How to overcome the fear of childbirth - how to cope with the fear of childbirth

We are always afraid of what we do not know. That's why( and even considering that the birth in the life of a modern woman "meet" only a couple of times) it's not at all surprising that future mothers are afraid. So how to overcome the fear of childbirth?

First of all it is worth investigating why we are scared and what scares us. It can be pain, lack of knowledge about the event that awaits us, or simply postponed in the memory of the "horror stories" told by already giving birth to women. However, I would like to add that for each woman the birth will take place according to her personal scenario, which observes only the sequence of the three stages of childbirth.

Pain in childbirth

So, let's consider the most common variant, when the fear of childbirth is caused by possible painful sensations. Unfortunately, it will not work out completely. But if, during pregnancy, to pay more attention to training in appropriate courses with instructors explaining the basics of relaxation, it is possible to significantly reduce unpleasant sensations. It will also help to master the technique of proper breathing and the use of Mother Nature's help in the mother's labor - the relaxing ability of warm water. Remember that movements usually relieve the pain, and lying on the bed - it strengthens( exceptions can only be for women who are pregnant, who for medical reasons will have to wait for an approach lying down).

In addition, we should not forget that childbirth is a completely natural process for women. And only nowadays it became the concern of the whole staff of the medical staff of the maternity home, because a modern woman often leads a not very active lifestyle, at all does not eat natural products and by the time of her pregnancy manages to accumulate several diseases. Perhaps it will be easier for you if you come to your pregnancy and childbirth as a kind of pleasant work, starting training well before the hour of "X": get rid of your bad habits, take up sports, relax in clear air, make changes inyour diet, work schedule and so on, even before you get pregnant. A healthy woman's body and birth may seem just a short trip to the hospital for the baby.

Birth Stages

Cope with the fear of delivery will help and knowledge about the physiological processes taking place in the female body during this period.

The first stage of labor consists of three phases:

• the latent phase of - most often remains unseen by a woman, since it represents weak fights with a large time interval( more than half an hour), at which you can still sleep( or just rest before the forthcoming "work");at this time, "erases" and opens the cervix( up to 4-5 centimeters);
• the active phase of - here the fights are becoming so strong and intense that a desire arises to express their feelings with a pair of "strong" words;this is just the time when you should turn to your knowledge and skills of relaxation( including immersing yourself in a warm bath);also during this period the fetal bladder is usually ruptured( if it did not happen earlier), the cervix opens up to approximately 8 cm, and the baby's head descends even slightly lower into the pelvic region;
• transition phase - the final period before the appearance of attempts and the most difficult for women who have to endure the most painful and frequent contractions( lasts usually about half an hour).

The second stage:

• the rest phase and attempts - there is very little before the birth of the baby - after strong struggles and the desire to push it comes a small natural painless break( 10-20 minutes), allowing a little rest before a decisive jerk;
• phase of eruption of the child's head and delivery - try to listen to the midwife who directs your actions - this will allow to give birth to the child in just a few attempts and avoid ruptures and incisions( episiotomy) of the perineum( which is 90% of the probability that the birth will leave a rather pleasant impression);a little effort and. .. son or daughter were born.

The third( and last) stage of delivery:

• expulsion( birth) of the placenta - in comparison with pushing the baby - it's just a rest.
• now you imagine what awaits you at the end of a nine-month wait( this will allow you to cope with the fear of childbirth).Although there may be other scenarios, for example, cesarean section.

"Horror stories"

Any woman who gave birth to a child can talk about her births so that the listener will give herself a vow never to have children. But the same information itself can be imagined in such a way that there will be an impression of the ease of the process itself. Therefore, if you do not know how to overcome the fear of childbirth, try to listen to less "scarecrows" and listen carefully to the advice of those women who decided to give birth to a third or fourth child. As they say, it would be very bad - they would not have many children.

Human memory is arranged in such a way that we forget most of the information, including bad information. Pain during fights can be forgotten in a few days( even before you return home from the hospital), if you managed to avoid sewing rills and incisions under anesthesia. In comparison with childbirth, the postpartum period, when everything hurts and it is difficult to move, is more memorable. But here everything depends more on the actions of the midwife than on yours. Therefore, try to follow all of its recommendations accurately.

Also the impression of giving birth helps to remove the arrival in one ward with the baby. This is not only a good stimulation for breastfeeding, but also a guarantee of quick and less painful contraction of the uterus( and without any medicinal "helpers").

How to get rid of the fear of delivery

To be afraid is normal. Do not think that you are a terrible coward. Fear will pass with the appearance of the first bout - then there will be no time to think about it and will have to concentrate entirely on your body and the future baby. Therefore, if you still do not know how to get rid of the fear of childbirth, and are not sure that you can do it, try to concentrate on the period of pregnancy and then immediately at the moment when you take the baby in your arms.

Positive emotions from the fact that you will see your crumb, will move your fears to the background.