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terrified!

Thank goodness I had 2 c/s!!

I wasn't very concerned for some reason. I hoped everything would go well for baby but contractions didn't scare me. I knew it was finite pain with a purpose so I think that helped. It's really not that bad!

I was crazy scared until I took the most awesome empowering prenatal class. The educator made me feel like a superwoman warrior goddess (so cliche I know). I was still anxious but not nearly as scared if that makes sense.

I was strangely calm and honestly didn't think about it much. I wrongly thought it would be NBD, if millions of other women have done it before me--and I figured if they can do it, so can I!

Sadly, that in no way prepared me for the excruciating pain I experienced. Much worse than I anticipated---up until I got the epi. Then it was doable.

I had a huge amount of anxiety and fear.... I was more worried about complications than pain. I planned on and had an epi- it failed- so I expirenced more pain than I thought I would.

I wasnt scared of the pain (yes to drugs!) I was more scared of not being in control of the environment and all the things that could go wrong.

Around 32 weeks I sat down with my fav doc in the practice (ended up being my delivery doc!) and went through all my rational and irrational fears so i had a better picture of what labor would be like. It also helped me have more realistic expectations and prepare myself better.

Things like
Would I be allowed to wear my contact lenses? I'm blind without them and I hate wearing glasses - Yes
What is more preferable tearing or a episiotomy? - Tearing
What will I be allowed to eat and drink? - Clear Liquids, Jello, Ice pops, we were allowed to have food delivered to the hospital and stored in the fridge until after delivery
Will I be able to walk around? Yes until an IV is needed then I will be more limited
Will I have an IV? Most likely - Fluids, Antibiotics (if GBS+), Pitocen, etc
Will I get skin to skin Immediately? - Yes
Will I be allowed to labor in my clothes? - No

All these things helped me to adjust my expectations and manage my fears.

The first time, no. But then I had an awful labor so I was petrified for the second time. My second ended up being a breeze!

I was afraid of the unknown. I'm the type of person who likes to prepare for everything and know what I'm getting myself into. I took a childbirth class to be more informed but I knew nothing could prepare me for the actual event.

Right now I'm not scared. Ask me in a few months!

I wasn't too worried about it the first time, I knew I wanted an epidural from the get go. The second time I wasn't worried at all, just excited. I actually can't wait to do it again! I may be a crazy person lol

@LAZB: I am actually excited to give birth again. It ended up being really empowering and I felt that crazy high after. In way more scared for the newborn days.

I was quite naively not worried at all. I thought I would take it in my stride (haha), but it was beyond what I could have imagined pain-wise (induction with no epi). Also I am such a control freak and it terrified me being in a situation that I felt so unprepared for. I think whatever happens next time it will be easier because I know what's coming.

I was so scared, but it was great! Too bad pregnancy was so rough for me because I would have loved to have gone through delivery one more time

I wasn't, until all of a sudden, at 7 months, I was! I ended up crying to one of the midwives in the practice about how afraid I was at an appointment- and she was awesome! She recommended a book (birthing from within) and validated my fears while also assuring me I would be fine. Taking a bradley childbirth class was also really helpful for me to feel prepared--- and to feel that my husband was prepared to be an effective birth coach (and he was amazing!). When I tell my birth story, most people say they find it scary (there were a few hiccups) but I only felt scared at the very end- and by that point I was ready to push (and heading back to the hospital in a cab... long story, haha!). In the end, I knew L&D could only last so long, so I was more worried about recovery.... which ended up being less bad than I anticipated, too!

I was at the beginning but then near the end I was ok with it. I think the adrenaline really helped and knowing that millions of other women have done it before me.

I think I was more scared of the unknown. I was going in with an open mind on having a medicated birth, and I had my mind made up after getting to the hospital that I'd need an epidural. I was incredibly afraid of an emergency C-section after pushing for hours which is exactly what happened to me.

In the end, actual labor and the C-section wasn't nearly as bad as I feared, but a baby in the NICU when you have a C-section was really emotionally hard for me. And that was something I wasn't expecting.

Now that I'm having a RCS, I'm not at all scared!

I took Bradley classes and was then not scared! It helped me know what to expect... except for the indescribable pain of course.

Scared, but not of the pain, but the hospital stay and losing all control. It sounds silly now after giving birth, but I had never stayed in a hospital, and my experience with doctors was limited to my one year well checkup. I walked out of the hospital prenatal class and had a breakdown in the parking lot

Thankfully it was nothing like I feared it would be and the staff was wonderful. I'm not afraid if we were to have a second.

Not really. I tried not to think about it since it was going to happen whether I wanted it to or not! It wasn't bad at all (with epi!!) recovery was worse. I'm more scared to deliver #2 and deal with recovery again - ignorance is bliss lol.

Scared out of my mind. I want a repeat c -section and my doctor is trying to persuade me to try vaginal. I am still deciding but really terrified of delivery.