I believe too many first time mothers are bombarded with horror stories of what the birth is going to be like. This is my advice to these new to-be mums.

Firstly listen to everything you hear because somewhere in all the junk there could be some very useful advice.

My first baby was the worst out of the three because I was so scared and stressed that I was not relaxing even between contractions. I found that contractions are not as bad as they are made out to be. Millions of women give birth everyday and they survive. For me the worst part was actually pushing out the babies head as soon as that was done the rest came easily.

I know that only being in labour for seven and a half hours probably helped but it dosn't change the pain you feel and that does go away. I kept telling myself that. That the pain would end. Birth classes I feel are a must they help you to learn breathing techniques and if you can find someone who does hypnotherapy that you would trust to be at your baby's birth then I would have them there. I had a male midwife who did that and his voice was the only thing that soothed me through my first labour and I cried during my second labour because they told me he had retired.

What also helped me through labour was the fact that I knew at the end of all this pain and mess I was going to hold a beautiful new life. Something so precious, so fragile, so wonderful that it is worth all of it just to hold that little bundle in your arms and tell them you love them.

So please when you are hearing horror stories think of what you are going to have not what is going to happen. Always filter out the junk to and if you are unsure please seek a professionals advice because even someone who has a heap of kids can sometimes frighten you unintentionally with her experiences.

Remember the beautiful miracle that you have created.