12 Top Fears in Childbirth

Here's a link to an article in Pregnancy Beat by Charlotte Sanchez (CPM) - a Certified Professional Midwife and Childbirth Educator. It lists some of the top fears in childbirth. Perhaps you recognise some of them as your own?






Charlotte lists...

• A fear of not making it to the hospital in time or arriving too early in labor.
• A fear your doctor or midwife may not be available when labor starts and you end up with someone different.
• A fear your birth plan will not be taken seriously or totally disregarded. 
• A fear of feeling unbearable pain.
• A fear of being confined to a hospital bed unable to stand or walk. 
• A fear of receiving unnecessary interventions without an alternative such as episiotomy.
• A fear of having accidental body function such as urination, bowel movement or vomiting.
• A fear of the umbilical cord being around the neck of the baby.
•  A fear of receiving interventions that will lead to fetal distress.
• A fear of fetal distress that ends with a cesarean delivery.
• A fear of being separated from your baby or being prevented to bond properly.
• A fear of death of the baby during labor and birth.

It's good to try to address and learn as much about these fears before birth, so that you and your birth partner can feel confident during your birthing experience. Knowledge is power!

Top Birth Fears

Natal Hypnotherapy™

8 Considerations for Home Birth

Our birthing environment is one of the most important factors in having a comfortable and satisfying birth. A place where we feel safe to birth our baby.

 

The most common choice is hospital: women feel comfortable in a place where medical assistance is on hand - should there be an emergency, historically Mothers and Sisters have given birth in hospital and that's the norm, for some women their midwife may have advised that this is the best option.

There is no 'correct' place to birth, only a place that's right for you.

Natural or Medicalised Birth?

Women who want a home birth tend to favour natural birthing, they choose to stay away from hospitals as they feel once they are admitted into the hospital system they are drawn into medical policy & procedure and that they will have a greater chance of medical intervention - induction, forceps, c-section and so on. That said, there is an effort by many midwives to become more women-centred, especially in midwife-led birthing centres.

Some women like to 'nest', in order to make their birthing environment as perfect as they can - using lighting, music, oils, bedding and other home comforts. Hospitals can be accommodating, but there is no getting away from the fact it is a medical setting with strip lights, uniforms, clip boards, medical equipment etc...

Question: What comes to mind when you think 'hospital'?

Answer 1: Emergency, pain and panic - for this woman, a far from relaxed response.
Answer 2: Safety, reassurance and support - for this woman, medical security.

8 Considerations for Home Birth

A few questions to consider when you're weighing up Home V's Hospital Birth...

What type of birthing experience do you want?
Where would you feel the most comfortable?
What does your birth partner think? Does s/he support your choices?
What does you midwife say?
Is it safe?
Do you want pain relief?
What is the transfer time to hospital?
Do you already have children? Would they be present/Do you have childcare?

Every woman in the UK is entitled to request a home birth and for normal, low-risk pregnancies a home birth option is entirely possible - if you want it.

Any Comments welcome xx


Further Information:

Sky News Homebirth Debate Video

Aims

Homebirth.org