Six weeks out from 2nd homebrith.....

[marvelous]

...and freaking out!!!

I don't know what is wrong with me! I had a WONDERFUL HB experience with DS. Granted its was long, but I felt empowered and confident. I did the Bradley Method and did great through most of the contractions. Lost it a little bit when I hit transition, but otherwise had a great experience. DS was born in water and didn't even cry. I had minimal tearing that did not require any stitches and felt amazing the next day.

This time I keep thinking about everything that can go wrong. I keep thinking about how bad the contractions are going to be. What if we have cord prolapse (happened to a friend of mine)? What if I can't do it? What if the baby is in distress? Gah!! What is wrong with me?!!!!

Help ease my mind. I want a HB again and I want everything to go well, but if I go into with all this anxiety then I'm going to mess it up. I've done it before so why is it different this time?

[MacMama]

I think that's totally normal mama-- I had an amazing homebirth with DS, and am now 2-3 weeks away from another one, and all of those things are running through my head too. I don't think it's because it's a homebirth vs. a hospital birth (in fact, when I think of birthing in a hospital I start to get downright panicky), it's just because birth is a huge, emotional, physical, life-altering moment and it's normal to run through some of the worst-case scenarios that you've heard happen to others.

You've had a homebirth before, so you know that statistically it is just as safe as a hospital for low-risk pregnancies. If you trust your midwife to make good decisions in case of a crisis, and you trust your body to be able to birth the baby, that's really all you can do. Oh, and no searching online for what can go wrong-- when you're already too worried the internet can be a really bad thing!

[VeganCupcake]

I had some of that same anxiety before my second homebirth, too. It turned out great, though.

I think it's a very normal feeling, and you'd probably have the same kinds of feelings no matter what kind of birth you were having, but maybe with some different specific worries.

[nonipie]

I'm having some of the same anxieties now that I am days or a week away from delivery with my 3rd except for I'm not having a HB. I know what labor feels like, have done it without pain relief and yet I started to freak out about the pain and all the things that could go wrong and if I will make it to the center in time. I think it's just normal at this point. I'm trying not to let the fear take hold though and just keep remembering that my body knows what to do and we have a plan B.

[JennTheMomma]

It's normal, it sucks, but it's normal. Try to talk out your fears with your Midwife, or get a nice prenatal massage to help relax

[marvelous]

Thanks mamas! It helps to know that I am not alone. I've been try to visualize the end moment, holding that sweet baby in my arms and not focus on everything leading up to it. My midwife is great about letting me talk it out, but I just need to get it in my head that I CAN do this!

[Mamatoabunch]

I usually get some freak out feelings prior to another HB. I ease my mind by the knowledge that millions of women have done it before me and I have as well. You will be fine mama.

[newmommy13]

Go to you tube and search home birth or peaceful birth. Some beautiful videos and sideshows to sweet music. There's some that even get me pumped up to hb and I dont really want to be birthing anything normally. there are some graphic ones but many advise that there is nudity and most of it is pics normal beautiful births with loving partners and siblings.

[fishmom]

I am days away from my fifth homebirth and I get these feelings too! I keep thinking that my luck will run out or something! I am a Christian though and know these thoughts are a sort of faithlessness so I refocus on trusting in God's perfect plan and will for me and my baby!

[Bella Catalina]

I think it's totally normal--my first was a hospital birth (we did Bradley, too), and my 2nd a HB. Third (I'm 25w) will be another HB, God willing. I had a lot of the same thoughts come up last time, and expect they will come up this time, too, once we get closer--for now, I am freaking out about having PTL or a micropreemie.

Last time, it really helped me to acknowledge the thoughts for what they were, and somehow that then helped me to let them go.