How EMDR Helps Prepare Women for Childbirth
Childbirth can be one of the most positive and powerful experiences of your life.
It can also be intimidating.
Thankfully, many women have found that EMDR therapy helps them face any fears they might have as a result of their pregnancy. At Sweet Peace Perinatal Well-Being, I provide EMDR Intensive Sessions for women who want to emotionally prepare for childbirth and overcome anxiety.
Some women experience a significant and disproportionate fear of pregnancy and childbirth that can be debilitating. In fact, research suggests that approximately 7.5% of pregnant women experience a phobia of childbirth.
This pathological fear is referred to as tokophobia and may precede pregnancy, occur during pregnancy, or manifest itself post-childbirth. Tokophobia can lead to any of the following symptoms: nightmares, panic attacks, fear that the baby will be injured during delivery, or fear that they will be left alone during labor. Sometimes this phobia results in avoidance of pregnancy, sexual activity or medical care. Depression and PTSD can be related symptoms, as well.
Whether you are experiencing an appropriate fear of the unknown when it comes to your upcoming childbirth or a significant and disproportionate dread, EMDR therapy has been shown to decrease childbirth-related symptoms. 1
Just as an athlete works on preparing for an event or race, an expectant woman can use EMDR to prepare for delivering her child. First, we work together to establish goals and identify potential obstacles or personal fears. This might include addressing previous difficult births, pregnancies or losses.
Next, we use EMDR therapy to set new patterns of thought.
Find out more about EMDR Intensive Sessions to help you feel better prepared for delivering your baby and have the positive experience you always imagined.
How Do I Get Started?
A hummingbird flew up to me and just hovered there staring at me
Its tiny heart was pattering like a machine gun….
And I thought
What a thing
To have to work that hard every day just to stay
Alive, to be constantly on the verge of death…
…and how satisfying every day must be that it survived