So many birth questions, need your wisdom.

[scooby]

Hi Steffi
the advise you have recieved is priceless, i have anxiety about my empending birth too probably not to the extent you do, but im going to try and get some acupuncture as well. I think for you (and me)a hospital is were you feel secure and in your case were you need to be. I see your in perth do you mind me asking who the ob is. My ob is margot norman at joondalup and she has been the most wonderful person ive met, i was told she will treat you like her sister and she does, i cant speak highly enough of her and her midwives. also i dont know about private but when i had DS that was public at joondalup and they give you a midwife at the start and they stay with you the whole time, there is shift change and you may get a new midwife BUT you have one with you the whole time and i found them all wonderful, they sat with me when not much was happening and chatted, really relaxed me, so check with your hos what there policy is. Youll proabaly find to when youre preg you will appreciate how wonderful your body truly is and start to trust yourself a little more! Oh yes and rescue remedy is my life saver never go anywhere without it good luck

[Diamond75]

Hi Steffi!

First of all congrats with your decision to TTC!

I lot of great advice has been given here but I feel compelled to also add my 2 cents worth!

I have had two natural drug free births which I found to be very empowering and I have also had epidural with my last birth.

A lot of people a pro natural birth which is wonderful. I can not explain the high you get when you push your baby out into the world. Its amazing... but in saying that I also had a wonderful birth with my third having had a epidural. I had a "walking epidural" which allowing me to move around and walk (although with assistance) and was still able to feel contractions but without any pain. This enable me to push my daughter into this world in complete pain free calm and I didnt tear!

I just wanted to let you know this whilst going for a natural birth is great there are other options. Please don't be put off by the higher risk of tearing as many people tear with natural births also.

In regards to your fear off tearing, although it doesn't seem like it now but when you are holding your little one in your arms it will be the last thing on your mind!

Everyone is different. My best advice is knowledge and keep an open mind to everything.