How to cope with the fear of childbirth

Ask any pregnant woman if she is afraid to give birth? In most cases, the expectant mother will answer in the affirmative, even if this is not her first child. And if a lady in a position answers negatively, know that she is cunning and fear of childbirth, even insignificant, but still present. And this is absolutely normal - any sane person is afraid and does not want pain, any mother worries about the health of her baby, even if he has not yet been born. In this article, we’ll talk about what gives rise to our fears, what we are afraid of, and how to overcome fear in order to come to the process of childbirth more calm and balanced.

Why do women begin to fear childbirth

Of course, the fear of childbirth has always been and always is, but most often it is a distant and abstract feeling that usually does not bother a woman. But sometimes fear can increase, not letting sleep, the expectant mother begins to wind herself more and more. What can contribute to the development of fear?

1. Stories giving birth to girlfriends. Unfortunately, friends who have already gone through “this” do not care much about your feelings and try to convey the condition of the birth process in all colors. Pregnant women are especially impressionable and suspicious, especially if the story is not about successful, but about complex births. Do not listen to such friends, all the information about childbirth can be found in the training videos, in which the process is described more delicately.
2. Information from the Internet. The availability of any information sometimes renders a disservice. A woman learns a lot from candid videos from the birth halls, reads about tragic cases during childbirth. All this is contraindicated for impressionable ladies in the situation, you must understand this!
3. Hormonal changes. Hormones in the body of a pregnant woman are constantly changing, each of them is responsible for certain processes. Closer to delivery, the muscles throughout the body become softer, the cervix also softens, and the pelvic bones gradually move apart. But along with this, the woman’s psycho-emotional state also changes - she becomes suspicious, anxious, even the most insignificant fears intensify a thousand times.
4. First birth. Often women are afraid of just the first birth, because they do not know what to expect. Indeed, a woman cannot predict everything, even a doctor cannot be completely sure of a successful outcome of childbirth. But do not despair - everything is provided for by nature, the body itself will tell you what and when to do. By the way, women who have given birth are also afraid of childbirth, but because they know what to expect from them.
5. Problems. Very often, the fear of childbirth is amplified if the woman's family is in an unstable state. Relations with a husband, housing or financial issues, health problems of the fetus or the woman herself - all this can aggravate the fear of childbirth.

All these factors are very detrimental to the psycho-emotional state of a pregnant woman, causing her to feel anxiety and anxiety. It is necessary to protect yourself from negative information as much as possible. Try to find out the approximate course of delivery from calmer sources - ask a doctor or read the training brochures in maternity hospitals. However, in order to cope with fear, you need to know it in person.

What are women afraid of before giving birth

Many admit that they are very afraid of childbirth, but in no way can they determine exactly what exactly scares them? If you take the problem apart, it doesn't seem so intimidating.

1. Fear for the health of the child. Most often, a woman is afraid that something will happen to the child during childbirth.Indeed, the passage of the fetus through the birth canal is not an easy process, but you can reduce the risk if you give birth to a good and experienced doctor. You can not cope with anxiety and anxiety? Do not worry. Today, not every woman gives birth in a maternity hospital at the place of registration. Talk with friends, read the opinions of mothers - choose a doctor and arrange with him in advance. It is important to choose a good maternity hospital, which has modern equipment for nursing complex children. You may not need it, but you will know that everything will be fine anyway. Be confident in the professionalism and experience of the doctor - this will help you relax and calm down before childbirth.
2. Pain. Another frequent fear is the fear of pain that all other feelings can overshadow. Remember that billions of women have given birth before you, and after you will give birth to the same. Are you really weaker than each of them? The body produces substances that anesthetize the process of opening the cervix. In extreme cases, there are modern and safe painkillers, up to epidural anesthesia, when you generally stop feeling anything below the waist. Know this and do not be afraid - nature will help you, because women gave birth somehow in the fields?
3. Surprise Some women, especially those who give birth again, are afraid of a fast delivery. If you are worried that childbirth can begin in a store or in another public place, carry the phone numbers of several available relatives - husband, mother, etc. Keep your phone charged, ask your family to stay in touch. Even the fastest births begin with labor, you will have at least half an hour to get to the hospital.
4. Shame. Sometimes women are afraid that an act of defecation may occur at the time of attempts. In no case do you need to pay attention to it! Firstly, you will probably have an enema beforehand. Secondly, doctors just did not see in their work, believe me, this happens with every third woman in childbirth. Thirdly, at the time of delivery you will absolutely not be up to it, you should not worry.
5. Death. Indeed, some women are very afraid to die during childbirth, worry about the baby being left without a mother. In fact, deaths in the modern world are extremely rare, and then, somewhere on the outskirts of civilization, where there is no necessary equipment and medicines. In car accidents, women die much more often.

And women are afraid of changes in the body - that the vagina will become wide, excess weight will not go away, and stretch marks will become unbearably noticeable. Remember that the main thing is your baby, very soon you will become a mother, your body could grow and feed a full-fledged child - be grateful to him for this. And all other cosmetic problems can be solved after childbirth.

How to cope with the fear of childbirth

Here are a few more tips and tricks to help you survive an obsessive fear of childbirth.

If anxiety wraps around you, ask your doctor about a partner birth - a loved one can be with you, it can be a husband or mother. Do not worry about your husband’s feelings - he doesn’t need to see the process itself, he can be there only during fights.

Be sure to find a doctor you trust, get to know him, chat. It is very important to fully trust the doctor, so you will not doubt his actions and decisions in the process of childbirth.

Go to pregnancy courses, learn how to breathe correctly to relieve pain during contractions.

You can go to childbirth with a fitball - it greatly relieves pain during contractions.

If the fetus is attached to the back of the uterus, lumbar massage will help you during labor. Try to practice with your husband in advance - he needs to stroke and rub his lower back.

In advance, at the 35th week, prepare a bag with everything you need in the hospital. This will help you calm down and be sure that at any time you can be “at the start”.

In some cases, expectant mothers are so impressionable and restless that they decide to take antidepressants or sedatives. To do this during pregnancy, and especially before childbirth, is extremely undesirable.

Do not concentrate on the upcoming pain and discomfort. Remember that just a few hours after the start of labor, you can meet your baby, inhale his smell, look into his tiny eyes, kiss his wrinkled nose. From now on, this day will be the happiest in your life. Remember this, and childbirth will bring you only joy!

Video: fighting fear of childbirth