Overcome Your Fear of Childbirth

Simple Steps to Success

Most women have
some fear of childbirth.
It is normal. Think about it. How many of us have seen a live birth before our own takes place? Not many. It isn't common anymore. Birth takes place behind closed doors and we don’t really talk about it very much. Because of this, birth has become an "unknown" or unfamiliar event for most women. As birth approaches, we do not know what to expect. Nothing causes fear faster than knowing something is going to happen, or really hurt, and not being sure how much it will hurt or if you will be able to bear it. Think of a little kid getting shots. The worst part is the anticipation of the needle prick!

Not only do you not know what giving birth will like but you have probably been barraged with false images of birth for most of your life. Think about the many TV shows and movies that you have seen over your life time. They use birth to create suspense, drama, and intense climactic endings. These are dramatized births. They have been specifically designed to put you on the edge of your seat! And even though you know they are not real, these are often the only images you have to work with when you begin preparing for your own birth.

Then there is the woman who has given birth before.
She may be nervous about giving birth again, because this time she knows what it feels like and she may not exactly be thrilled to do it again. Maybe there were complications or problems during her first birth. Whatever the circumstance she now has two options. She can let her fear of giving birth consume her or use it as motivation to help her better educate and prepare herself for her next birth.

Fear of Childbirth
What is so scary about childbirth that causes us to fear it anyway?
What do we fear? Why do we fear it? What causes this fear?

Let’s break it down into three simple parts:

 Fear happens when:
  -we do not understand something,
  -something threatens our safety or seems dangerous,
  -or when we doubt ourselves and our own abilities.

Understanding
We fear what we do not understand. As I mentioned above- How many of us are well versed in the process of childbirth? How many of us really understand the ins and outs of “how to give birth”? It is this lack of understand, this not really knowing how it all works, that is the breeding ground of fear. I mean really, this watermelon sized baby is supposed to come out of where? How? Are you sure?

Safety
Fear often comes up when we are faced with a threatening situation.
You’re walking down a dark street at night and someone jumps out at you- What do you feel? Fear!
When you’re hiking along a trail and hear a rattle just off the path- Fear!
Since you have probably been told your whole life about how difficult and painful childbirth is, it is only natural to expect a well developed sense of fear about the whole deal.

Self-doubt
Probably the most debilitating fears for most people stem from their own self-doubt. Have you ever doubted yourself and your abilities? Do you like to stand up in front of crowds and speak? Can you run a marathon? Think you can make a good loaf of bread?
When trying something new or uncomfortable we sometimes tend to feel that we might somehow fail, and so we do not try. Remember-

    “You only fail, when you fail to try.”

Or take this lesson from Chester Barnard-

   “To try and fail is at least to learn; to fail to try is to suffer the     inestimable loss of what might have been.”

Childbirth is a most incredible experience! Don’t let fear of childbirth stop you from experiencing it! Don’t try to get out of it; learn how to make the most of this once in a lifetime experience! How?

Overcoming Your Fear of Childbirth
Overcome your fear of childbirth through knowledge and self-determination. Each of the following articles will help you step-by-step overcome the fears you have about childbirth.

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