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The Art of Reassurance: Addressing Birth-Related Fears for Mental Health Stability

There’s no question about it — parenting is one of the most exciting milestones you can hit as an adult. However, that doesn’t mean becoming a parent is stress-free — especially as a person giving birth. Pregnancy can be a difficult time filled with mixed emotions, and these ramp up as the due date approaches. Having birth-related fears is perfectly normal, of course — especially with the abundance of information all of us have about childbirth today. Knowing every little thing that can go wrong is bound to generate stress. Luckily, addressing birth-related fears is easier with the right doula — and you’ll be by their side to help. With proper planning and support from you and their loved ones, clients will easily find light in the darkness and get the right mindset for the moment they go into labor. 

So, let’s examine some of the ways you can reassure your clients to achieve mental stability before labor. 

Support Is Essential

To get your clients ready for childbirth, help them realize that they can’t prepare perfectly. Even with the most thoughtful approach and a caring doula, they can’t plan for every eventual situation that might arise. With that in mind, it is essential to learn to let go of at least some of the control they want to have over the birth of their little bundle of joy. 

However, this also means learning to lean on you as their doula, their partner, and other loved ones. Together, you will provide the practical support they need as they get ready for the big day. Knowing they’ve got the right people beside them will make the whole experience less stressful. 

For instance, you and the client’s partner can write a birth plan for the moment the baby arrives. In the process, you can explain anything they’re uncertain about and discuss your advice for each decision they need to make. 

Still, addressing birth-related fears requires more than practical support. Now, more than ever, your client needs a partner who cares about their emotional well-being during pregnancy. However, the birth-related fears don’t end when the baby is born. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on postpartum mental health, as the emotional changes after birth can be just as challenging as the physical ones. A well-planned postpartum care plan is as important as a pre-natal one.  

Address All Stressors

Expecting a baby is bound to be stressful for your client. After all, they’re bringing new life into this world — feeling completely relaxed about the fact would actually be strange. However, that doesn’t mean they should completely let their stressors take over and cause anxiety each day. And that’s something you should make clear as a doula. 

Without addressing birth-related fears and lowering stress, your client actually runs the risk of negatively impacting their baby’s development. That’s why stress management is absolutely necessary while pregnant. 

How do you help the client achieve this? Well, this depends on their specific stressors. There are some things common for all pregnancies, but some sources of discomfort will depend on the client’s particular experience. Guide them through this process and help them recognize their sources of stress.

For instance — are they getting enough sleep? With a chronic lack of sleep, the client’s daily stress can build to a point where it affects the baby. Also, you probably know that eating healthily is crucial for the baby — but it’s also important for the client’s daily mood. 

Eating fast food and lots of sugar will result in constant energy crashes and mood swings. And it will make dealing with birth-related fears more difficult. Your clients should eat as healthily as possible instead. 

Identify Specific Triggers

Sure, a lack of sleep and malnutrition will make anyone’s emotional and mental stability more difficult to balance. However, all of us have some specific stress triggers as well. To help your client maintain mental health in the months and weeks leading up to childbirth, you need to identify their particular stressors. 

Encourage them to discuss this with their partner/family and see if there’s anything they can do to make daily life less anxious. Getting enough birth and postpartum support from partners/familial support is essential, even with the best doula in the world. 

Also, it helps them think of things that they find relaxing and see if there are any hobbies they can take up to alleviate stress. Some folks find pottery and baking relaxing — for others, it’s simply spending time outside or watching a movie. 

Ultimately, your clients may need medical help as well to manage stress. Encourage the client to speak to their doctor to see if there’s anything they could help with — or provide useful advice. 

Get Enough Exercise

Most pregnant people have posture problems during pregnancy. This is no surprise, considering the sudden increase in weight they carry around every single day. And this becomes an increasing problem as they near their term. Slowly, this becomes a psychological problem as well — pregnant people need to deal with the fact that they’re not as mobile as usual. 

Exercise can help with this — and it can also help them when it comes to addressing birth-related fears. During labor, your client will be using muscles you may not have worked out before — and you should make them aware of this. To ensure labor is as smooth as possible, guide them to strengthen these muscles and potentially reduce pain and aching after the baby arrives.

Of course, safety is essential here — both for your client and the baby. Consult a medical professional before recommending any workout plans for your pregnant client, and ask them to get advice from their doctors, too. In most cases, light yoga can help. You can find plenty of specific plans for pregnancy online. 

Pregnancy-specific squats may also help by working out pelvic muscles, and you can find other exercises to help with lower back pain. As the client’s pregnancy progresses, their lower back will become increasingly stiff — so this is important as well. 

Wrapping Up

Addressing birth-related fears is a vital part of preparing for labor. It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious or afraid — a client knows they’ll have to prepare their body for some degree of pain. However, even without drugs (about which they should always consult their doctor), there are ways to prepare them for the process. And this is a big part of your job as a doula.

At the end of the day, the best way to prepare is to arm them with knowledge. The more they know about every detail of childbirth, the more they’ll be able to avoid mistakes and unnecessary unpleasantness. Plus, they’ll be ready to deal with any potential issues that might arise. 

Naturally, healthy living during pregnancy will go a long way toward alleviating stress. When your client knows they’ve done everything in their power to achieve a healthy pregnancy — they and you have a lot less to fear. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1760583857451{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

About the Author: Andrea Paul, Doula Trainer and Mentor

Andrea Paul (she/her) is a devoted caregiver and mother of two who brings warmth, compassion, and enthusiasm to supporting doulas and families. With over a decade of experience as a birth worker, postpartum doula, lactation educator, and infant sleep coach, she’s passionate about helping families feel confident and cared for. As a doula trainer and mentor, Andrea finds joy in empowering new doulas to thrive and make a lasting impact in their communities.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]