There are a lot of great books at the library that can give you some good coping skills should, and you will, need them.

The most important thing to remember is to trust your body! It's an amazing peice of work that knows what to do and when (even if it's a week later than what the dr. said it would be- SOO frusterating.)

Having my husband pour water on my belly during contractions helped the most, but I also liked imagining my contractions like a wave, rising in intensity and then falling.

I was in labor for 24 hrs and the epidural didn't work for me, but I got through it, and you will too.

And remember, there is no such thing as failure in labor. Each child is a beautiful gift, no matter how they were delivered!

I was the same way. I was about 7 months and then it hit me...I am going to have to push this kid out!

I would recommend reading books and attending some classes, even if you don't think you will use the information, the things they teach will be used in some way. I didn't go to any and wished that I had.

With my first daughter I had over 60 hours of almost constant back labor, that I thought was never going to end. She was born weighing 9 1/2 pounds, and because she was born face up ended up breaking her collarbone. Thankfully my next 2 went much easier and were shorter.

In the end, like the first person said it doesn't matter how your baby enters the world, they are a beautiful miracle!!

I have never before heard of having water poured over your belly. That does sound soothing if they don't mind a bunch of water all over the floor in the labor room. Hmmm, I'll have to remember that one.

I will be taking two nights of class this month and am optimistic that they will help us. It doesn't seem like they let women stay in active labor as long as they used to in the 70s or earlier.

If women remembered - in detail - the pain of childbirth, we would all be only children. Once you see your baby, everything else will fade away. Good luck!

Couple of comments I have learned from having three children:
1. You are not ready to have the baby until you are so big and so sick of being pregnant that you hear yourself saying, "I don't care how much it hurts, just get this thing out of me!" And you will say something like that.
2. The pain of childbirth does not hurt at all when you consider all the pain you will go through in raising your children....teaching them right from wrong, kissing their boo boos away, boosting them back up after a bad grade, mean comments made by others, loss of a big game.
Good Luck!

They will let you labor awhile if you desire, and there's no other problems with labor and baby. I had a friend who was in natural labor for 2 days. They kept sending her home from the hospital as she failed to progress.

There will get to that point as the comment above says that you will say no matter how much pain, get this child out I want my body back. And for me the babies came about a week later.

Continue walking as long as possible, and know that even if your baby isn't "on time" they will come when they are ready, not when the doctor says. old wives tales don't work... unless your body is ready. And keep pushing the fluids, as dehydration can cause contractions, that do nothing.

Don't borrow trouble. Even a long labor is not so bad, and,honestly, I've had two children with no pain medication whatsoever. It's really not that bad! First babies sometimes take a while. What helped me the most was to walk for as long as possible.
And it doesn't matter how the baby gets into the world, the important thing is that you both are safe and together at the end of it.

I too was scared out of my mind at the thought of childbirth, but it wasn't so bad looking back. I am a small person, and I was able to have 2 vaginal deliveries with no tearing or stitches. The second birth was without an epidural, and OMG it hurt like the dickens, but once the baby was out all pain disappeared immediately and you really do forget about the pain of childbirth once your beautiful baby comes out. I hope you have an easy and as pain-free labor and delivery as possible! Don't be afraid to ask for an epidural if you think you need one---it was wonderful, I could have had a watermelon shot through there & never would have felt it. That said, I think I preferred the second birth with no epidural more, just because I was amazed that I was able to do that, and I think I'll go without pain meds next time.

when my water broke I was terrified because I knew I had to push that kid out within 24 hours!!!! It sucks no matter what, and it hurts like heck...no one can describe the pain, and I'm sure it's different for everyone.....but in the end, when you are holding that baby in your arms you will totally forget all of the pain!!!

It seems to me that the more interventions the more likely you will have a c-section. I've had both my kids no epidural and just a little nubain in the IV. Don't get me wrong its painful, but I wouldn't change a thing. A girlfriend of mine had an epidural with both her kids and had a dickens of a time pushing because she didn't have the natural feelings. Her second baby took so long to come she had some complications. Practice at home what they teach you at your classes. The more you practice at home with your breathing and massage the easier it is to remember in the throes of labor. Good luck and Gods blessings.

Your comment about having to 'push a large baby out' caught my eye....I really believe your body grows a baby that you are ABLE to give birth to. Being told your baby will be 'too big' is just not something to listen to...it's RARE that a baby is 'too big' and that is something that has been studied. I also think so much of the labor experience is mind over body, you need to be mentally prepared, you CAN do it!!! Ever thought of having a doula??!!! ;0)