Scary

Painful

Unknown

Out of control

These are just a few of the words that you probably think of when you imagine giving birth. It’s a really common way to feel, so don’t worry if you’re still in this head space!  For many of us our only reference for what birth is like comes from TV, films, soaps and dramatic stories we hear and read about. Over the course of our lives, we’ve heard far more negative things about birth than positive and this has built up a picture in our mind that birth is dangerous and painful. It’s not as if giving birth is something you do everyday, so it’s no wonder you feel afraid.

But did you know that all that fear and anxiety can actually disrupt your labour and make it longer and more painful?

FEAR is the enemy of birth.

Back in the 1920s, Dr Grantly Dick Read described what has become known as the ‘Fear-Tension-Pain’ cycle. He discovered that some women were able to give birth with very little discomfort and pain. He wondered what it was that these women were bringing into the birthing environment that made their experience of birth so different. He realised that actually, it was something that they weren’t bringing into the birth that was having the amazing effect on how they delivered their babies…it was FEAR.

When we feel fear our body releases a hormone called adrenaline. This sends us into ‘fight or flight’ mode, which triggers blood and oxygen to be sent to our vital organs to help us fight or run away (heart, lungs and the muscles of our arms and legs). Unfortunately, the Uterus isn’t considered a vital organ, so the muscles that are needed to give birth tense up and don’t work as they are supposed to. When these muscles are tense, we are much more likely to feel pain.  And when we are in pain we feel stressed and afraid, right?  FEAR leads to TENSION, which leads to PAIN and the cycle goes on.

But what if we could let go of fear or reduce it? We could break the cycle and have a much better birth experience!

How to start letting go of that FEAR.

There are some practical things you can do today to start breaking the cycle of fear…

1. Surround yourself with positive stories of birth.
Does negative Nancy want to tell you about her horrific labour?  Just say NO!  Listening to horrible stories won't do you any favours. In fact, it will only add to your assumptions that birth is scary.  Maybe you can suggest she tells you her story after you've had your baby.  Instead, I recommend searching for and reading positive birth stories.

2. Watch a Hypnobirth.
It's likely that the only version of birth you've seen up until now is the highly dramatised version shown in films and TV programmes.  Try to be mindful of the media you are watching.  Why not watch an amazing Hypnobirth instead and prepare to be amazed.  Alternatively, look up 'positive birth' or 'Hypnobirth' on Youtube.

3. Stay calm and relaxed
Being relaxed in pregnancy and labour is so important, not just for your own mental wellbeing, but also to promote helpful hormones like Oxytocin and Endorphins. These hormones will actually help your birth progress smoothly and more comfortably. There are simple things you can do to boost them - have a cuddle with a loved one, watch a funny programme, read a good book. Or you could attend a pregnancy yoga class, a relaxation session or take a Hypnobirthing course.