How to Control Anxiety During Childbirth
Most women feel nervous when thinking about childbirth. Much of this anxiety is based on fears and myths. It’s important to know that, regardless of the circumstances, as a woman you have everything you need to give birth to a healthy baby.
If you want to have a peaceful birth, you must have confidence in your doctor. Also keep in mind all of the medical advancements designed to help you have a successful birth.
We are all full of fear; but it’s also true that all those nerves can be overcome. Most fears can be controlled with adequate information, self-confidence and education that empowers you to face the transforming experience of bringing a child into the world.
Try to control your nerves. Although they are natural and sometimes increase the closer you get to your due date, they don’t help you when they’re out of control.
Keep in mind that the less nervous you feel, the easier it will be to live in the moment during the special event that is childbirth. Fear also harms you instead of helps you, as you’ll feel your muscles tense up, causing your body to respond by sweating more and having more palpitations.
It’s best that you remain as relaxed as possible, because this state helps your uterus function normally and the pain you feel will dissipate.
Information about childbirth gives you power
One of the best strategies for ridding yourself of fear during childbirth is to have accurate information about its phases. It’s also good to study the characteristics of different delivery methods, including cesarean, because it never hurts to know about them.
This knowledge, in addition to being able to tell real contractions apart from false ones, will make you feel powerful in the face of different circumstances on the day of delivery.
It also doesn’t hurt to know about the most frequent complications that may arise during childbirth and the possible solutions for each case. These facts will help you have greater awareness of your body, which in turn allows you to handle childbirth in a conscious and positive way.
It’s also important to resolve all of the questions you have about the epidural, whose numbing effect can help you to calm the pain of childbirth. In addition to obtaining all the information you can, communication is a great tool for losing the fear of childbirth.
In addition to asking your doctor all of your questions in a trusted way, you can also share your fears with your partner, family and friends, who will help you overcome these types of thoughts, so common among first-time mothers.
Exercising and preparing your body physically for childbirth is also a good method for facing it. Put special emphasis on the leg muscles and glutes.
Having a good attitude always helps
Having a positive attitude helps a lot in overcoming any fear or any setback. Always maintain your positive outlook, take away all of your pessimistic thoughts and focus on all the information you have about your pregnancy: all of the prenatal diagnostic results, tests and ultrasounds you have had during your pregnancy should reassure you.
Relax. The secret to a good pregnancy and delivery is learning how to relax. If you go to prenatal classes but still feel like you are struggling to relax more, then sign up for meditation, yoga, swimming or Pilates classes.
Controlling nerves and letting go of fear will greatly help your delivery. It is known that pessimistic women have much more painful deliveries, because this attitude makes you more tense throughout your body and increases production of cortisol, the stress hormone.
But on the other hand, if you are positive, your body fills with endorphin, the love hormone, which helps to support the reduction of pain and allows you to easily and deeply bond with your baby.
It’s also essential that you be realistic and strong if something unforeseen or bad happens. It’s ideal to have an attitude of cooperation and to put everything in your favor so that the delivery process continues.
And finally, have faith in yourself, put into practice everything you have learned in prenatal classes. And if you don’t remember it all, keep in mind that you will have your gynecologist and midwife near you to help you during labor, so just follow their directions.
Speaking about your anxiety and keeping yourself well informed will help you overcome the natural fear of the unknown, which suddenly disappears once you have your baby in your arms.