A BIG FAT RESOUNDING YES! A recent study looking at the effects of fear of childbirth, the use of “mindfulness based” childbirth education and obstetric interventions found that parents who had a fear of childbirth and took a class were:
⚡️36% less likely to have an epidural
⚡️51% less likely to ask for a caesarean birth
⚡️twice as likely to have an unmedicated birth than those who didn’t do the course
⚡️had babies with higher apgar scores 1 minute after birth
The potential negative and long lasting effects of epidurals and surgical births have been evidenced in other studies, so whilst informed choice is important and availability of these interventions and procedures should be made available to all, it’s important to understand that they aren’t without risk, and that there are things that can genuinely help with the fear and anxiety associated with child birth in order to feel more comfortable, confident and even excited!
If you’d like to read more about the study, you can find it here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/birt.12571
if you’d like to find out more about Hypnobirthing and what I cover in my classes, come to my next free taster session. Just check my events page to register for access!
references:
Veringa-Skiba IK, de
Bruin EI, van Steensel FJA, Bögels SM. Fear of childbirth, nonurgent obstetric interventions, and newborn outcomes: A randomized controlled trial comparing mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting with enhanced care as usual. Birth. 2021;00:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12571