7 Tips To Overcome The Fear Of Giving Birth
Everything is ready for the baby’s arrival. You have made all the preparations and you feel happy and impatient. Regardless, there may be something bothering you. It is overcoming the fear of giving birth, especially when it comes to the first time.
Even though prenatal visits and advances in medical technology are there to reassure you, rest assured that labor anxiety is completely normal. This, in addition, can affect you both physically and psychically.
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 remain calm to avoid all kinds of consequences due to stress during labor.
7 tips to overcome the fear of giving birth
Here are 7 tips to overcome the fear of giving birth:
1.- Find out about motherhood
The first tip is that, as soon as you can, find out about maternity hospitals in your city. A good relief can be the fact of reading the comments of users on the internet, requesting the opinion of your family, friends.
Once the maternity ward is registered, locating the spaces and walking inside the hospital will help you. You will visualize the places and, in this way, you will better anticipate the arrival of the little one.
2.- Anticipate the arrival of the baby
To reduce the stress caused by labor and anticipate the arrival of the baby, you can read specialized books that allow you to know the different stages. These will help you to dispel some doubts and answer any questions you may have.
Do not forget to decorate the children’s room and make the last preparations in order to anticipate the birth of your little one.
3.- Perform breathing techniques
If you haven’t already done so, take advantage of your pregnancy to practice breathing techniques such as sophrology, haptonomy or yoga. These disciplines will allow the mind and muscles to be relaxed.
4.- Meet the medical team
Take the time to meet with your obstetrician, anesthesiologist, and midwife who will attend the baby’s birth. Feel free to ask them questions and express your concern.
You must bear in mind that you are not the first person to go through this moment; consequently, these professionals are used to dealing with anxious future moms. Rest assured, there are no stupid questions in these cases. The main thing is that you feel calm.
5.- Ask your partner for help
Your partner should be your first support. Ask him to be present and active during labor. He can encourage you, but he can also calm you through massages, caresses or whatever you need.
If you also need a feminine 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 deliver 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 energy and maintain all the necessary forces to expel the baby as quickly as possible.
- Accompanying each contraction by visualizing the baby’s evolution means that pain can no longer be focused solely on.
- Between each contraction, it is essential to relax to the maximum and empty the mind so that you are not in a constant state of tension.
7.- Positivism
Finally, the best way to overcome the fear of giving birth is to simply think positively of the magical moment when you will finally be able, after all these long months of waiting, to hold the little one in your arms.
As in any everyday situation, staying positive and hopeful will help you mentally strengthen yourself to face this special moment.
Finally, you must bear in mind that whatever the origin of your fears, the ideal is that you receive the support of a professional. Attending childbirth classes, sharing your fears with the midwife, or consulting your gynecologist will also help answer many questions and help reduce your fear of giving birth.
