Childbirth Fears

Every expectant mother is guaranteed at some stage of their pregnancy to feel fear of childbirth; however, it is important to remember that you are not alone. Many first time expectant mothers fear the unknown aspect of pregnancy. It is also common for many second and third time mothers to fear childbirth, as each labour is different. Your friends and family members may scare you with their horror stories of long, painful labours but it is important to remember that your labour can be a pleasant experience. If you prepare correctly for labour you can reduce risks of potential difficulties when giving birth. There is no guarantee that your labour is going to run perfectly, but there are certain things you can do to have a positive birthing experience.

Common reasons why women fear childbirth

There are many reasons why women fear childbirth and it is important to identify these fears in order to overcome them:

• The pain of labour
• Dying in Labour
• Long Labour
• Complications with the baby

The Pain of Labour

Many women fear the pain of labour for a number of reasons. Some first time mothers who do not know what the pain will be like have an immense fear. Mothers who have already had a baby and experienced bad pain are also likely to hold some fear of birthing. However, many women feel that labour pain is best described as a very painful menstrual pain. It is also important to remember that there are many pain relief options available, some of which are able to take the pain away completely.

The different options for pain relief are below, of which there is more information in our pregnancy guide:

• Gas and Air – This can help take the edge off the pain of contractions
• Pethidine – This works as an effective pain relief
• Epidural – This can provide you with a complete and effective pain relief

If you want to have a natural birth without using intervention methods there are many options to control the pain:

• Tens machines
• Fitness ball
• Massage in labour
• Breathing techniques

It is important to remember that there will always be a solution to overcome your fears of labour. It is inevitable that you may fear labour but try to relax and make the best the situation. If you plan the type of labour you want you can aim to have a positive birthing experience.

Dying in Labour

Many women fear dying in labour, but for the most part both mother and baby come through the procedure fine. It is important not to focus on the worst case scenario, but to think positively such as the fact that you are soon going to have a beautiful new baby. Pregnancy is a time of enormous change, both mentally and physically and it is no wonder that there is a heap of fears building up in you. The risk in the UK and other developed countries of women dying during labour is very small, as there is always expert medical attention available. Try to not worry too much and enjoy your labour.

Long Labour

It is important to try to be realistic when it comes to labour: labour is not a quick process. The baby needs to be monitored and you will give birth in your own time and at your own pace. You cannot rush the baby out. Most labours last a few hours or so, but first labours are normally longer. Your midwife will be able to guide you through the birthing experience, as should your birthing partner.

Complications with your baby

Many women fear that there may be complications with the baby once born. There are many screening tests available during pregnancy to determine if there are any potential problems. If all the tests came back fine, you should not worry too much and try to enjoy the labour. There is always medical support and help if there were anything to go wrong but the majority of the time most babies suffer little or no complications.