'There's nothing to fear but fear itself: the impact of fear on normal, physiological childbirth

摘要

Childbirth is described as a natural, physiological event which plays a significant part in a woman's physical, emotional and psychological well-being (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2014). Childbirth should be a positive experience for a woman as it carries minimal risk to the mother and baby and can be a life-affirming and empowering experience for all involved. Despite this, many women approach childbirth with a sense of fear and anxiety and, indeed, this fear can have an adverse effect on the birth process itself resulting in a higher rate of intervention, a higher elective caesarean section rate and impaired bonding for mother and baby (Fisher et al 2006, Leap etal 2010).