How to overcome the fear of childbirth

There is no mother who does not worry about the upcoming birth. However, sometimes such anxiety develops into panic. Let's try to figure out how to cope with panic during... contractions and psychologically prepare yourself for the mystery of the birth of a baby.

Fear of childbirth

Fear is a common state of expectant mothers; it happens to every woman.

The main reasons why it occurs are familiar to every mother:

• Fear of pain. However, everything is not as scary as it seems: the female body is initially designed to give birth to a baby, so there is a certain psychological adaptability. But each person has his own pain threshold, and if doctors feel that there is a need for painkillers, of course, they will be used.
• Fear of the unknown. This is perhaps the most important phobia for any woman. To overcome it, you need to prepare in advance and read the necessary literature. Look at photos of young mothers with babies in their arms - isn’t this the kind of happiness for which it’s worth a little patience?
• Negative attitude towards motherhood. Unfortunately, not all expectant mothers have a long-awaited baby. The body reacts very sensitively to the mother’s mood, so try to change your attitude towards the birth of the baby and believe in a happy future.
• Negative experience of previous births. Women who have already had children may recall the experiences associated with this, especially if they were unlucky with the clinic or doctor, or the birth was particularly difficult. You just have to believe that this time everything will be different. In addition, (and this is already a reliable fact) often mothers who experience severe pain during the birth of their first child give birth to their second and third babies almost painlessly.
• Fear of dying. Of course, childbirth is a complex physiological process, so women sometimes have a fear of death during childbirth. If such thoughts have crossed your mind, read the statistics: the fear of dying during childbirth is almost insignificant. We don’t think about possible death when we cross the street or get into a car.

So there is nothing terrible in the experiences themselves, the most important thing is to try to overcome them and tune in to a positive wave.

How to stop being afraid of childbirth

Despite any advice from psychologists and physical training, every mother will still worry before meeting her baby. However, the excitement will be less intense if you get as much information as possible about the upcoming event.

The Internet and various educational programs can provide good help with this. Just don’t forget that any information needs to be sorted and dosed: choose to watch videos in which women in labor behave calmly and adequately.

What every woman needs to know is the stages that childbirth will consist of. The longest period (up to 12 hours) is the period of contractions, which intensify even more closer to childbirth. At this time, the expectant mother needs to breathe properly so that the baby receives oxygen.

Try to relax between contractions. After this, attempts begin, during which the baby is born. Their duration is from an hour to an hour and a half. The final stage of childbirth is the separation of the placenta, but, as a rule, happy mothers do not even notice it.

Psychological preparation for childbirth

Preparing for childbirth has a physical and psychological aspect. If a woman is usually physiologically ready (many go to special courses, do exercises, gymnastics for women in labor), then it can be more difficult to overcome some psychological issues. However, good physical preparation for childbirth directly affects your moral state.

It is necessary to carefully follow all the recommendations of the obstetrician-gynecologist and take the necessary tests. Tell your doctor about all the changes that happen to you during this period.

From the very beginning of pregnancy, study breathing exercises, perform exercises that develop muscles - this is a very important aspect of psychological preparation.

It is very important to learn to relax during pregnancy. Think only about pleasant things, arrange a room for your baby. This will help you tune in to the good and protect you from negative thoughts. If you feel that you are still unable to let go of negative thoughts, you should seek the help of a psychologist - timely assistance from a competent specialist helps women in labor well.

So the most important thing is to be positive and don’t forget that everything will definitely be fine. After all, there is no greater happiness for a woman than motherhood!