98. Facing Fear in Birth - Why It’s Normal and How You Can Work With It

Feeling anxious, worried, or even fearful about giving birth? You’re not alone! In this episode I explore why fear around birth is so normal, how our brain’s protective instincts show up, and ways to turn worry into a helpful guide for your birth preparation. Learn practical strategies for working with fear instead of fighting against it, including what questions to ask, how to get informed, and the importance of building a supportive birth team. We also discuss the influence of care providers, the power of positive birth preparation, and actionable tips for calming your nervous system when worries arise.DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE HOSPITAL PACKING LIST HERE – Let's make your birthing environment more supportive, soothing, and calm! If you’re pregnant and want to prepare for birth with confidence (and some healthy realism!), this episode is full of compassion, honest conversation, and practical insight from an experienced midwife + childbirth educator.Ready to take your birth preparation to the next level? We offer both private sessions and group classes focused on working with fear in birth and building your toolkit for a more empowered experience. Click here to find out more. Timestamps:00:00:00 – Why fear in birth is so common (and not a sign of weakness)  00:02:26 – Hannah's personal experience with birth and excitement for giving birth again  00:04:45 – The role of media, family stories, and societal negativity  00:07:00 – Tokophobia: How common is significant fear of childbirth?  00:09:02 – Where birth fear comes from: trauma, stories, lack of information, or care provider relationships  00:13:01 – How care providers affect our confidence and managing “what ifs”  00:14:55 – What fear does in our body (adrenaline, oxytocin, and birth physiology) 00:17:35 – Evidence-based steps for working with fear as you prepare for birth  00:19:38 – You can feel scared AND powerful: final thoughts and practical resourcesI would love to hear your thoughts, questions, and ideas for future episodes so please get in touch on instagram - my insta is @heldmidwifery or through my website www.heldmidwifery.com.au. Remember to subscribe so you don't miss any episodes, and if you're enjoying the podcast I would be ever so grateful if you could rate and review  on your favourite podcast player. Disclaimer: Remember as always the info provided in this podcast does not constitute medical, midwifery, psychological, childbirth, pre-natal or post-natal education or other professional medical advice, and is provided for general information and guidance purposes only. Hannah Willsmore/Held Midwifery will not be liable for any expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damages) or costs which might be incurred as a result of your reliance on this information, advice, content or materials. This release includes but is not limited to any claim for personal injury, damages and death of any individual which has received information from Hannah Willsmore. Further, Hannah Willsmore does not make any representations or give any warranties about their accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability