5 WAYS TO EMOTIONALLY PREPARE FOR BIRTH
Photo Credit: @daniellajardim / Unsplash
Pregnancy can be a time when your emotions feel like a rollercoaster ride and your upcoming birth may bring up a lot of feelings for you. Here are a few ways to make the ride a little smoother;
IDENTIFY YOUR FEARS AND THEIR ORIGIN STORY
Scared about giving birth? You’re not the only one. It’s normal to feel that way when so much of the media depiction of birth is negative. Maybe you’ve heard horror stories from family members and friends, or maybe you’ve had traumatic experiences yourself. The good news is that every birth is unique and your experience doesn’t have to be a bad one. The first step is figuring out what the root cause of your fear is through journaling, automatic writing or therapy. Naming the fear takes away its power.
ADDRESS YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS WITH HYPNOSIS
A lot of the fear and anxiety we hold about birth is actually subconscious, as our brains have associated labour with something dangerous. This can show up in the way your body responds to labour with tension, which can only prolong your experience and make it more uncomfortable. To tackle this, we use hypnosis tracks in hypnobirthing to help swap unhelpful thoughts for something more neutral, realistic and positive, so that your brain can change how it views birth and reduce your unconscious fear.
CORRECT YOUR NEGATIVE BELIEFS WITH DAILY AFFIRMATIONS
Another way you can shift those niggling anxious thoughts is to surround yourself with positive affirmations that you repeat every day. Affirmations are positive I statements that specifically address the worries you are trying to release. Seeing them regularly can make you start to believe them. Sometimes you have to fake it ‘til you make it when it comes to confidence. Affirmations can help you get there.
REGULATE YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH BREATHWORK
In hypnobirthing, we teach various breathing techniques to help you destress during pregnancy and postpartum. Having tools you can call on when you need them to help you get into a calm mindset will prove invaluable during birth and parenting in general. Breathwork can also make it easier to manage pain during the waves of labour.
SET AND ENFORCE BOUNDARIES WITH THOSE AROUND YOU
You can’t talk about self-care without mentioning boundaries. Pregnancy and childbirth can be times where you feel out of control, of your body, hormones, mind and the situation. This can create a lot of anxiety in itself. One way to remedy this is to really tune into how you feel when certain topics are discussed, terms are used and options are presented. If something makes you feel uncomfortable don’t be afraid to speak up. For example, if hearing about other people’s birth horror stories makes you anxious, set the boundary that you will return to this conversation only after your baby has arrived. If healthcare providers aren’t listening to you, make your feelings clear and if they don’t change their behaviour request different staff members. It is perfectly reasonable to put yourself and your baby first. Surround yourself with people who affirm you, listen to you and help you feel at ease.
I am currently offering an affirmation workshop called ‘Talk to me Nice: How Words can Transform your Birth’. Get in touch to find out all the details and kickstart your journey to healing that birth anxiety. You can also book a free clarity call with me to discuss my other hypnobirthing offerings to help you feel confident and prepared for the arrival of your little one.
Love, Megan
