Lo & Behold | Pregnancy, Birth, Motherhood
You’re Scared of Birth – Now What? Understanding Birth Fear & How to Work Through It | Episode 65
Hey friends! Today I wanted to sit down and talk about something I know so many of you are wrestling with - the connection between fear and your labor. If you've ever seen those posts online that say things like "labor isn't painful, you're just scared," I want to meet you in that confusion, because I've felt it too, even with everything I know. I'm breaking down the actual physiology behind the fear-tension-pain cycle - what's really happening in your body when anxiety creeps in before or during labor, and why it's not as simple as those posts make it sound. Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20% But this isn't just the science - I wanted this episode to feel really practical. I'm walking you through exactly what to do with the fears you already have: how to turn them into a plan instead of letting them grow in the dark, why separating "possible" from "probable" is such a game-changer for your mindset, and how trusting your body's design (and your own breath!) can completely shift how you move through birth. My hope is you walk away from this one not trying to eliminate every fear before labor starts, but knowing exactly what to do with the ones you've got. More from this episode: Listen to episode 07: Is Pain Free Birth Real, Should You Want it, and Can You Do It? Helpful Timestamps: 00:00 Understanding Birth Fears 05:25 Fear Tension Pain Cycle 08:41 How Fear Affects Labor 10:30 Turn Fears Into Plans 13:49 Possible Versus Probable 16:52 Your Body Can Do This 18:32 Practical Tools 20:30 Reframes And Breathing About your host: Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama. For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth , breastfeeding , and postpartum/newborns . You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here. For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen! A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️ Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK Disclaimer Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here. Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love. Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services Mentioned in this episode: YBYB 20% off ad link
