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Nadine Robertson, now 33, was 18 years old when she was preparing to give birth to her son Jahsiah. She had no contact with the child?s father or her parents, and as her due date approached, she felt increasingly alone and afraid.
?I was so scared of the pain and of dying in childbirth,? she says. ?At one point I wanted to have a C-section because I was so terrified of what it would feel like to have a baby come out of my body.?
It?s completely normal to have anxiety around delivering a baby?many women fear the prospect of pain, while others worry about undignified behaviour (yes, pooping on the table does happen!) or needing to have interventions. Others are simply scared of becoming a parent. ?It?s not surprising to be afraid of labour and delivery,? says Maya Hammer, a therapist who works with women during pregnancy. ?It?s hard work, and it?s completely unknown,? she says. The good news is there are steps you can take to help manage your fears.
1. Talk it out:

Don?t be afraid to ask questions and talk about what?s bothering you. Hammer suggests speaking with someone?a partner, friend, doctor, doula or therapist?about your feelings as soon as something comes up, no matter how insignificant you think it might be. Expressing your thoughts can help you understand them, which will give you insight into how to cope. And while it may be tempting to avoid thinking about labour, ignoring your worries can make the fear grow, Hammer says. In some cases, it ca...