Fear Tension Pain and the effects on your chilbirth experience

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Today's blog will discuss how fear may interfere with childbirth excuse the pun!  As a practicing UK midwife my practice is based on alleviating women's fear during childbirth.  Midwives know that having your first baby, or a baby after a traumatic previous delivery can be very worrying.  You as a mother are entering uncharted territory and the journey into motherhood can be unsettling.  We listen to many horror stories from friend and relatives and media and this can create fear. Childbirth does not have to be like this childbirth can be the most empowering experience of your life if things go right.

In the 1950's author Grantly Dick Read wrote a book, called 'Childbirth Without Fear,' he had pondered on why some women found childbirth so difficult but most just accepted childbirth as a normal female physiological process.  He discovered that fear could impact on labour. As a midwife I have found this to be true of many women especially in today's society, so now let us discuss how you can overcome your fears and help yourself to a great childbirth experience.

First let us look at how the body works during labour, in order for childbirth to start, women require a release of oxytocin the love hormone.  Oxytocin sends signals to the brain and helps labour start and progress, allowing the cervix to soften and contractions to start. There are two hormones that can impair the production of oxytocin, and these are stress hormones known as adrenaline and cortisol  if these two hormones become dominant then labour slows down.  These two hormones are in response to a perceived stressful situation or surroundings, which can be interpreted as the fight or flight response.

 Now picture yourself at home and your labour starts, you start to experience tightening s in your lower abdomen, they become regular and you need to contact your birth partner and make your way to the hospital.  You have not visited the birth centre or labour ward before and you need to call first.  When you call the line is engaged, you try again the midwife sounds rushed and busy.  The journey to your hospital is stressful because there is a lot of traffic, and upon arrival the unit is busy and you have to take a seat and wait.  You find your self in strange environment around strangers and you feel our of your comfort zone and out of control, you have a strong urge to rush home, fear overwhelms you and you release adrenaline and suddenly the tightening s start to slow down. Before you know it labour has stopped.  This is a very common scenario especially for first time Mothers.

So how can you avoid this happening to you? Well there are many things you can do. Firstly understanding how your body works during labour.  Understanding that your uterus expands to the biggest muscle in the human body at forty weeks gestation (even bigger then men's muscles!) and muscles require nourishment.  Ensure you drink plenty whilst at home and when you arrive at the hospital. Muscles work better when hydrated and babies need hydration too, (remember this journey is also tough for baby). Secoundly, ensure you have attended a good antenatal class this will provide valuable education into how the body reacts during labour you will then realise that in fact childbirth is a normal physiological process and that you body is just reacting to your surroundings.  Thirdly visit the birth centre or hospital where you plan to give birth, and maybe if your are healthy consider a home birth this will help you recognise your surroundings keeping you calmer. The fourth point I would like to make is one of privacy, many animals go off and find a private place to give birth they make a nest and they undergo labour in a calm setting away from stress.  

When we conceive we usually do this in a private place away from public attention (well some people might not! but most do). So your birthing environment needs to be calm and relaxed.  Take some of your own things, a pillow, music, maybe a scan picture of you baby to focus on when you are having a surge. You might also like to explore natal hypnotherapy  Ensure you choose a calm supportive birthing partner, some women may enlist the help of a Doula, but remember midwives are there to support you we want to support you on this journey.

Your body is built for childbirth.  Your antenatal care is vital to ensure that you go into labour in good health.  There are other strategies you can use prior to childbirth to assist with the whole childbirth experience. This is your journey, you have chosen to walk in uncharted waters, and believe me when I say that much strength can be gained from childbirth.  High expectations can lead to disappointment, just allow yourself to be in the moment, focus on working as a team with your baby, breath your way through and help your baby find the light, bringing forth a new beginning and a whole new way of life and understanding.  Turn fear into success.

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Thanks for reading big love
Wendy Kuharska (2015)