7 Tips for Overcoming the Fear of Giving Birth
In this article we’ll provide tips for overcoming the fear of giving birth, which is very common, especially for first-time moms.
Everything is ready for your baby’s arrival. You’ve made all the preparations and feel happy and impatient. In spite of everything, there may be something that concerns you.
Even though prenatal visits and advances in medical technology are there to assure you, you must know that the anxiety of childbirth is completely normal. This can affect you both physically and mentally.
Childbirth is a unique and unrepeatable experience. However, when things don’t go as expected, the experience can leave a bitter memory.
For this reason, it is essential that you prepare in the best possible way for the day of the baby’s birth, and that you keep calm to avoid all kinds of consequences due to stress during childbirth.
7 tips to overcoming the fear of giving birth
Below, you’ll find 7 tips to overcoming the fear of giving birth:
1. Learn about maternity wards
The first piece of advice is that, as soon as you can, you should find out about the maternity hospitals in your city. Good relief can be found in the act of reading comments from Internet users, or requesting the opinion of relatives and friends.
Once the maternity ward is registered, locating the spaces and walking inside the hospital center will help you. You’ll visualize the places and, in this way, you’ll better anticipate the arrival of the child.
2. Anticipate the arrival of the baby
To reduce stress around giving birth and anticipate the arrival of the baby, you can read specialized books that allow you to know the different stages. These will help you dispel any concerns and answer any questions you may have.
Don’t forget to decorate the child’s room and make the final preparations in order to anticipate the birth of your child.
3. Practice breathing techniques
If you haven’t already done so, take advantage of pregnancy to practice breathing techniques such as sophrology, haptonomy or yoga. These disciplines will make it possible for the mind and muscles to be relaxed.
4. Meet the medical team
Take the time to meet with the obstetrician, anesthesiologist and midwife who will attend the birth of your child. Do not hesitate to ask them questions and express your concern.
You must bear in mind that you aren’t the first person to go through this moment. Consequently, these professionals are accustomed to dealing with anxious expectant mothers.
Rest assured that in these cases, there are no stupid questions. The main thing is that you feel calm.
The moment in which the child is born, the mother is also born. The woman already existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.
-Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh-
5. Ask for your partner’s help
Your partner must be your first support. Ask him to be present and active during the birth. He can encourage you, but he can also calm you by means of massages, caresses or whatever else you need.
If you also need a female presence, you should know that there are companions, also called doulas, whose role is precisely to be with you and support you during this great moment.
6. The pain can be reduced
Of course, saying that a birth is painless doesn’t make sense. However, if you decide to give birth without an epidural, many methods are effective in actually managing painful contractions:
- The act of moving, walking or dancing promotes a faster descent of the baby.
- Good breathing is essential during labor. It allows you to channel your energy and maintain all the force necessary to expel the baby as quickly as possible.
- Accompanying each contraction by visualizing the evolution of the baby means that you can no longer focus only on the pain.
- Between each contraction, it is essential to relax to the maximum and to empty the mind so as not to be in a state of constant tension.
7. Positivity
Finally, the best way to overcome the fear of giving birth is to simply think positively about the magical moment in which you will finally be able, after all these long months of waiting, to embrace the little one in your arms.
As in any everyday situation, staying positive and hopeful will help you strengthen yourself mentally to face this special moment.
To finish, you must bear in mind that whatever the origin of your fears, it is ideal to receive the support of a professional.
Attending classes for childbirth preparation, sharing your fears with the midwife or consulting your gynecologist will also help resolve many questions and help you reduce your fear of giving birth.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Ascargorta Eriz, L., Carro Balboa, B., Fuertes Hinarejos, M., & Montava Pascual, E. (2011). Miedo al parto. Metas de Enfermería, 14(4), 20-25. https://medes.com/publication/67153
- Carrascosa, L. (2009). El miedo al dolor en el parto y como afecta a su desarrollo. Importancia del parto natural. Madrid. 7ª edição.(Outubro, 2010). http://sohoquiropractica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/el_miedo_y_dolor_en_el_parto3.pdf
- i Font, L. C. (2015). Miedo al parto y narrativas intergeneracionales: Una aproximación desde la antropología. Dilemata, (18), 129-145. https://www.dilemata.net/revista/index.php/dilemata/article/view/376
