My birth story didn’t end quite as planned.
I was nearing the end of my pregnancy – I was around 39 weeks or so, and I had been told by the hospital midwives at prior appointments that if I felt anything off or if baby stopped moving as much as normal … whatever the change … that I should come into the hospital to get checked out.
And so, it was a Friday, and as the day went on, I noticed Little Miss A wasn’t moving as much as she normally would. Despite my best efforts to “get her going” with a little bit of coffee in the morning, juice, cold water, bouncing on the yoga ball … she remained quiet.
A little concerned, but not wanting to panic, I said to J, “I think I need to get checked out … just in case.”
Funnily enough, as we were leaving to go the hospital I also said to him: “My love, my hospital bag is here (the one I’d previously packed and had ready to go) … not sure I’ll be coming home tonight.” It’s like my mother’s intuition was already kicking in. I just knew I wouldn’t be coming home without a baby!
So anyway, long story short: I ended up giving birth to our Little Miss A via an emergency C-section.
The word “emergency” makes it sound scarier than it was. Honestly, we were in good hands and both Miss A and I were safe the entire time.
Was I scared of giving birth? No, not really. Nervous and excited, yes. But not scared as such. I mean, this was obviously the unknown – I’d never given birth before, so I really didn’t know exactly what to expect. But it’s what we’d been waiting for, for so many months. So, for me … I had that excited, nervous, giddy feeling … anticipating the joy of what who was to come.
But that’s not to discount the real fear that can come ahead of giving birth.
I mean, we literally push out a human … or we have a human cut out of us! It’s a MAJOR operation.
The fear can be real. And it can affect many of us.
In fact, experts say that up to 60% of women experience some level of fear before giving birth, particularly first-time mothers.
So, it’s normal to be scared!
many women fear labour – but new research shows confidence and wellbeing can make a difference
While many of us experience some level of fear when giving birth, a new study reveals why some women manage to approach labour with greater calm and confidence.
Researchers from Robert Gordon University in Scotland and the University of South Australia (UniSA) surveyed 88 women in their third trimester before attending antenatal classes in north-east Scotland.
Using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, they explored the link between mental wellbeing, belief in coping abilities, and fear of childbirth (FOC).
While 12% showed signs of ‘severe’ fear, those with higher positivity, confidence, and meaningful relationships reported fewer concerns.
why wellbeing matters in the delivery room
Lead author Dr Katrina Forbes-McKay says the findings could help antenatal care move beyond a purely medical focus.
“While many studies have explored the negative effects of childbirth fear, including prolonged labour, emergency caesareans and postpartum mental health issues, there has been little research into what protects women from experiencing those fears,” she says.
“Our findings highlight the need for antenatal care that doesn’t just teach women what to do during labour but also empowers them to believe they can do it.”
Co-author Professor Tracy Humphrey from UniSA adds:
“This includes having a sense of purpose, emotional positivity, and meaningful social relationships – all things that are often overlooked in maternity care.”
building confidence, reducing interventions
The study found that teaching labour techniques like breathing, visualisation and relaxation, alongside fostering emotional wellbeing, could reduce fear and improve outcomes.
“By addressing fear of childbirth through psychological and educational interventions, we not only support women to have more positive birth experiences but potentially reduce medical interventions,” says Dr Mo Tabib, a midwifery lecturer at Robert Gordon University, who led the research as part of her PhD, under the supervision of Dr Forbes-McKay and Professor Humphrey.
Researchers are now calling for larger studies to confirm the findings across diverse populations.
xo G.
editor, journalist, digital content creator with a background in nutrition & dietetics.
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