Your welcome,
Pain is very subjective that everyone is affected differently, and no ones labor is the same. I have a big tolerence to pain, my stapping near 6 ft son, has just simple procedures and he has side effects to anesthesia to throw up, he does not tolerate paim medication at all.
You could very well, have a back ache go to the doctor and find out you are in active labor and just make it to the hosital to pop the lil one out. Even every delivary is different.
By my baby 4, I thought she would pop out, but yet when labor started I went OH no, only because I knew that I had natural births, there was no epidurals offered, and progressed all at one time.
You are in control, you are in the drivers seat. Take the prenatal classes so you know the terminalogy and how far along you are by dialating and thinning to know when you can have an epidural and take it.
Understanding my anxiety now, I wonder why I thought I had to be a hero and have natural? I did have a c-section with no. 4, she was stuck with a 41 year old uterus trying to push her out. She was not even in the birth canal when the harder I needed to grunt and push labor started,
I would if you were my sis with anxiety ask the doctor because you want to remain in control, what are the stages you must meet to have the epidural, and then how long will they make you stay in active labor before deciding a c-section.....
NOW also, if you have long term anxiety panic for years and flare ups, that you actually had medicated for, maybe planning a c-section right out is the way to go. If your build is similar to your sis and you are fearing to get in that rut, or did sis want to ride it out as long as she could.
At 7pm I was ready to push and felt baby was ready. By 10 I finally gave in and said, OK, I am finished, I am going home, they talked c-section realizing, the body was not going to push this one out.
But it was only the 1/2 hour before the c-sec I was uncomfortable exhauste
I DID NOT HAVE AN EPIDURAL I should have.
I have no idea why I did not except since having the first baby in 1974 when everything was a la natural the thing to do. I should have been told about an option of epidural. I would have tried it if I needed it to stay focused and if anxiety was keeping me from focusing.
I left what tradition was get in the way of what a 41 year old woman should have said. I want to be as comfortable as to remain in control of my delivary and progress well. I want to know ahead of time what are my options of an epidural and when it would be given to me.
Then if the epi did not help before you feel lost, request to discuss the c-section.
In fact at 7 pm I must have had an idea she was stuck, as I asked for a heperin loc put in so if I needed a c-section they would not dig when I was grunting.
I was watching the games shows and kneeling on the couch sounding like a something out of Harry Potter and they made me get in bed.
THEN THE GALL they turned my game show off and dh and dd put on what they wanted.
The whole thing is about you
are in control you are not along for the ride at the discretion of others, know you limits and go with it, speak up...or have your partner know ahead of time your wishes and signs you will say or give.
It is really something you think about at this stage, but we make our self fear what we do not know, practice squats, breathings, focus, oil to rub the tummy, softest socks to wear, a baby blanket to hold and smell.
Think of the wonderful moment is so close to hold and smell that little one.
You will be amazing with info and a plan....
Even knowing there is no way you want to go 24 hours like sis and then a c-sec....discuss it now. write it down, tell the doctor.
You can't focus when stressing over something unknown.
And really discuss if you may want to just plan the c-section....
It is surgery, but, for someone with medical contributing factors, it is a consideration.
YOUR NO. 1
Keep me posted, gosh it goes so fast. My first was due Sept, 23 and came the 30th, I was only 19...35 years ago already. The last thing I remember, is how my contractions were, just they were not happy the few moments before he was born, but I was feeling fine enough to sit on the toilet and the nurse heard me grunt and got me in bed.
My dd was born on Mother day,