Recognizing Emotional Dystocia During Labor

Emotional Dystocia during labor is a condition that sometimes happens when a woman has other problems with stress during labor and the birth of her child. The reason this is a problem is because this emotional stress causes the labor and contractions to become ineffective and irregular. This can stop the progression of the labor. This stress can be caused by several underlying causes such as a fear of the labor and pain of giving birth, with an abnormal amount of anxiety about giving birth, or could be caused by having been the victim of childhood sexual abuse or other sexual abuse, these are only two examples of all of the things that could cause a woman in labor to experience Emotional Dystocia. The results of having labor 'stopped' can be dangerous to the woman and the baby. In addition, the result of Emotional Dystocia ultimately, if the situation cannot be eliminated, is a Cesarean Section, which is an increased risk to both mother and child. The symptoms to watch for during labor that would indicate Emotional Dystocia may be one, some or all of the following:

Check to see if the woman is overly concerned with everything that is going on in the room. If she questions everything that is being done, she may be internalizing the pain, and distracting herself with what is going on in the room and around her instead of the birth process and what is going on inside of her.

Watch the woman during her contractions, is she reacting too strongly to mild contractions? She may even become upset that the monitor is not recording her contractions correctly, since she may even feel that she experiencing more pain than what is being recorded.

Listen for obvious signs of anxiety and fear. Using words such as afraid, scared, panic, can't cope, out of control, can't, don't and won't. A woman who is experiencing Emotional Dystocia will often express what she is feeling. Often the laboring woman experiencing Emotional Dystocia expresses herself verbally hoping that someone has the answers or a quick cure for what she is experiencing.

Watch to see if she is responding negatively to her contractions. Yelling, screaming, hollering or throwing things. If she does not respond to suggestions or directions, or questions from caregivers. Some women who experience Emotional Dystocia may even act as though they may hurt their baby. If this is the case, get help immediately!

If you notice any of these things in a woman who is in labor that you are with, weather you are her mother, other relative, friend, or partner, make sure that you quietly, confidentially let the staff and the doctor or midwife know what you suspect and why you suspect this. It is important to catch the problem as early as possible so that measures can be taken to help the woman's labor to progress normally. Early intervention is key to possibly avoiding an emergency Cesarean Section.