When it comes to having fears of giving birth, it is safe to say that you are not alone. Whether this is your first, second, or third time going through pregnancy, each childbirth comes with a different set of experiences and at a different phase in your life. What you do want to do is to find an equal footing and explore levelling strategies, which benefit you and your partner. No matter how much you prepare or have gained significant experience with giving birth, you must plan in a comprehensive fashion.
Going through apprehension and not knowing what to expect is a very natural feeling. It is, after all, a pivotal moment in anyone’s life. One of the best ways to counteract numerous fears associated with giving birth is preparation. From the onset, it is essential to have regular checkups and see a medical physician throughout the entire pregnancy.
One of, if not the most, important aspects to remember is to acknowledge your fears but never allow them to get the best of you. You will not be able to control or anticipate every step of the way of how the birth will turn out.
Be mindful of the never-ending transitions and changes as a constant in the entire process. You will experience a wide range of emotions and mood swings like a roller coaster ride. You could say that child birth is like running a marathon or climbing a mountain — we all know that reaching the end is the main goal and getting there will largely depend on our willingness to succeed. You can say the experience is a once-in-a-lifetime thing and, without a doubt, a phenomenal sacrifice — no matter how much pain you may or may not experience.
The most common fears about giving birth
Once you have detected and confirmed your pregnancy, be honest about what sort of fears come to mind. Get those concerns out in the open and discuss them with your significant other, your relatives, and the team of doctors.
What are some of the typical fears associated with giving birth? Fears are not uncommon for your brain to produce. According to Babycenter.com, below is a list of the top ten fears:
- Not knowing how to care for the baby
- Loss of privacy and modesty
- Facing the unknown
- Not being able to give birth
- Tearing
- Being in pain
- Not making it to the hospital in time
- Having life-endangering complications
- The baby not being healthy
- Having unwanted interventions
Chances are that these fears are not all that foreign to you. For instance, maybe it’s a byproduct of the imagination to think we may not make it to the hospital or clinic in time to give birth. Child labor is a long process, so don’t get too worked up about being stuck on the side of the road.
Facing the unknown or not knowing how to care for the newborn will certainly lead to mistakes made. Nobody is exempt from error and the only way to learn is through understanding what you did wrong.
A lot of the fears we formulate at times come from not knowing enough and fabricating endless scenarios. Being in pain or tearing are quite possible from one pregnancy to the next. Nevertheless, the body is equipped to handle such a demanding and physical feat.
A couple of classic worries are that the baby may end up not being healthy or that you may require an unwanted intervention (C-section or episiotomy). With more than 100 years of medical research, you can avoid these problems by instituting proper pregnancy nutrition. This will supply the baby directly from your bloodstream with every single nutrient needed for growth of nerves to muscles and bone to brain development.
Your body will undergo major changes and you must come to terms with it. In other words, having your body exposed to strangers when going into labor or even your water breaking in public are all possible. Each fear is managed by accepting it and learning to understand all the conditions that come with giving birth.
The takeaways
Giving birth will affect not just you but every single person involved. It is a transformational experience that binds and connects human beings time and time again. Since medicine and technology have taken great leaps, you can rest assured that treatments exist in the event of a complication while you are giving birth.
Giving birth is a very well-documented event, and there are plenty of certified professionals who will be holding your best interests for the sake of you and the baby.
You can also check out the visual graphic “The Bump and the Grind,” which highlights a full-term pregnancy (ranging from 37 to 42 weeks). In addition, there is also a week-by-week detailed list of bodily changes for you and the baby.
