Overcoming Fear and Anxiety to Go into Birth with Confidence

All expectant mothers experience some level of anxiety or fear about the unpredictability of labor. Not only can it be stressful to have anxiety about giving birth, but research shows fear of birth can negatively impact your birth experience. There will always be unknowns about how your labor will unfold. The good news is that there are many strategies you can employ to overcome anxiety or concerns. Learn how to tackle specific fears, overcome general anxiety about labor, reframe your mindset, and build your confidence about labor and birth.     Thank you to our sponsors   Ibotta is a free app that gives you the most cash back every time you shop on hundreds of items from groceries to beauty supplies to toys. Join the over 50 million users and earn cash back every time you shop from over 2,700 brands and retailers, including all your favorite grocery stores, Lowes, Macy’s, Sephora, Best Buy and more! Right now, Ibotta is offering Pregnancy Podcast listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code PREGNANCYPODCAST when you register. Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app to start earning cash back and use code PREGNANCYPODCAST.   Unlock brain-building play with KiwiCo Panda Crate! Get 20% off your first month with code PREGNANCYPODCAST at kiwico.com/panda. The KiwiCo Panda Crate is a bimonthly subscription for babies ages 0-24 months. KiwiCo baby products are safe and high quality and support your baby's rapid development with products that support child-led play and encourage open-ended exploration. Unlock brain-building play with KiwiCo Panda Crate! Get 20% off your first month with code PREGNANCYPODCAST.   Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE AG1 travel packs with your first purchase. Each serving of AG1 delivers your daily dose of vitamins, minerals, pre- and probiotics, and more. It’s a powerful, healthy habit that’s also powerfully simple.  (As a friendly reminder, pregnant or nursing women should seek professional medical advice before taking this or any other dietary supplement.)     Read the full article and resources that accompany this episode.      Join Pregnancy Podcast Premium to access the entire back catalog, listen to all episodes ad-free, get a copy of the Your Birth Plan Book, and more.     Check out the 40 Weeks podcast to learn how your baby grows each week and what is happening in your body. Plus, get a heads up on what to expect at your prenatal appointments and a tip for dads and partners.     For more evidence-based information, visit the Pregnancy Podcast website.