pain, fear + the mind in childbirth part 2
Part 1 of this series discussed the different sensations and pains of childbirth. Now it’s time to dive into the role fear can play in birth.
THE PHYSIOLOGY OF FEAR IN CHILDBIRTH
After being bombarded by negative representation in the media of birth as a dramatically life-threatening event, it’s common and normal to feel fear in the face of the unknown, especially if you’re pregnant for the first time. As your due date approaches, you may find yourself overtaken by this fear-driven anxiety.
First, let’s talk a little bit about endorphins, the naturally occurring opioids produced by your brain during physical activity. They have the ability to reduce anxiety, stress, and pain. They can also increase feelings of pleasure and euphoria after moderate aerobic activity. If you find yourself feeling especially anxious during pregnancy, try going on a brisk 20-minute walk outside and take some deep belly breaths afterwards.
Now, let’s investigate how fear manifests physiologically during labor. At its core, fear is a natural stress response to a present or immediate danger. Fear triggers your fight-or-flight response which is your body’s way of discharging that stress through activity. This response is part of your sympathetic nervous system and when activated during labor, it disrupts the natural cascade of hormones.
This is what happens in the laboring body when the fight-or-flight response kicks in:
The release of adrenaline inhibits the production of the “love hormone” oxytocin, a natural labor enhancer mentioned in the previous post.
Blood supply is redistributed away from the uterus to the large muscles in your arms and legs that you would use to fight or flee.
This causes uterine contractions to slow and weaken. Lactic acid builds up in the uterine muscles, causing them to cramp. Anyone who has played sports is probably familiar with that feeling.
Now that you have a basic understanding of the physiological aspect of fear you can see the role it plays in pain. You can also see why movement can be an effective anxiety and stress reducer. Walking and dancing during labor not only helps position your baby properly but can release endorphins as well.
The final installment in this series will be Breaking the Cycle of Pain + Fear in Childbirth.
Big thanks to the following source for quite a lot of this information. I highly recommend reading Mindful Birthing in its entirety. It is also a fabulous audiobook!
Bardacke, Nancy. Mindful Birthing. HarperOne, July 10, 2012.
