Childbirth with a Psychologist

Childbirth with a Psychologist

Childbirth is an important joyful event. However, this is also a difficult test: not only physical, but also psychological. A woman needs help and support. Now they are giving birth with their husband, mother, girlfriend, and psychologist. There is a lot of controversy about the presence of the husband at the birth: some believe that this can lead to problems in intimate life, others, on the contrary, are convinced that this will only strengthen the family and bring the child and father closer together. Every future parent decides this question for themselves.

We will talk about childbirth with a psychologist, with a perinatal psychologist. Otherwise, such people are also called spiritual midwives or birth assistants. This should be a woman who already has experience in giving birth to her child and has special knowledge in obstetrics and psychology. In the old days, midwives helped women in labor, so this is not a fashion trend, but rather a return to tradition.

I want to talk about my similar experience. I turned to a psychologist when I was three months pregnant because of sudden changes in mood, attacks of rage and aggression, my relationship with my husband began to deteriorate, and I needed to do something urgently. I didn’t know anything about any perinatal psychologists at that time, I was just in despair, I called my clinic and made an appointment. As a result of several classes, I learned to relax, calm down, received a lot of information about how a child develops and what a child can feel inside me, and began to communicate with him.

Then we practiced breathing techniques, massage, did gymnastics, sang, and drew. In addition, I could ask her questions that doctors rarely discuss (about my fears, about my husband’s attitude towards my condition, etc.). The classes were individual, since it was difficult to recruit a group at that time.

I decided right away that I would only give birth with her. She wouldn’t have allowed her husband to approach the delivery room or even get a cannon shot, but he didn’t insist. I, accustomed to going through difficult moments alone, intuitively felt that I would need help during childbirth, and it would be unwise to refuse it.

We devoted the last two or three classes to the process of childbirth: periods of labor, possible problems and ways to prevent or solve them; We watched several tapes, I asked questions that worried me and began to wait for X hour.

I did not feel fear, but waited with impatience and joy. I wanted a natural birth. The pregnancy was difficult, and I was prescribed a caesarean section as the most likely route of delivery. With the help of a psychologist, I convinced the doctors to let me give birth on my own. When the contractions started, I didn’t even believe that within the next 24 hours I would become a mother and see my son. I called a psychologist, she came and spent the whole night with me, giving me a massage, reminding me about proper breathing, setting me up for a successful outcome of the birth, helping me communicate with the child.

When my son was born, I smiled, feeling euphoric. Everything ended well and mostly thanks to the help of my psychologist. I knew that a lot depended on me, and not just on the medical staff. Everything ended successfully. After all, the woman is the main one in this process. And whatever her mood, such may be the result.

Some tips:

1. Enroll in a childbirth class as early as possible in the first months of pregnancy.

2. If possible, attend them together with the future father of the child. This will help you become closer during this important period.

3. Decide in advance where you will give birth. Visit the maternity hospital, talk to the doctors.

4. Tune in for the best. Don't listen to horror stories about difficult, painful childbirth. Each person is individual.

5. Trust your psychologist, work with him in pairs.