Photo by Alexandra Kayy

I always ask people how or why they decided to take a childbirth class. One of the most common things I hear is that they are afraid of the process. I know from my own story how much fear can be involved in having a baby. Fear is, after all, the only reason I took my first Bradley Method class. But have no fear! You can eliminate that nasty “f” word from your vocabulary and ease your mind with these key actions.

1. Educate Yourself

Not knowing what to expect can cause a lot of unnecessary fear. The more you know about childbirth, the more you will learn how to to calculate the risks and benefits of a certain decision and/or situation. Although you may never be able to know everything that is possible with labor and delivery, having an understanding of what takes place, what is normal, and what your options are, can really cut down any birth anxiety.  Most importantly, you need to know what your priorities and preferences are, and what choices are most important to you. You do have choices, you know.

2. Build Your Team

Building your team is not just about choosing your midwife, OB, doula, and pediatrician, although those are some key players.  It’s also important to surround yourself with those who will support your decisions in labor and delivery. One of the craziest things that happened to me when I was pregnant was that people, including strangers, felt the need to tell me their birth horror stories. If your mom/sister/friend/etc. is constantly talking about how terrible labor is, and how she thinks you are crazy for wanting a specific type of birth-it’s definitely time to tell her to keep her opinions to herself. You need people on your team who will support you, no matter their beliefs, and who will encourage you to fight for what YOU want.

3. Speak Out Truth

The words we hear matter, and often times we hang on to whatever is said. Part of the homework I assign in class, and with my doula clients, is to pick three birth affirmations and say them out loud over yourself everyday. It seems wierd, I know, but there is such power in the words that we hear. If you are hoping for an un-medicated birth, proclaim you will do it. If you want to avoid another c-section, profess that it will happen. Choosing something specific will fill your mind with confidence, and combat against the fear and lies that you’ve tucked away.

Having a baby should be an exciting time, not one of fear. Taking care of yourself, and taking these important steps, can really set you up for a positive birth experience.