Every one of us deals with some level of anxiety when it comes to giving birth, especially if we have friends telling us it will be excruciating! No one knows what your birth will be like, and none of us can predict how much pain you will experience. One thing is for sure, however. Fear increases pain. Here's how. Your uterus is made up of one muscle that has three layers. The outer layer is responsible for opening the bottom of the uterus (the cervix) and pushing the baby out. The middle layer is for holding all the blood vessels in place, and the inner layer is for closing the cervix back up and returning the uterus back to normal size after delivery. Outer Layer Middle Layer Inner Layer However, *if* you are experiencing any kind of muscle tension or emotional anxiety or fear, you are communicating to the brain that there is danger for the baby to be born into. Then the body goes into full scale force to "stall the birth" and begins to counteract the normal process in order to protect the baby from whatever that danger is. The inner layer of the uterus that is responsible for returning the cervix and uterus back to normal after birth, begins to become very rigid, making it much harder for the outer layer to do it's work, thus slowing labor. However, if you have ever had something pulling against a muscle (ie. a very heavy object that you are carrying making your arm hurt), you know it doesn't take long for a muscle to grow tired and begin to ache. If the inner layer is rigid due to tension and fear during labor, the outer layer that is trying to open your cervix becomes tired and painful and the cycle of fear-tension-pain develops. When you feel that, you think oh gosh, there's no way I can do this if it hurts this bad, this early. And you tense up some more, and it hurts some more, until you are writhing in "unnatural" pain. Of course you will need some sort of pain relief if this begins to happen. In addition, that middle layer that is rich in blood is between these two opposing muscles and during the tension battle, becomes constricted. Blood and oxygen are diminished to the uterus making it more painful (like when you sit on your leg and it falls asleep) as well as diminishing the blood supply to the placenta that is bringing oxygen to the baby. The baby can go into distress if this fear-tension-pain cycle goes on for too long, leading to a cesarean. Ultimately, if a woman is so fearful, she can have what is called "failure to progress" and a cesarean is ordered for that reason as well. Or, if you are able to overcome your fear, and be confident, calm, and tranquil, that inner layer will then release and the outler layer can work much faster and with less pain, reducing your need for pain medications and other risky interventions. I would venture to guess that most women are never told that and suffer through birth dealing with the pain that simple fear and tension creates. This is not natural pain and anyone who has had a baby and experienced intense excruciating pain ought not to feel bad about taking medications or having a cesarean. Chock it up to experience and don't beat yourself up over it. Don't feel judged or condemned because of your choices. Unnatural childbirth pain is very real and no one should have to suffer through that. We are all scared, no? The trick is to figure out how to overcome that fear. Not all pain in childbirth comes from fear. Somethings we just cannot control and may need help for. What we can control, however, is our mind, and that will greatly affect the level of pain that we experience. It is good advice to get into a childbirth preparation class (like a Bradley class) that will support you in learning how to overcome your fears on your own. Other tactics include - 1. Slow abdominal breathing in through the nose for the count of four, hold for two, and out through the mouth for 6-8 counts. Make sure your shoulders do not rise when you inhale, but that your stomach expands because you are breathing from your diaphram and not your chest. When you hold for the count of two, allow your tension and fear to collect in your lungs and release it slowly when you breath out. Allow that tension to come out, and anything that is left over inside of you, imagine it coming out down your arms and through your finger tips. Start practicing this now, and you will be an expert at it by the time labor starts. 2. Total relaxation of *ALL* your muscles (even your birth muscles) - tense muscles create a tense uterus. 3. Use upright positions that help you to relax. Being upright during labor and delivery is far more comfortable for most women than laying down in bed. However, most hospitals want you laying down, so you will have to wrestle with that to figure out how you can remain upright. Rocking chair, standing next to the bed with it raised up so you can lean on it, sitting on the toilet, etc. etc. But gravity will help speed things up. 4. Get a good doula. There's quite a bit more you can do, and you will just need to surround yourself ONLY with positive birth stories. Refuse to listen to any horror stories, and saturate yourself with positive encouragement. I don't mean exclude any pain stories, because yes, childbirth is painful. But it is LESS painful, faster, and less complicated when you are confident, relaxed, and tranquil. That state of mind is very possible if you are allowed to labor in privacy with few disruptions. You will have to decide now how you would like to birth, and start working to achieve that. Read books like: A Thinking Woman's Guide to Childbirth Childbirth Without Fear Pregnancy, Childbirth & the Newborn by Simkin Christ Centered Childbirth (if you are into that) Good luck, and get well educated now, don't wait for your childbirth class. You will do fine, no matter what happens. What you can do now is get educated, and even if your birth gets real hard, there is help out there and you will be safe. But you are not helpless and you will do well to prepare yourself with normal birth stories and solid education on the facts of interventions, not the horror stories. Blessings to you, and happy birthing! |
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Cascade Christian Childbirth Association
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Disclaimer The suggestions contained in this website are not intended to replace medical advice. If you feel you are experiencing a situation that requires medical attention, contact your care provider. |
