Wow thank you ladies for all the great advice! I’m starting to feel better now about labor. I’m worried that I won’t know how to push but everyone keeps telling me that I’ll just know and I’ll figure it out when the time comes. I really do want to try and have a natural labor but definitely going in with an open mind! As long as the baby is born healthy is all that matters I won’t feel bad about getting some relief!

I’m in the hospital right now just got my epidural and I’m still scared. It’s natural to be worried but you’ll be fine. Just have to remember what comes at the end ♥️

You can do it! I’m on #2 and after having felt it once before I’m even more nervous and afraid this time but I know I can do it. It’s very mental. Honestly what helped me get through it last time was acting like there were no options for pain management. I didn’t once think about the epidural, and no one in the delivery room mentioned it. ??

Do it!!! Having given birth naturally twice I can promise it’s the most rewarding feeling as a women. Not that birth generally isn’t. Clearly I can’t relate to a medicated birth and I’m sure either way it’s the most incredible accomplishment. But I am still 12 & 8 years later proud that I did what my body was intended to do with a great team by my side.

It’s scary. Third time around and I’m 3.5 mths away and getting nervous but I can tell you that the moment baby is out all pain is gone! Like a pp said you just surrender to your body and trust it, listen to it and she’s right the moment you’ve got to push that’s where all your focus goes. It’s liberating.

I'm a 4th time mom and every time I get close to my due date I start freaking out and second guessing myself of whether I can do it all again. It is my final time though so I'm ready but not ready. I have actually been thinking about seeing if I can get them to do a selective c section this time but it always goes fine so I don't know why I worry but I will be getting a epidural again because it goes so much smoother.

I'm having baby #7 And still get nervous!! Totally normal:)

This is my 4th and the only one ive had anxiety about labor. Needles scare the crapola out of me so epidural really just isnt an option. The goal is to know you are capable. You CAN do this. And once you feel like you just cant take anymore youre pretty much done. Once its time to push that is where all your focus goes. Just get the baby out so you look forward to those.contractions to guide the baby and trust your body. My 3rd labor i really just surrendered to my body and let it do majority of the work for me.

this will be my first and i am quite nervous as well, i think there’d be something wrong if we weren’t haha is recommend going in with an open mind, i know lots of moms who went in not wanting any meds but ended up taking something. there is no shame in doing that and don’t let anyone make you feel that there is, nothing annoys me more than moms who shame other moms. i plan to try natural but if i need some help i have no problem in asking for meds, i even wrote in my birth plan that i won’t be surprised if i ask for an epi. if you know you have the option you might feel more relaxed, good luck momma! ?

Its normal :) I have now delivered 3 babes, 2 competely natural/unmedicated, 1 by emergency cesarean. Each one was amazing in its own way.

Just reassure yourself that you can do it! Trust in your body, and ask your midwives for suggestions during labour as they are there to help. There is no shame in asking for pain relief, needing or choosing a cearean, etc etc if the need arises. Healthy bub and mum is what is important, not if you took pain relief or which part of your body bub comes out ?

You will be just fine xx

I think fear and anxiety is totally normal!! This will be my second and I’m still nervous/anxious because every birth is different. With my first - my plan was to be as prepared as I could in terms of what to expect but above all was to be flexible. It really helped that I trusted my midwife. My baby came pretty fast for being my first and although it was painful (my epidural didn’t work) my body did what it needed and knew to do. It’s normal to be nervous. No matter how much you learn - something will be a surprise but ultimately - your baby will be in your arms before you know it and then you’ll be worried about raising a new tiny human! Welcome to mommy-hood! ☺️

This is my 4th go and I still get nervous. But then I look back and see that each time, it worked out just fine. Yes, going natural hurts! After two natural labours, the third one I elected to go with the fentanyl and it was a much more tame and enjoyable labour. I’d advise going in with an open mind... do as much as you can but don’t be ashamed if you decide to make yourself more comfortable. There are benefits to you being relaxed and able to enjoy the process as well. Comparing natural or medicated, personally I’m going back in for the opioids this time. I’m not trying to sway you or plant doubt in your mind, rather say that if you are worried about it, have meds as a plan b so you can drop the anxiety about it.

Fear is the one thing that makes the pain worse! Do everything you can to talk through the pain in other ways. It’s pain with a purpose that is bringing you toward an amazing blessing! You CAN do it, but there is no shame in getting relief if you need it. Your body is capable of amazing things!

Definitely feeling some sudden fear but I am reassuring myself with positive birth affirmations, prayer and just trying to stay positive. I've got a ton of birth affirmations saved on Pinterest.

You can do this mama! Our bodies are built for this!!!

In the same boat, I find praying helps and I reassure myself that the pain is temporary and nesting helps as well good luck

You should check out hypnobirthing techniques on YouTube.. I watched so many of them and this is baby #4 for me lol

a lot of the midwives say that "fear" will only make your labor longer and for me that's what I want to avoid!

Instead, focus on your baby and staying healthy! Get as much rest as you can and pamper yourself ? get a mani/pedi, facial, stock up on makeup or whatever you need..

I’m on baby #4 and I go back and forth between “I can totally do this” and “I don’t know if I can do it again...” (I had one baby in hospital with epidural and 2 at home no drugs, planning a 3rd homebirth) but I’ve been listening to these birth podcasts with tons of positive birth stories mostly of women who did it with no drugs.. it’s really helping me be in the right mindset.. and honestly, in my experience, it’s 90% mental anyway! My best recommendations are rest while you can (early labour), and really enjoy the time in between contractions when you just feel normal.. :)