You’ve gone past food cravings and nausea during the first trimester, felt baby kicks and happily embraced your growing bump by the second phase, and now just counting the days to finally seeing your baby. But anxiety has crippled in, and you’re wondering if you'll be able to deliver safely, in constant worry about how painful it could be, and scared of our postpartum days. You’re not alone in feeling this way, mommy to be!
Mamas on edamama’s Connect have asked: What scares you most about giving birth? We try to answer that with tips from fellow moms and healthcare experts.
Fear of not making it in time
You’ve seen it in countless movies, right? A pregnant woman sees water-like discharge and suddenly gives birth. However, in reality, childbirth does not immediately happen after the water breaks. It could be a sign you’ve reached active labor, a phase characterized by 5 cm dilation and more contractions.
The active first stage “usually does not extend beyond 12 hours in first labors, and usually does not extend beyond 10 hours in subsequent labors,” the World Health Organization said.
Definitely, you’ll have ample time to travel to the hospital. You are also expected to have weekly checkups with your OB-Gyne as soon as you reach 36 weeks, so you can ask experts about what to expect.
Fear of pain
During the latent or first stage of labor, the expectant mom will experience painful uterine contractions and widening cervix. These contractions feel like punches at the lower back and dysmenorrhea magnified. The strong contractions also present a pattern, mostly felt by the woman in labor every 5 minutes, for at least an hour. Some moms even describe the pain as dysmenorrhea magnified 100x!
During labor, the pain begins at the middle of the back and stretches out around the abdomen, according to the US National Center for Biotechnology Information. Labor pains grow in intensity and are unbearable for most women as it progresses.
You can help ease pain by mentally preparing yourself - use motivational phrases, prayers during contractions, or visualize calm seas. You may also talk to your OB-Gyne about the use of epidural. Every birth story is different, so you must prepare for the experience.
Fear of blood
Women need not fret if there is fresh blood on their underwear when they’re nearing their due date. Pinkish blood may be a sign that the cervix–which has many tiny vessels– is dilating and paving the way for childbirth.
If you are however not yet near your due date, any presence of blood should be immediately attended to by a health expert.
Fear for baby’s safety
It’s a valid fear, especially when you’re going through labor for the first time. Listen to the experts around you, and tell them when you have instincts that you need to verbalize. Count your baby’s movements if you can.
Some women might not feel contractions at all. While this sounds like a good idea, this could make you blind to the progress of labor. Several doctors would suggest induction of labor, especially for those who have reached 41 weeks of gestation. Other factors that could warrant induced labor are:
- Vaginal delivery not achieved within 24 hours
- Cesarean section
- Uterine hyperstimulation with fetal heart rate changes
- Postpartum hemorrhage
- Uterine rupture
Fear of operation
If you have to undergo Cesarean birth, whether scheduled or on an emergency basis, know that science is on your side. With competent doctors and aides, top-notch hospital facilities, your survival and recovery rate will be on the high side.
Post CS birth, you need to get moving because small movements will make you recover faster and help you avoid post-birth health woes. Even the World Health Organization says “women should be encouraged to mobilize as soon as appropriate following the birth.”
If giving birth for the first time, you may enroll in birth classes so you’ll know what to expect. You may also read up on relaxation techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, breathing, music, mindfulness and other techniques that WHO recommends for healthy pregnant women.
Got some more questions for fellow mamas? Check out edamama’s Connect, a unique feature in your favorite go-to shopping app. Because we are not just about online shopping– it’s also a community.
