How To Avoid Being Afraid of Labour & Delivery
- Fiona Keene
- Jan 12, 2016
- 4 min read
It is very rare for a woman to hear of labour and delivery that went easy. With so many different scenarios from, preeclampsia to vaginal tears to pooping all over yourself and your baby, it is no wonder most of us are afraid of labour. The fear of the unknown is almost inevitable even when you are expecting your third, fourth or even fifth! So are your labour fears worth the worry?
Below are some of our biggest fears and ways we can supress them.
1) Not being able to handle the pain
Most of us worry about this aspect of childbirth. Before having Jeremiah, I felt my pain threshold was very low. Normally, as soon as I feel a headache coming, I take painkillers. I avoid situations of feeling helpless and in pain but I can tell you, when my labour pains started, I found myself remembering all advice that I was given by my mother and Google. Anything I was afraid of, or not sure about, I went search the Internet for a solution. Of course sometimes I did get confused with all the information but I narrowed down my research referred to trusted professional sites. One tip that worked for me was that taking deep breaths would ease up your anxiety and keep you in control of what is going on with your body. Keep yourself busy, do not sit down and wait for the baby to come, wash the dishes, clean the house, prepare the nursery or go for walks. Any of these will help get the labour going, sitting and waiting will make you concentrate on the pain and drag the whole process. Most important of all, remember your body was meant to do just this. Research shows that keeping active during pregnancy can help things move a long more smoothly i.e. make it a little easier due strong abs and a fit cardiovascular system, which can give you more oomph and stamina for the pushing stage. No guarantees of course but this will definitely increase your chances. Regular exercisers are 75 percent less likely to need a forceps delivery, 55 percent less likely to have an episiotomy and up to four times less likely to have a cesarean section, research has found. It is important know your options, water births, epidurals and options like gas and air can ease your pain but make sure that you are aware of all the side effects before screaming to have them.
When God passed this judgement, in Genesis 3:16, He knew that we would be able to endure. Prayers will also give you confidence on the journey you are about to embark on. Use scriptures because as you might know, God does not go back on his word. Also, think about it, billions of women have done it before, if they can do it, so can you!
2) I am afraid of tearing / episiotomy while giving birth?
A midwife will be one person who can help you avoid a tear during labour when the baby's head becomes visible. The midwife will ask you to stop pushing, I could not place any more emphasis on this point, once you hear STOP, resist the urge to push and stop! She will most likely ask you to take short breaths, this part will be a lot easier if you practiced your kegel exercises during pregnancy as this muscles will be strong enough to hopefully help you avoid a tear. By doing so your skin and muscles have some more time to stretch allowing the baby's head to come out slowly and gently. If this is not comforting enough you can try practicing perineal massage (a method performed to relax, and soften the perineum, the area between the vagina and the rectum) during the last five weeks of your pregnancy.
3) Having a C-section
If you are determined not have a C-section like I was, you need to keep in mind that there is always a possibility that you might not have a choice. Yes, the recovery time is longer, abdominal pain and soreness; it is still advisable to enlighten yourself with enough information. It is better to know what to expect from the procedure and recovery in case you do end up having to go for one. As mentioned above, keeping fit is your best bet to reducing the chances of C-section. If you are a prayer warrior, keep praying for a delivery like that of the Hebrew women. God is full of surprises!
4) Pooping on the floor or in my case in the water birth
My fellow women, This is the very least thing you should worry about because when you are going through labour pains, you couldn't care less who sees your woman bits not talking of whether you poo or not. The doctors, nurses and midwives have seen it happen way too many times to care or judge you.
5) Dying
The probability of this happening is low but it still does happen more often in Africa than in the West. That is why a lot of us opt for having our babies abroad. If you are traveling to have your baby this should be the last worry on your mind. If you cannot travel out make sure you and your partner put money away for your delivery process. Always research the best hospitals and make sure they have a great success rate for their deliveries and sufficient equipment that can take care of you and your little one. Deaths during delivery are usually connected to prenatal complications and poor medical care. So make sure you feel comfortable in the hospital. It is your money after all so ask as many questions and if you are not sure, ask them to show you around their establishment. If they cannot do this for you before your baby is here, it should tell you a thing or two about the quality of service at that particular hospital. Above all, we should remember to always pray against all the above fears because 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." So enjoy your pregnancy and look forward to the beautiful creature you are yet to meet. Once you look into his / her eyes, you will realise that nothing else matters but the love that you will have for your little one.
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