Write a journal
Writing your thoughts and feelings down can help to highlight specific concerns or fears that you have but at this point are not sure what to do about them. You may decide to enlist the help of someone experienced in birth or in the type of fear you are experiencing.
Talk to people about your fear
Not confronting worries or fears can sometimes make them feel bigger than they really are. If expressing them to your partner, family or a close friend is not helping do not be embarrassed to ask others. An experienced mother, doula (a woman trained to offer emotional and practical support to a woman (or couple) before, during and after childbirth), birth educator or counsellor, midwife, or other therapist may be able to help you overcome your fear of birth. Often, just having the opportunity to talk openly and honestly can really help.
As you are probably already aware, there is so much information from a wide variety of sources about childbirth that it is no wonder many women become flustered, confused, nervous, anxious, and even fearful of childbirth itself.
n 2000, an article published in the British Journal of psychiatry (2000, 176: 83-85) introduced the term ‘tokophobia’ as the recognised psychological disorder that describes the intense fear of
child birth. Recent studies related to this in Sweden and Finland have resulted in many of their hospitals setting up ‘fear of childbirth’ teams dedicated to focusing on these issues. Their overall aim is to make giving birth as rewarding as possible, what ever the kind of birth.
Although such teams do not exist in the UK at present there is still plenty you can do to reduce this fear however small or large. Remember, you are not alone and many women feel some fear as childbirth approaches and it reflects the emotional process of pregnancy. Sorting through these feelings while you are pregnant helps reduce the stress of adjusting to life with a new baby. It leaves you free to experience labour and birth as the first step in parenthood.
Antenatal Courses
Prepare yourself by learning the basics about pregnancy, labour and delivery, either by reading and researching yourself or attending a childbirth education class. Attending a class gives you the opportunity to ask questions that are important to you, as they arise. Knowledge creates peace and preparedness, and will dispel any fears that you have made based upon misinformation. Try not to listen to the ‘horror stories’ that so many women are keen to tell you!
Visit the area you will be giving birth
If you are planning a hospital birth but can’t go in person many maternity hospitals websites now offer ‘virtual tours’ on line. My article in our summer edition discussed the importance of preparing your birth environment. Remember studies have shown that this will help to reduce your fear and anxieties. By getting the right balance of labour hormones you can give birth in a safe, secure and relaxed environment. More
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