If you were to ask a woman who is scared about giving birth why she feels that way, she’d probably tell you that she is simply worried things will go wrong and birth will be an unpleasant event and pain. This is despite the very high standards of care we have access to and the wealth and health of our country, being amongst the highest in the world.

Perhaps it’s a reflection of the lack of support and exposure we have to pregnancy and birth – a far cry from our once communal ways when pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding was seen as a normal, everyday event. Or, perhaps it’s the way we care for our pregnant women at this point and time in Australia, or the lack of adequate birth preparation skills – or a combination of all of these. Following are the top 12 fears in labour women have expressed through open forums on the subject.

1. Episiotomy (surgical cut of the perineum)

Routine episiotomy is now very unusual practice in hospitals. It is only usually done to hasten birth in an emergency. This is because the baby or mother are becoming distressed or the perineum is so tight that it is delaying the birth. If forceps/vacuum extraction is required to complete birth then it is usual to perform an episiotomy but not compulsory. As the mother, you must consent to any procedures carried out on you or your baby during labour or birth. If you do not give consent then the person performing the procedure is liable for assault. You can always just say NO!

2. Loss of sexual enjoyment as a result of episiotomy or tearing

There does seem to be a high incidence of women who experience pain during intercourse for months following perineal trauma requiring suturing. This is caused by many factors. We encourage women to speak to their Obstetrician, GP or Midwife in the early period (6 weeks following birth) if they experience problems as there are many ways they can be assisted. The longer the concern is left unaddressed, the harder it is to treat. The biggest hurdle is getting women to seek help with painful sexual issues. However help is very effective once sought.

3. Death of the baby during birth

Almost every mother has this fear at some time in her pregnancy. It is a normal apprehensive response to the unknown, in a situation beyond their control. A lot of women report vivid, sometimes distressing dreams during pregnancy. This is normal and not a negative thing. It is healthy to explore all possibilities, to discuss them with our partners and to think of how we’d cope with the outcome should it occur. Having thought our way through the possibilities prepares us for the event should it arise. When we dwell on the fear or become obsessed with it then we create a negative, stressful mindset. I would suggest consulting a psychologist to help put fears into perspective if they became overwhelming. But certainly some sort of anxiety is absolutely normal and not to be confused with a premonition.

4. Accidental bodily function (bowel/bladder)

It is a completely normal thing to do when pushing out a baby, that whatever is in front of the baby’s head will need to come out first. This is simple normal physiology. Should it happen, it wouldn’t bother the birth attendants one bit. However if it bothers you then go and sit on the toilet in the early pushing phase. Midwives usually suggest this anyway and it can help you greatly to just let go and bring the baby down if you aren’t worried about embarrassing yourself and or your partner.

5. Having a caesarean

The prevalence of caesareans is unfortunately a very real fact. Australia has one of the highest caesarean rates in the world: approximately 25% – 30% in the private sector and 13% – 19% in the public sector. Having a good relationship with whoever is caring for you in labour helps reduce this rate greatly. Being well informed and having an open line of communication with your caregiver (Obstetrician, GP or Midwife) can reduce the need for surgical birth. Confidence in your own ability to give birth is also a huge help. We are designed for it!

6. Forceps or other intervention

Sometimes consenting to intervention is a choice we must make. Being well informed and choosing your caregiver carefully so they will keep you informed of what is happening during your pregnancy, labour and birth will help. Knowledge is power. Ignorance just makes you vulnerable to emotional blackmail. When you have the facts you can make informed decisions, ask questions and understand the answers. Use the BRAN technique to help you decide which interventions to consent to. When an intervention is suggested to you ask:

B – What are the Benefits of this procedure?
R – What are the Risks of this procedure?
A – What are the Alternatives to this treatment/procedure?
N – What will happen if I choose to do Nothing?

This is a very logical and helpful process to work through to help you decide whether or not the intervention recommended is right for you.

7. Meconium complications

Meconium is the substance forming the first faeces of a newborn infant. However, the meconium in the amniotic waters around the baby is not always troublesome. If your birth attendant detects its presence during labour s/he will look at the big picture (all that is going on) and then act appropriately on it. It is very important to notify your birth attendant if your waters break and the fluid is anything other than clear. You have no control over the presence of meconium, therefore there is nothing you can do except to alert your caregiver or midwife of its presence and then discuss the options.

8. Cord around baby’s neck

A high percentage of babies have their cords loosely looped about their bodies somewhere. They play “skippy” in there with it and use it in dress-ups as a scarf! It rarely causes any problems. On the occasion that it is so tight it is causing the baby distress whoever is caring for you will likely detect its presence. Together you can then make decisions about how best to deal with the situation.

9. Premature birth

Premature birth can be prevented in some cases if help is sought early enough. In other cases it is inevitable. There is no blame attached to your baby being born too early in any situation. Some medical conditions imitate labour (urinary tract infections, kidney infections) and once they are treated the contractions stop. Sometimes we can stop contractions with medication if the labour is in its early stages. Sometimes we can’t. Any contractions, loss of blood or fluid from the vagina, unusual backache or abdominal pain should be checked by your caregiver. Be reassured that premature infants can do very well in this day and age with the high quality neonatal intensive care facilities we have available in Australia.

10. Pain

It is helpful if pregnant women can revise their learned perception of pain. They can alter how they address it by simply remembering that the pain of childbirth is not the pain of injury. There is no damage being caused by the contractions, it is just muscles working really hard to stretch and open for a baby to be born. This is an easy concept to grasp once you cease to think of birth as being an illness. It is a state of health, and birth is a normal physical process. There are always methods of pain relief available for women who require them. Choose the people who surround you in birthing carefully, they will support and help you whenever you feel overwhelmed. Positive, loving people in a calm, comfortable environment make a huge difference to how you cope with pain.

11. Not knowing what to do if something goes wrong

Being well informed through reading and research helps you to deal with any unexpected events. Trusting the people caring for you is vital, making your needs, feelings and beliefs known to them is very important. Once you have a good rapport established with your care providers you will be able to trust them to do the right thing for you if things are not going as planned.

12. Not making it to the hospital in time

This rarely happens with first babies, almost never in fact, unless the woman chooses to delay going to the hospital for reasons she is unable or unwilling to reveal. It is more common in subsequent births to be caught short. These births are almost always uncomplicated and proceed normally. There is no cause for alarm because all will be well if everyone remains calm. There are many books and websites where you can read up on emergency birth. If you have quick labours it is probably a good idea to be prepared.

Page revised on 13th December 2021