundle of joy. I’d say try and go with the flow, I never made it out of the ‘assessment’ room so no time for a pool birth etc (not that I wanted one) and remember we are designed to do this x