60% of women are afraid of childbirth, how to overcome the fear of childbirth?
Fear of childbirth is common, especially for those who are going through this process for the first time. Studies say that about 60% of women in the world go through this fear. But some women seem very calm and confident during this period. There are some specific reasons for that, a new study shows.
A joint study conducted by the Robert Gordon University in Scotland and the University of South Australia found factors that cause fear of childbirth in women and the reasons why some women do not have it.
The study analyzed 88 women who were three months pregnant. The Warwick-Edinburgh Wellness Scale was used to measure the women’s courage to face childbirth complications and mental well-being. Of these, 12% were found to have an intense fear of childbirth. However, the researchers also found that those who were in a positive, confident, and meaningful relationship had less fear of childbirth.
While there have been many studies on the factors that increase the risk of childbirth anxiety in women, such as prolonged labor, emergency cesarean sections, and postpartum mental health problems, there has been little research on how to protect women from these fears.
The key is not just teaching women what to do during labor, but also empowering them to believe they can do it, according to a study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology. Often overlooked in prenatal care are factors such as a sense of purpose, emotional positivity, and meaningful social connections, which are crucial for building confidence in pregnant women.
The second important factor is childbirth self-efficacy. The researchers point out that the strongest predictor of how fearful a woman is about childbirth is her mental health.
