You Are Not A
Chicken!
(and you are not alone!)
Your Very Normal,
Very Common Fear of Childbirth
By Kathi Alexander
ere’s a little factoid that will not
surprise any pregnant woman, especially a first time mom :
One of the most common fears of pregnant women is fear of pain!
In fact, one study (did they really
need to conduct a study?) which gathered data from more than 8000
expectant women, concluded that fear of pain during childbirth was rated
as second only to fear for the child’s health.
In spite of morning sickness, thick
ankles, and swollen breasts, pregnancy for most women is a time of
joyful anticipation. Still, it is very normal and very common to
experience feelings of fear and sometimes even dread as your due date
approaches.
It can be helpful to understand some of
the common fears of pregnant women, and learn what your caregivers
suggest to effectively manage these fears. Below we list the common
fears of first time and repeat moms:
First Time Moms :
-
Worry over the intensity of labor
pain.
- Fear that there may be something wrong
with the baby.
- Concern about whether they will be
able to actually give birth!
- Worry over the possible loss of
dignity during labor
and birth.
Repeat Moms:
This group has the advantage of
experience! Repeat moms show lower levels of fear than first time
moms. However, repeat moms may:
- Also worry over the intensity of labor
pain ,or
- Fear the possibility of loss of
control.
Here’s some advice to help both first
time and repeat moms effectively manage their fears:
If you are
worried about labor pain:
Prepare yourself by reading books on
childbirth starting with Easy Labor, Every Woman’s Guide to Less
Pain and More Joy During Childbirth! Check out pain relief
options available to you
in the hospital where you plan to give birth. If you think you will want
an epidural—ask if they have an anesthesiologists on staff, in the
hospital, twenty four hours a day. (If they do not, there may be a delay
in receiving an epidural). Discuss issues of timing with your
obstetrician—specifically, is there a policy or guideline they follow
regarding how soon you may be given an epidural? Let your obstetrician
or midwife know that you would like access to medical pain relief as
early as possible.
If you would like to try non-medical
methods to cope with your pain, be sure to find out whether they offer
birth balls for repositioning, tubs for water immersion during labor, or
shower wands for soothing your abdomen and back.
Talk about your concerns with your
childbirth educator, your caregivers and other supportive people in your
life. Learn and practice relaxation techniques that
you know you will use—this can help with your anxiety prior to labor and
can benefit you during labor by giving you a tool for
c
oping
with pain.
If you are
concerned over whether you will actually be able to give birth:
This is typically a first time mom
concern—Please keep in mind: childbirth does not require previous
experience. If you have not given birth before, this does not mean you
will not know how to! It may be hard for you to imagine now, but
your body is designed to move that baby from point A to point B.
If you are worried
that there may be “something wrong” with the baby:
Most babies are born without
complications. In the US it is estimated that 4 percent of infants are
born with some type of birth defect, and the infant mortality rate
(which tracks mortality rates not just for newborns but for babies up to
one year old) is 7 per 1,000 live births. Many women have already ruled
out a number of significant complications --through prenatal tests done
earlier in their pregnancy. So, although it sometimes does occur, the
odds are very much against the possibility of there being something
wrong with your newborn.
Worry over the
possibility of loss of dignity-- and loss of control:
Many women are concerned that their
privacy or sense of modesty will not be respected, or that during the
strain of labor they may be unable to “control” themselves and may
behave in a way they would not under ordinary circumstances. As labor
gets under way, you may find you worry a lot less over issues of
modesty, and your very desire to stay “in control” may change
significantly as you adjust to the physical demands your body makes on
you during labor and delivery. Your caregivers will most likely tell you
they have seen and heard it all while supporting women through
childbirth.
If you have had a previous birth
experience, where there were control issues, or you felt you were not
treated with dignity, make your caregivers aware of your specific
concerns, so they are not repeated in your next birth experience. You
may want to consider hiring a birth doula. A certified birth doula has
training and expertise in providing emotional and physical support to
women during labor and birth.
As your due date approaches, it may be
helpful to keep in mind that some amount of fear is
considered normal. Fear may even be considered a healthy emotional
response which provides you with motivation to sufficiently prepare
yourself; increasing your chances for a positive, joyful birth
experience.
