April 05, 2021
Pregnancy is an important event in the life of every woman. Expecting a child can be a joyful and long-awaited state, but not always. The physiological process of pregnancy is associated with many changes in hormonal levels and health. The birth of a child is an important step for which, for many good reasons, future parents may not be ready.
An unplanned pregnancy can cause changes in life plans and priorities. It is normal to not want to find yourself in such a situation. But there are people who are terrified of finding themselves in such a situation and experience extreme discomfort at the mere thought of getting pregnant or being the partner of a pregnant woman - gravidophobes .
Meeting any pregnant girl can also cause fear. Gravidophobes experience severe discomfort when contacting or thinking about an irritant; increasing panic may be observed, which is accompanied by physiological symptoms. This disorder causes significant harm to the emotional and physical state, so it is important to promptly identify the causes and begin treatment.
Possible reasons
There are a number of negative prejudices about pregnancy. As mentioned earlier, the pregnancy process can bring a number of inconveniences. Gravidophobia could develop as a result of being intimidated at an early age that an unplanned pregnancy brings many troubles. Stories about a difficult pregnancy or painful childbirth could become a trigger for the emergence of gravidophobia. Some gravidophobes describe pregnancy as the end of a normal life.
Another possible cause of this phobia could be a traumatic event in childhood. For example, a pregnant woman showed cruelty to her child and pregnant women began to be associated with unpleasant and painful situations. Perhaps someone close died during childbirth and the child’s psyche did not find other explanations for what happened. Men often become gravidophobes, as they may not be ready for moral and financial responsibility. The patient often states that they often encounter pregnant women and take this as a sign of a possible replenishment. Patients suffer from nightmares and interpret any dream as a warning.
A caesarean section is a birth through surgery. The operation is performed under anesthesia: more often - epidural anesthesia, sometimes - general anesthesia. Caesarean section can be planned or unplanned.
Natural birth after caesarean section
Just yesterday, even one caesarean section made subsequent natural births impossible. But progress does not stand still, and today medicine allows you to have as many children as you want, as well as give birth naturally, even with a scar on the uterus.
When can you plan a new pregnancy after cesarean?
We have scientifically proven that it is best to give birth 2 years after a caesarean section.
Carefully protect yourself for two years, during which time a full-fledged scar on the uterus will form and you will be able to give birth on your own.
Before planning your next pregnancy, be sure to visit a doctor and undergo all the necessary examinations and check the condition of the suture.
Natural birth or caesarean section?
At the beginning of pregnancy it is too early to talk about surgery. Be sure to discuss the issue with your obstetrician-gynecologist, since indications for a cesarean section may arise both early and late in pregnancy, or the situation will change during pregnancy.
Management of pregnancy after cesarean section
Don’t be afraid, a cesarean section does not affect conception or pregnancy in any way. But you need to go and register immediately, because examinations will be carried out more often than usual, especially if you are pregnant with more than one child.
When is a caesarean section necessary?
Indications for cesarean section can be divided into absolute and relative. Absolute conditions include conditions when natural childbirth is impossible: placenta previa or premature abruption of the placenta, anatomically narrow pelvis, tumors in the pelvis, severe gestosis with a threat to life, severe pathologies of internal organs that can lead to death during childbirth.
Relative indications include difficulties in a given pregnancy, associated with a very high risk of natural birth. These include anomalies during childbirth (for example, frozen labor), malpresentation, postmaturity, maternal myopia and many others.
Which caesarean section is better?
Caesarean section can be planned or emergency. It is clear that it is impossible to talk about which one is better, so we will talk about the advantages of both cesarean sections.
Pros of a planned caesarean section
The planned operation is carried out at 38 weeks, by which time the child is already fully mature for birth. If there are compelling indications (a severe form of Rh conflict or the development of severe hypoxia that cannot be treated), the operation may be performed earlier.
The main advantage of a planned CS is the opportunity to conduct comprehensive preparation for the operation.
The second advantage of a planned CS is the ability to psychologically prepare for the operation. This way, the operation itself and the postoperative period will go better, and the baby will experience the least amount of stress.
Pros of an emergency caesarean section
It is clear that an emergency caesarean section is done quickly and for emergency reasons, when the life and health of the baby or mother is at risk. But even here there are advantages. If a CS is performed during childbirth, in the postoperative period the uterus contracts better and the suture heals faster. This is due to the fact that, until force majeure occurred, the process proceeded naturally and was regulated by the woman’s own hormones. Among them is oxytocin, which has a contractile effect on the muscles of the uterus both during and after childbirth.
Which is better: caesarean or natural birth?
There is no clear answer here, but as practice shows, children born through cesarean section are less susceptible to birth injuries, problems with the development of the nervous system, as well as general development with age.
Therefore, tune in only to the good, trust your doctors and have an easy birth!
Recommendations from psychologists
Many gravidophobes experience fear of pregnancy, even using all possible methods of contraception. Patients have obsessive thoughts about the pregnancy that has already occurred, and girls are often wary of any changes in the body. This creates emotional stress and constant anxiety. To mitigate the symptoms of the disorder, psychologists recommend the following steps:
Admit your fear. Sometimes it is difficult for patients to realize that a certain fear has become obsessive. This may be due to a healthy reluctance to have children at certain times in one's life. It is important to recognize that constant discomfort and fears are very disturbing and affect the quality of life. This way, you can move forward to find a path to a solution.
