Fear of the unknown
Proper preparation for childbirth helps a woman to tune in psychologically and learn to behave competently during childbirth, and of course, if you are informed, the fear of the unknown, which always frightens people, goes away.
Currently, there are many courses for pregnant women. It is advisable to choose courses where there are classes with a psychologist, an obstetrician-gynecologist, and a pediatrician. Only then will you know about all aspects of childbirth. Unfortunately, it happens that in courses conducted only by psychologists, a woman is instilled with a negative attitude towards medical manipulations and cannot explain their meaning, and in courses attended only by people with medical education, they do not help to properly tune in psychologically, which is especially important. for emotional women. Childbirth preparation courses are useful not only because you receive reliable and understandable information and get rid of the fear of the unknown, but also because there you communicate with other expectant mothers and discuss similar problems.
The courses should include not only lectures, but also practical exercises where relaxation and proper breathing skills are practiced.
In addition to courses, you need to read books or magazines about childbirth. But these should be popular publications about natural childbirth. You should not study a textbook on obstetrics and gynecology, because such books are written for doctors and the emphasis is on those situations where medical care is necessary, that is, on the complicated course of childbirth.
Imagine in advance how your birth will go, make your plan. In psychology, there is a special technique called “modeling.” This technique involves creating a scenario for a favorable development of the situation and consolidating this experience in memory.
For many expectant mothers, the maternity hospital is their first experience in a hospital, or, simply put, in a hospital. In order not to be intimidated by hospital corridors and wards, it is advisable to get acquainted with the structure of the maternity hospital in advance - it is better to go there on a tour (it can be provided in a cycle of classes for pregnant women or be included in the contract for childbirth) or at least read about the structure of the maternity hospital in special literature for expectant mothers .
Fear of pain
Pain accompanies almost all births to one degree or another. But the information that this is a terrible pain that cannot be withstood is incorrect.
What causes pain? Pain is caused by irritation of nerve endings and nerve plexuses in the uterus and cervix - these are the objective reasons for its occurrence. However, the body has protective mechanisms that reduce pain: during childbirth, “joy hormones” - endorphins - are released. In addition, during pregnancy, partial denervation of the uterus occurs - the number of nerve fibers in it that conduct pain sensitivity decreases.
The question arises: why, despite this, pain is still felt? This is largely due to fear. Fear reduces the pain threshold, that is, in order for a woman to begin to feel pain, fewer pain impulses are required. Fear is always accompanied by an increase in the release of biologically active substances - adrenaline, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, which greatly increase pain. Of course, a completely painless birth is hardly possible. But the function of this pain is not to harm the woman, but to help her control the birth process. If over time the contractions become stronger and longer, and the pain increases, then everything is going as expected, and soon you will meet your baby. You need to learn to “trust” pain, and not be afraid of it. Remember that physiological pain during labor may be mild to moderate in intensity, especially if you are relaxed and positive about what is happening to you.
There are methods of self-pain relief during childbirth (self-massage, breathing, auto-training). They can be learned during pregnancy - in special schools and courses for pregnant women, with the help of literature. Self-anesthesia methods significantly relieve pain. It is especially important to “watch” for pain when pushing. Often the midwife tells the woman that she needs to hurt herself as much as possible. In fact, you need to direct your efforts to the point of maximum pain; this pain helps you understand that you are pushing correctly, that your efforts are not in vain.
The woman's active participation in childbirth is necessary. Firstly, the more a woman is focused on how to behave correctly during childbirth, the less time she has to concentrate on pain. Secondly, the active participation of the woman contributes to a favorable outcome of childbirth.
What does the term “active position in labor” mean? This means that, firstly, a woman must control contractions - their frequency and duration. Secondly, a woman should choose a comfortable position. You shouldn’t lie down all the time—it’s good to walk around and stand, and if you’re lying down, don’t shrink, but, on the contrary, spread your legs and relax. The position can and should be changed periodically. Thirdly, during the birth process it is useful to engage in auto-training, reminding yourself that childbirth is the happiest event in life, you are about to meet your long-awaited baby.
It is worth remembering about responsibility. You can and should influence what happens to you and your child. The medical staff can help you, but they cannot give birth for you. In addition, they can only help you if you listen to what they tell you and trust your doctor and midwife. This is especially important in the process of pushing: at this moment the woman in labor is actually dictated what, when and how to do. Remember that you can’t just wait until everything is over, because both the duration and outcome of labor depend primarily on you.
Do all pregnant women worry before giving birth?
Experience and anxiety are inherent in all pregnant women, without exception.
After all, it is unknown how the birth will go for the mother and her baby. It's scary not to miss the most important moment and arrive at the hospital on time. There are always worries about all the unknowns that happen in our lives, and this is normal. Perhaps the woman in labor who has gone through this not once or twice is not worried. Which knows everything about what will happen.
Fear of childbirth is normal. And no one will be able to completely get rid of anxiety and worry. The main thing is to gather strength and positive thoughts, this will help reduce overexertion and painful contractions.
Fear of “not coping” with childbirth
Do not forget that childbirth is the natural end of pregnancy. Nature has thought out everything; it does not force a person to experience what is beyond his strength.
You can and should physically prepare yourself for childbirth. Of course, grueling physical activity and intense training are contraindicated for pregnant women, but there are special exercises for expectant mothers.
It’s good if the school for pregnant women offers gymnastics or water aerobics classes. These activities help you stay in good physical shape, which is very important, since childbirth is a physical activity, and it is more difficult for an untrained body to withstand it. In addition, during special gymnastics classes for pregnant women, you are taught to train the muscles of the perineum, control your body so that the desired muscles work or relax as you wish.
You can also practice at home. Sets of exercises can be found in specialized books and magazines, and there are also special video courses on DVD.
