Conflicting emotions - excited and anxious
Had enough of being pregnant and feeling uncomfortable
Loss of control
Worried about privacy and loss of dignity
What if I tear or need to be cut?
What if the baby gets stuck?
What if I can't do this?
Conflicting emotions - excited and anxious
Emotional signs of prelabour can range from being excited to feeling anxious. If it is your first labour, it can present many questions and concerns about the unknown path that lay ahead. For some women, thoughts of becoming exhausted are a concern because no one knows how long their prelabour will be.
Conflicting emotions are quite normal just before the birth. You may have feelings of relief because you have had enough of being pregnant, and the discomforts that go with it. Or you may feel comfortable with your known state and feel unsure about moving forward into the labour and birth.
Friends and strangers often feel compelled to tell you about the negative 'horror' stories that are dramatically interesting. Unfortunately many of the great positive 'non-newsworthy' stories are left unsaid. We are funny human beings tending to continually recount the "hard" and "long" labours, instead of focusing on the normal uncomplicated labour story.
Had enough of being pregnant and feeling uncomfortable
Many women feel in the last weeks of pregnancy that "they have had enough!" This phase is nature's way of setting the scene for saying "yes I am ready, lets get on with the labour" or "It's time to meet my baby".
Other women truly enjoy the last weeks of their pregnancy, savouring every day, especially if they have stopped work and are enjoying the break. For some women the expectation of the hard work of mothering ahead, makes them feel 'I can wait!'
Loss of control
The concern of "losing control" can be a very real issue for many women.