How to Handle Fear about Birth
Labor begins, and suddenly panic rises. What if I'm not strong enough for this? What if it's just too much to handle? As a doula, I can assure you that panic will make it extremely difficult to birth on a cellular level, and here's the science behind it.
The Labor Mama wrote, "Though labor and birth are processes that can seem scary and uncontrollable, fear about them that is not 'managed' can have significant impacts on both body and mind – and ultimately, on the birth experience itself." The Childbirth Education Project added to this by explaining, "Dr. Dick-Read observed that when a birthing person feels fear, it often causes their body to tense up. That muscle tension can then lead to more pain during labor. The increase in pain reinforces fear, which creates a loop: Fear → Tension → Pain → More Fear. This cycle can become a barrier to physiological birth and can increase the need for interventions. As childbirth educators, breaking this cycle is one of the most powerful ways we can support students in preparing for labor."
To break it down, fear creates a surge of adrenaline that pumps through the body. Your mind is afraid, making your body stiffen, fill with adrenaline, and push out any oxytocin (the happy hormone that is essential for labor progression).
Obviously, there's going to be a sense of fear as you approach any new adventure. Birth is unpredictable, and it's genuinely hard. But handling fear correctly is essential in making sure it doesn't take over and destroy any possibility of a beautiful, trusting birth.
How does a mother even begin the fight against fear? In so many ways! Start by living low-stress now. Be honest about what makes you nervous. New things? Face it, pray about it, and give it to God. An event coming up? Face it, pray about it, and give it to God. Practice slow, deep breathing when you feal fear. Then, focus on your fears concerning birth. Are you afraid of the contraction pain? That's completely understandable. Face it, pray about it, and give it to God. The fact is, it's going to be hard. Fear won't fix that. But God will fill you with strength as you rely on Him. And practical steps include choosing a birthing location you feel safe in, a birth team you trust, and a birth environment that calms you (think dim lights, soft music, people you love). Fear is normal, but it doesn't have to control you. You're so much stronger than you think, and much stronger than the fear you might feel.
As a doula, it's my honor to listen to your fears and give you gentle tips on how to handle them. I can help you create the birthing environment that you'll feel safest in, plus be a safe space to share fear and go on to have a beautiful baby. Education, a powerful tool against fear, is part of my job, too. Ask me any questions you have, and I'll give you the facts. Birth might be a new experience for you, but not for me.
You've got this, strong mama.
-Welcome Life Doula
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