FTM - anxious about birth

You read my mind! I'm freaking out as well. My scan is on 20 Jan, and I won't have a midwife appt until 17 Jan.

@Yana for me it’s the unknown! We actually have two in Jan but only because the baby’s kidneys are being monitored but midwife isn’t until 14th so similar! Birth plan not outlined yet either 🫣

Same. I haven't even started packing my hospital bag. Not sure what to put on my birth plan. My midwife gave me a set of questions to think about and we will discuss it during the appt, but I feel that there are a lot more things I should specify before going to the hospital. And yes, the unknown is a huge anxiety trigger.

I feel like I could have written this myself! I’m due the 8th Feb and I can’t believe how quickly the days are passing by. I also have a scan on 2nd so I’m looking forward to seeing how big baby is and how they are laying. I’ve also got the midwife on 2nd but I struggle to put into words what I want to ask because I feel like I have no idea about anything!

I was in your position and naturally a sufferer of anxiety and panic attacks, and almost thought I’d go elective c-section. However I started speaking to a couple of friends who had positive birth stories and from there started seeking them out on podcasts or other social media. I really like “popthatmumma” because she covers all birth options. This really started to change my mindset into seeing labour as something I absolutely can do and is exciting as I’ll get to meet my baby. There are some great breathing exercises from hypnobirthing which you can use even if you’re going for fully medicated birth or even c section which can help you feel like you have control throughout. You’re a champion already and you’ve still got loads of time to prepare 💓 Edit to add: have you considered any birth classes (in person or online) for the practical points around what to look out for, when to head to hospital etc?

I’m anxious about not knowing when it’ll happen. But having given birth once - I definitely knew when my waters had broken, you’ll know about that for sure. I don’t remember ever losing my mucus plug, but that wasn’t a problem. I found some of my labor pains were unexpected, like I had shooting pains in my leg and I thought labor would be faster so I was fatigued. So this time I’m kinda preparing for the unexpected, working on relaxing techniques and planning to rest more leading up to the due date. Recovery varies. I had tears and I pulled a muscle in my leg. It took me a week to get out n walking around. Then the relaxin stays in your body for months so it takes a while to get back to proper exercise. But just give yourself time and patience and try to relax into it. We don’t have much control, and resisting the changes just makes it harder, so embrace the chaos and expect the unexpected is the only advice I feel like I can give! It all passes in a blur xx

I’m on my 2nd pregnancy, with my first I have/had no idea when my waters broke/lost my mucus plug and it didn’t really matter. Once contractions started I knew it was labour, waited at home for them to get consistent and closer together. I was 6cm when the pain started to get too much with just the tens machine, then went onto gas and air etc. I would recommend downloading a birth plan template and doing some antenatal classes or research and having a think about some of the questions on the plan. The midwife appt will help with questions, but everything on there is your decision and for me being informed helped. I would say try keep an open mind though with things not going to plan, you can’t know exactly what to expect and you might change your mind on certain pain relief options and with interventions, you’ll likely just want to do whatever you can do get baby here safely. I had EMC and was no where near as bad as I thought it would be.