What not to do
When dealing with prenatal anxiety, the following activities are unacceptable.
- Self-medication with antidepressants.
- Reading articles and listening to stories from “friends” who have previously given birth about various complications.
- Allowing negative thoughts.
- Ignoring school visits for expectant mothers and the recommendations of the attending physician.
The woman gives birth only within a few hours. All the pain of childbirth will be immediately forgotten, you just need to hold your baby in your arms.
Fear of medical interventions
Some women, realizing that childbirth is a natural process, are afraid that unwarranted medical interventions await them in the maternity hospital, which could harm the baby. However, childbirth is not only a natural process, but also a very responsible one, so supervision by medical personnel is necessary. And all medical interventions are carried out only when necessary, and the risk-benefit ratio must be weighed; no “extra” medications or manipulations will be offered to you. Upon admission to the maternity hospital or in advance (if you know which doctor will conduct the birth), you can tell the doctor about your desire for the number of medical interventions to be minimal. If you are offered some kind of injection or manipulation, you have the right to receive an answer as to why and how necessary it is.
The procedure for stimulating labor usually causes the most fear. These fears are partly related to the not very distant past, when only the so-called equine oxytocin could be used to intensify contractions, which sometimes had a negative effect on the baby. This drug is not currently used. These medications are prescribed if contractions are initially very weak and the cervix is not ready for childbirth: they allow stimulation to be carried out carefully and effectively. In any case, stimulation of labor is always used only in the interests of mother and child.
Why is it scary to give birth?
Fear of childbirth can arise spontaneously in a pregnant woman. Not a single expectant mother is immune from a panicky fear of change. Women who are prone to depression and melancholy are especially susceptible to anxiety. Before you try to understand how to overcome the fear of childbirth, you need to find out why it appears.
Excessive availability of information
Just a quarter of a century ago, women did not know anything about the details of labor except what was told by friends who had already been to the maternity hospital. Today you can learn the most intimate details about the birth of a baby from specialized magazines, documentaries, the Internet and educational programs. Moreover, they actively discuss both the positive aspects of the birth of a baby and possible complications in the process.
Hormonal changes
Along with an increase in the amount of hormones that affect the preparation of the female body for childbirth, the amount of substances responsible for the emotional state of the pregnant woman also changes. Estrogen levels increase and progesterone levels decrease, so a woman’s mood can change rapidly. She becomes irritable, whiny, apathetic, or, conversely, overly active. Along with this, a fear of childbirth appears in the pregnant woman.
Expecting extreme pain
The main female fear is pain. After all, according to the stories of grandmothers and mothers, giving birth to a child is incredibly painful. Thanks to the rapid development of modern medicine, childbirth takes place with completely different pain than 30-40 years ago. Doctors know how to relieve pain with the help of safe anesthetic drugs; in addition, breathing practice, which is studied in preparatory antenatal courses, significantly relieves pain.
Unknown
How to get rid of the fear of childbirth if it does not allow you to relax and the expectant mother is constantly in a restless state, worrying about the process of giving birth to a baby? The unknown is extremely frightening, because a woman worries not only about herself, but also about the baby.
I can not
Panic before childbirth often occurs in pregnant women who are unsure of themselves and their own abilities. They believe that at hour “X” they will not be able to cope and will harm the long-awaited baby.
If you are afraid of childbirth, how to cope with a negative attitude? First, it is necessary to dispel all the myths associated with labor and the dangers that lie in wait.
Fear for the baby
Childbirth day is the day a new baby is born. Many women feel fear for their baby, they are afraid that something will happen to him during the birth process, because it is also difficult for him.
Indeed, during a contraction the baby experiences stress because the supply of oxygen is disrupted. But the baby has adaptation mechanisms: in response to a decrease in oxygen supply, the heart rate increases, so the baby’s condition does not suffer. However, with prolonged oxygen starvation, the adaptation process may be disrupted. Therefore, it is very important to breathe properly and relax so that there are no spasms of blood vessels and muscles of the birth canal and blood circulation does not suffer. You can talk to your baby between contractions. In addition to the fact that the mother herself helps the child during childbirth, doctors monitor his condition. The fetal heartbeat is periodically listened to using a stethoscope or recorded using a special device. During pushing, the midwife tells the woman how to behave so as not to harm the baby.
After the baby is born, he is examined by a special neonatologist who deals with the health of newborn children. This is a highly qualified specialist who has undergone special training to work with babies in the first month of life. During the first examination, the doctor will evaluate the functioning of all the main systems of the body and, if necessary, prescribe additional examinations. If the condition of the newborn requires any intervention, then currently every maternity hospital has equipment to provide medical care even in the most serious cases.
Childbirth will definitely end with a long-awaited meeting with your baby, whom you have loved for a long time. He will be born, you will hear his first cry, then he will be placed on your stomach and pressed to your chest. And you will feel incomparable happiness - the happiness of being a mother.
Talk to those who have already been through it all, and you will understand that childbirth is a small ordeal compared to the feelings you will experience as a result. Childbirth is the home stretch on the path to your dream of becoming a mother, so don’t be afraid of it.
The main reasons for fear of second birth
Some representatives of the fair sex are wary of a second pregnancy and childbirth, because they believe that irreversible changes in appearance will subsequently await them. Stretch marks come first in this ranking, followed by sagging breasts and excess weight. But nowadays there is a huge number of different cosmetic products that will prevent the occurrence of stretch marks. A plastic surgeon will help correct the shape of your breasts, and exercise will restore your former slimness. After all, already 5 months after the birth of your child, you can start visiting the gym. The most important thing is to choose a trainer who is able to develop an individual training program.
You need to set yourself up correctly before giving birth. Reading books about the peculiarities of childbirth, meditation and cultivating positive thoughts can help with this.
