Your labour fears...

Pain. Blood. Pain. These are the things most pregnant women worry about when they’re anticipating labour and delivery. But for some moms-to-be, they’re small potatoes compared with looking and screaming like a banshee or pushing out something besides the baby (oops!). If you’re willing to take on the physical discomfort as long as you don’t look and act silly, keep reading.

the fear: looking ugly

Making weird faces actually is a good sign. “You’ll make a very funny face if you are pushing properly,” says Dr Mary Jane Minkin, co-author of A Woman’s Guide to Sexual Health (Yale University Press). If you’re worried that you’ll make faces fit only for horror movies, ask that the lights be dimmed. This also will make for a more relaxed atmosphere.

the fear: making noise

Some women are nervous about letting it all out – loud! “Labour is very hard work,” says Dr Minkin. “Women should do whatever they have to do to cope, even if that means hollering.” Afraid your noises will frighten the birds? Bring a CD player and drown out the sounds. Learning breathing techniques during pregnancy can help.

the fear: pooping

“I was very worried about losing control of my bowels,” admits Heather Hofmeister, a mother of one in Margate. “That’s such a private thing.” Maybe so, but many women do have a bowel movement during delivery. “When you push, you’re actually pushing on the rectum,” Dr Minkin explains, “so everything in there comes out.” If you do poo, don’t worry. Hospital staff members are used to this and it’ll quickly be cleaned up and forgotten (by them, at least). If your waters haven’t broken, having an enema beforehand is one way to put your mind at ease.

the fear: being overexposed

“I wondered if the doctors and nurses were going in the break room to laugh at what they saw,” says Victoria Pericon, author of Mommy Land: Entering the Insanity of Motherhood (Wyatt-Mackenzie). It’s not likely – they’ve seen it all, and more. But if you’re worried, ask to be covered up “down there” between pushes.

the fear: feeling inadequate

Women often feel as though they’re being judged or criticised during labour. “I felt like people were shouting at me for not pushing hard enough,” Hofmeister recalls. It may come across as yelling, but it’s actually encouragement. If you don’t want a lot of outside input, keep friends and family away so you won’t feel judged.