Concerns about looking and acting silly can be closely linked with loss of control and in the same way can inhibit the progress of your labour. Feeling that you can't let go and make noises or trying hard to hold it in and together can be quite exhausting. Efforts to contain your labour can prolong it and make it more difficult.
Labour encompasses both your mind and your body. They need to work together to facilitate the birth. Normally the body is willing to "let go" if the mind is willing to let it.
What if I tear or need to be cut?
The fear of tearing or being cut (having an
episiotomy) is a common concern. The preference to avoid having stitches if possible is no doubt universal. If you have a vaginal birth, then needing stitches can depend on whom your caregiver is, where and how you give birth.
In a normal, uncomplicated birth, tears to the genital area can be a very unpredictable occurrence. Some caregivers will try to predict the likelihood of a woman tearing by looking at her skin type, her ethnicity, whether she is physically fit, or if she has stretch marks, but in reality it is not possible to know. Even
perineal massage holds no guarantees.
There are some factors though, that are associated or correlated with tearing or with avoiding tearing. These can include the position you are in when you give birth, your pelvic floor relaxation, if it is your first or subsequent baby, the speed of the birth and whether you have a
forceps or
ventouse delivery. You may wish to read more in
episiotomy and tearing.
The use of Episiotomy is generally dependant on your individual caregiver, the need to have
forceps or a
ventouse delivery and can often be related to where you have your baby. There are some caregivers who do episiotomies routinely on every normal first time mother. Sometimes a hospital policy or culture can encourage their use more routinely.
There is
NO research evidence to support
ANY