If you see much online information about childbirth, it seems there’s always something in it that includes fear.
Do the two need to go together? No!
There’s a certain amount of anxiousness about birth that’s very normal, but hopefully we can help rid you of fear.
Fear is common among women having babies. Fear can be caused by the unknown, hearing stories that aren’t positive, and not knowing what to expect or how to deal with labor and delivery.
Unfortunately, women don’t often share the empowering experiences of birth, but rather the negative stories.
Why do we do this as women?
We should share how the experience, though not easy, is empowering. You learn to dig deep and find inner strength that you might not have known you have.
There’s often much medical intervention in the birth process. This alone can make it seem like a medical event.
I like to remind my new parents that others are in the hospital because they are sick, but the new parents are there to have a baby—not for a sickness issue. We do know from studies that women who are mentally prepared for birth are more likely to have a faster and easier birth.
If you are fearful, which is common, it is easier to be tense. This tenser you are, the more pain you feel. The more pain you feel, the more fear you have. This is the cycle we are trying, in childbirth classes, to help you overcome.
This vicious cycle can be broken, or stopped, by several things, including: relaxation, visualization, breathing, massage, hydrotherapy, music, education, position changes, and/or medication.
We also know that women who are fearful in labor are less likely to have a highly positive birth experience. Being confident in your body to complete the natural process of birth allows your body to relax and make progress. Instead of the fear-pain-tension cycle, you can replace it with relaxation, which leads to progress, which leads to confidence.
You can do this by attending a childbirth class.
Practice the different techniques that are taught. Hypnobirthing is another option. Learning how to relax is important during labor, and helps you to be less fearful. This is something that does take practice. Classes allow you to try many techniques to see if you think that particular one is something that will work for you.
How did you learn to get rid of the fear?
Great post and tips! Thank you for linking up with Thursday Favorite Things. Have a great weekend!
Thanks! 🙂
I was only somewhat full of fear for my 4th pregnancy and that was because of age(38) and facing my 4th c-section. New moms need to look at families with more than one child – really could it be that bad if someone is willing to go through it all again.
For some reason I was very fearful with my 5th child (after having given birth unmedicated and with some good experiences). That birth did not go well and I suffered a bit afterwards due to that. I think relaxation is such an important thing for expecting mothers! But sometimes tough to do.
I’m a mom of six – including two births that had awful complications and my last one which was essentially painfree. Lately, when I talk to a pregnant woman, I say one thing “You’re going to be JUST FINE. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Fear is the biggest enemy we have in childbirth.
I went in totally blind! I was fearful, but knew that my delivery was my own unique experience to go through so I didn’t watch any of the videos. But I did the read the books! Thanks for sharing with #SocialButterflySunday! Hope to see you link up again this week 🙂
I agree, people always share the trauamatic story. I had a rather traumatic experience with my first, and although I had the same birth plan with both, was luckily enough to stay home for a home water birth with my second, and that was magical. Well, as magical as birth can get lol! I felt the same, I wasn’t sick, I didn’t want to be in a hospital!
Thanks for sharing at Bloggers spotlight!