I can completely relate!  And no, I certainly won't tell you you'll be too preoccupied.... I wasn't.  Not to mention I was hormonal at the time and it just made it worse.  There are these people around trying to be helpful and I just wanted to be alone.  

Here's what I would recommend.  Don't ignore it.  I firmly believe I did not progress in labor because there were all these people around.  If your partner is willing to go to bat for you.  Ask them to just kind of run interference.   Your partner can ask them discreetly, not to be too "touchy. "    I think most nurses are so busy with their jobs, monitoring you and the baby that you won't really have to worry about getting a foot massage.   If you have a birth plan, that would be a great place to mention something about it.  

Just be up front.  It's your time.  It's your baby.  Most people are willing to respect that and I'm sure they want it to be a positive experience for you.

Best wishes for a safe and beautiful delivery!

Bike_Mom Aug. 25, 2008 at 6:29 PM

I hated that, too. :)I solved it by MOVING AROUND CONSTANTLY. When I needed someone to touch me (rub my back) I'd bark an order at my DH and he'd do it just the way I asked for it, and then I'd tell him to stop until I needed it again.

Fortunately if you're giving birth in a hospital people are generally pretty hands-off and leave you alone most of the time. Other than trying to get you to accept epidurals and interventions.

Gruntlings Aug. 25, 2008 at 6:31 PM

Hmmm...I don't remember the nurses touching me.  They just kinda left me there to do my thing.  I wasn't worried about the pain or anything else.  I was worried about pooping.  And I did.  But, I was too preoccupied giving birth to care.

=o)

ivansmom07 Aug. 25, 2008 at 6:31 PM

Haha, I'm worried about the pooping too!

You guys are right though, I'll just put it in my birth plan, and tell the boy to run interference... He's pretty good at seeing when I'm about to blow my top, heh.

Anouck Aug. 25, 2008 at 6:33 PM

I just hope your birth experience is a good one.  Don't worry, I won't scare you with the details of my experience...

Just try not to let the doctors bully you into doing anything you don't want to do.  Push when you're READY.  You'll know when your ready.  You're not the type of woman to keep your mouth shut when someone's pissing you off, so you'll do just fine  ; )

kimberleee382 Aug. 25, 2008 at 6:35 PM

Well...

...we already knew you were weird.

Good luck with popping out this new heathen baby. :)

RanaAurora Aug. 25, 2008 at 7:57 PM

Yep you need to set up the rules before you go in and let him take care of it. 

tericared Aug. 25, 2008 at 10:48 PM

I "chucked" a box of tissues at the nurse because she kept trying to check my cervix when I was having a contraction! I loved it, you can throw stuff at people with an "excuse!"

emf6874 Aug. 26, 2008 at 12:06 AM

Oh, & by the way...I pooped 1 out of 4 times...so maybe you won't.

LOL...maybe that was TMI...

emf6874 Aug. 26, 2008 at 12:10 AM

Try not to eat any big meals and you shouldn't have to worry about pooping.  When you start labor, if you feel hungry just snack on something small.  Drink lots of water BEFORE you go to the hospital.  I was SO THIRSTY the entirety of my labor (2 days long) and all those bastards would let me have was ice chips.  When you're THAT thirsty, ice chips are TORTURE.  I made my husband sneak me water when the nurses weren't looking. 

kimberleee382 Aug. 26, 2008 at 12:34 PM