Do you suffer from Tokophobia? (Fear of child birth)

[tootiredtosleep]

I fear having another baby, and not just the pregnancy part, but also if they will be healthy.

I will have one more bub via csection. If I can't have a caesar then I won't be continuing the pregnancy. I've had one though, so I dont think that it will be an issue.

I am terrified of pap smears now too. I just hate the thought of doctors coming near me.

[brtijo]

hi all ive allways had a fear of giveing birth and i still do with my first bub i went to give birth but she got stuck and i had to have a vaccum with secend bub i went to have a vb and he in the end i had to have a emerancy c section as he went into disstress and i was so close to loseing him so , now im pregnet again the hospital says i could have a vb or a cs its my choice im leaning more towards a cs im to scared to do vb as when ive gone to give vb ive almost lost my babys and it stresses me out and scares me its hard enough trying to explain how i feeling anyway thanks for reading cheers jodie

[tru]

...with secend bub i went to have a vb and he in the end i had to have a emerancy c section ...

... its hard enough trying to explain how i feeling anyway thanks for reading cheers jodie

thank you for sharing that with us jodie. you were very brave to face your fear a second time around. just wondering if you considered trying to overcome your fear with counselling or courses of any kind?

[lilpearl]

I don't fear birth - but the thought of having my birth power taken from me via a c-section is very scary. I had a caesarean with my first child and would hate to have another one. My second birth was a fantastic experience, and so I'm chosing a homebirth this time round to ensure I have the best chance of a straight-forward birth and safe outcome. I think doctors and hospitals are the scary part! After all, birth is a natural life event, a social event, and not a medical event. I think a lot of women have hung onto bad birth stories or have had a traumatic birth experience and choose to hang onto that as though it's a good portrayal of what will probably happen if they birth again. Not so though - wow, my second birth was a natural breeze! I wish all those who are traveling the pregnancy journey right now all the best in achieving an empowering birth experience - it is, truly, the most important thing in life - how we all get here, and what will impact on the rest of our lives more than anything...I think it is crucial that all women work through their childbirth fears - even if they plan on never having another child...otherwise, it will always be something that holds you back in other areas of your life. there is nothing like a great birth experience to give you the confidence to climb all of lifes mountains. It's the biggest right of passage there is. If one chooses a caesarean in the end, this should still be made to be a beautiful journey, not simply a medical procedure. There was a women in Australia who pulled her own baby from her body at her caesarean, and I think that's terrific!

[tru]

...I think it is crucial that all women work through their childbirth fears - even if they plan on never having another child...otherwise, it will always be something that holds you back in other areas of your life. ...

I agree about working through fear. It feels so good to not be afraid anymore. It really IS possible to overcome our fears, no matter how big or small. You will thank yourself so much when you can live without fear. If I can do it, anyone can!

[Leeny]

I can safely say that yes I fear childbirth due to DD's birth. I will not have another child. I no longer have sex, mostly because of the agonising pain but as I fell pregnant very easily last time, I don't want to take that risk.

I also picked the first option as I have no need to conquer the fear as I am not having any more children.

Im in the same boat as chelle.

[AM]

There are so may phobias associated with pregnancy and childbirth!


Melusiophobia/Tocophobia/Parturiphobia/Lochiophobia - fear of pregnancy or childbirth

Tetarophobia is fear of bearing a deformed child

Mine is a Nosocomephobia (fear of hospitals) and Tomophobia (fear of surgical operations - ie a C/S)
which makes my life far easier if I birth at home!

Also Neopharmaphobia (fear of new drugs) which may be administered to me on the sly in a hospy setting.

Some people may have Odynophobia which is fear of pain

[becca74]

Mine is a Nosocomephobia (fear of hospitals) and Tomophobia (fear of surgical operations - ie a C/S)
which makes my life far easier if I birth at home!

Also Neopharmaphobia (fear of new drugs) which may be administered to me on the sly in a hospy setting.

These must be my phobias ....I even had a small anxiety attack visiting my nephew in the NICU the other day.....I'm not even pregnant! Hospitals make me feel nauseaous!

[Africamum]

Hi,

I always planned to have a C- Section
It was a positive experience, I was fortunate, I recovered quickly and healed very well, and I will have another C-Section

I have enjoyed reading everyone elses comments though, thanks.

[brtijo]

no i havent thought about any type of counselling or courses for it couse i just thought it was me being paranod and silly until i sew this post so yeah might look into it though