Tell your loved ones about the problem. Jokes about possible pregnancy are very painful for gravidophobes. Talking with loved ones about your fear can prevent many unpleasant situations. Of course, it is impossible to completely prevent inaccurate statements from others, but if at least in a close circle they know about the condition of a gravidophobe, it will be much easier.
To be informed. Many people, even as adults, may not fully know how the process of conception occurs. Reading medical literature on the topic of pregnancy and its course can eliminate the unknown and common misconceptions. As a rule, the focus should be on the natural thoughtfulness of this process, which in itself is perfect, and modern medicine, which can solve any situation. It is highly discouraged to search for information on the Internet; preference should be given to authors with medical education and encyclopedias.
Heal psychotrauma. If gravidphobia arose as a result of psychological trauma and a person is afraid to contact and meet pregnant women, then it is important to find the root cause and try to look at the situation through the eyes of an adult. Not all gravidophobes can remember a traumatic event on their own; in this case, you need to consult a psychologist or psychotherapist.
Contact a specialist. All of the above techniques can help in the early stages or mild forms of the disorder. But, if the situation gets out of control, the reasons are not found, and the symptoms are overwhelming, you need to go to a psychologist or psychotherapist. With the help of cognitive behavioral therapy, finding out the reasons with the help of leading questions and observation by a specialist, you can get rid of gravidophobia.
What to do?
The best way to get rid of fears associated with future motherhood and fatherhood is to discuss them openly together. Or go to a psychotherapist, psychologist or perinatal specialist at a antenatal clinic or maternity hospital. It is important to be aware of all the changes happening to you. This is rule number 1.
In fact, to overcome fear, you need to “agree” with it; in other words, it needs to be studied well, understood and... set free. Do not keep fear inside yourself by “closing windows and doors tightly.” If you “feed” it, it can grow to a very large size... We need information about the phenomenon being studied in order to get away from uncertainty; and when we have it in the volume necessary and sufficient for us, then we can assimilate it and use it to solve life’s problems.
Understand that if you do not belong to a risk group (it is better to discuss this topic with your doctor), then the likelihood of complications during pregnancy is low. Complete all necessary examinations on time and follow your doctor’s recommendations. Live without overload and overwork. Rule #2: Protect yourself from negativity. Any information is perceived keenly and applied to us. You need to relax, read pleasant books, watch melodramas, listen to your favorite music, get away from unpleasant conversations and allow yourself to reconstruct unpleasant relationships.
We must try as gently and confidently as possible to translate all the negative moments of natural changes in life into the state and logic of a positive attitude. This is rule No. 3 - look for the advantages in the new situation and figure out how to preserve for yourself what made you happy before. To support yourself, you can simply look at happy photographs: You - small and touching as a child, laughing, your parents smiling nearby; here - you are beautiful and happy with your husband on vacation, remember the best, tender moments; and here….already with a tummy, you have a secret inside…life is simply changing! At the same time, you can maintain your usual circle of friends, hobbies, and travel.
There is nothing unnatural in the fact that the happiness of expecting a child is sometimes overshadowed by negative emotions. If you are afraid of upcoming contractions and childbirth, prepare for them. This is rule No. 4. To prepare for childbirth means to be sufficiently informed about the birth process, its logic and biomechanism. Some women experience more severe pain, others experience less pain - there is a direct dependence on the individual mood and physical condition - on the tone of the muscles, ligaments in the pelvic area, on the position of the child, the duration and intensity of contractions. Fear of pain is closely related to the feeling of helplessness and inability to control the situation. Moreover, both obstetricians and psychologists say that women who are afraid of childbirth labor longer, require more painkillers, and are more likely to have problems during labor and with the newborn. You need to understand that your pain helps you control the process and participate in it. Just learn to ease it yourself with concentration, proper breathing and special gymnastics. This can be learned at a childbirth preparation school, preferably at a maternity hospital, where specialists who prepare for childbirth have more practical experience. The latest technologies for preparing for childbirth and teaching proper breathing, for example, using a biofeedback system ("BFB"), will also come in handy, allowing you to individually develop a training program for each woman. Usually, knowing what needs to be done, a woman ceases to be a passive observer, but takes an active part in the process. And when a person is busy with something, there are much less brain resources left to “register” and experience pain. So, master the technique of breathing and muscle relaxation, and you will feel more confident.
Psychological infertility. Causes
In fact, there are unexplained causes of infertility. Most doctors attribute this to a disorder of nervous regulation. The nervous system controls all processes occurring in the body. For conception to take place, it is important that the woman’s mental state is harmonious. This is called the "mind-body contract."
The agreement between the body and consciousness reveals a psychosomatic connection. Unfortunately, in certain cases, psychosomatics is the cause of serious illnesses: bronchial asthma, angina pectoris, psychological infertility. The first step to solving the problem is to find out the motives that caused psychological infertility.
- Fear of responsibility (even to the point of phobia)
- Fear of not being able to provide financially for a child
- Anxiety about changing lifestyle
- Fear of being a “bad parent”
- Excruciating pain during childbirth
- Worries about losing your career
- Disharmony in relationships with the child's father
- Continuous “scrolling” of the problem of infertility
