Hi
I'm 38.5 weeks and expecting my 1st child,everything just happened so fast,am 21years old and married to a lovely man,just abit concerned about labor and delivery... am hearing alotta scary stories about natural delivery,and I'm afraid I won't know when I'm in labor?! Help?

Oh, trust me, you will know when you are in labor, but your water breaks first, and then (every woman is different) everything happens after that. Of course, no one knows just how long your labor will be. Women are natural born baby machines, Cherelle, so don't worry. You don't need worry at this important time!

There is nothing wrong with natural delivery; trust your doctor and ask as many questions as you can think of right now. People just can't leave off with the 'scary stories'; they are sometimes based on old wives tales.

Thank u so much!
#Hugs#

Five children, and my yes, you will know you are in labor,

I have to respectfully disagree with Ms. Tickle on one item. In 90% percent of women the doctor has to break the water. If, by chance you are one of the 10% whose water breaks on its own, it will be a sudden gush of fluid. You will continue to leak this fluid until baby is born.

As for contractions. The typically start in the back and move around to the front. They go away in an opposite pattern. Labor pains increase in regularity and intensity. They don't go away with position changes, walking typically makes them stronger.

As for the pain. Yes it hurts, every woman has a different pain threshold though. So what might hurt me may not hurt you. There are several medications that can be given during labor to decrease that pain, but many cannot be given past 7 centimeters dilitation due to effects on the baby at that point in time. There is also the epidural, which as a labor and delivery nurse, I strongly recommend.

Remember babies are born without incident every day. I delivered 2 last night! ;)