Gentle Beginnings Doula Services
  • Home
  • Services
    • Fertility Support
    • Childbirth Classes >
      • HypnoBirthing® >
        • HypnoBirthing® FAQs
        • Course outline
        • Class Info & Registration
      • AMANI Birth >
        • Course outline
        • Class Info & Registration
    • Doula Services >
      • Doula FAQs
      • Engage a Doula
    • Breastfeeding & Newborn Care >
      • What is DBL?
      • Class Info & Registration
  • About Me
    • My Births
  • Birth Stories
    • Birth Stories
  • Testimonials
  • In the News
  • Contact Me
  • Blog

Study finds that women who fear childbirth have longer labours

6/28/2012

1 Comment

 
How exciting that there are more and more studies being done about the effects of pregnant and laboring women's emotional and mental states on birthing outcomes. This particular study finds that women who fear birth have longer labors. 

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/27/fearing-childbirth-may-prolong-labor/

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57463127-10391704/women-who-fear-childbirth-have-longer-labor-times-study-finds/ 

Researchers at Akershus University Hospital in Norway found women who feared giving birth were in labor for 1 hour and 32 minutes longer, on average, than those who had no fear. 

"I'm glad there's now evidence to say that," Fischbein said, "but it's obvious." 

...duh...

According to the study, women who are fearful of labor and birth have longer labors and are more likely to need emergency c-section and assisted delivery (vaccum/ forcep extraction). 

Now, is that really a wonder? 

Grantly-Dick Read, in the early twentieth century, talked about how fear affects the effective working of the uterine muscles. Go back to the earliest times - the fathers of the Grecian school of medicine - Hippocrates and Aristotle -talked about the importance of the woman's emotional state, and the mind-body connection in labor and birth. Even the Qur'an tells us the story of Maryam r.a. and how she was told by Allah swt "not to grieve" and to delight in the sustenance (dates and water) that He provided. 

And yet, modern medicine is just recently becoming interested in how our emotional and mental states affect our physical, biological states. It has been so focused on treating the body in isolation and as separate and independent of our mind and spirit. 

Indeed it is an exciting time.. as Elena Tonetti says "We are approaching an era where science and spirituality are converging.."
Hear hear.
1 Comment
Cooper Bentley link
11/29/2020 10:59:40 am

Awesome blog you hhave here

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    A self-confessed birth junkie, I love all things birth and breastfeeding.. I'm so lucky to be able to work with expectant families and share this very special time in their lives with them :)

    Archives

    November 2022
    August 2022
    February 2018
    April 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    August 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Birth Affirmations
    Birth Companion
    Doula
    Homebirth
    Hospital
    HypnoBirthing
    Hypnosis
    Maternity Care
    Normal Birth
    Painless Birth
    Undisturbed Birth

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo used under Creative Commons from madaise