Τokophobia
What is Tokophobia?
Questions, anxiety, and fear often accompany the process of childbirth. Individuals may worry about how labor will unfold, its duration, the medical interventions that may be required, their health, and the baby’s health. However, if this fear becomes overwhelming and significantly disrupts daily life, it may develop into tokophobia.
Tokophobia refers to an intense fear of childbirth. People with tokophobia often wish to avoid giving birth despite their desire to have a child. This phenomenon has been recognized for centuries. The fear of childbirth was first documented by French psychiatrist Louis Victor Marcé in 1858.
Tokophobia is categorized into two types: primary and secondary. Primary tokophobia involves an intense fear of childbirth without any prior experience of giving birth. Secondary tokophobia refers to a fear of childbirth that develops after a traumatic experience during a previous pregnancy or delivery. Secondary tokophobia is considered a form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during the perinatal period and is treated accordingly.
Symptoms of Tokophobia:
- Avoidance of any childbirth-related stimuli (discussions about childbirth, movies, etc.).
- Thoughts about terminating the pregnancy due to fear.
- Avoidance of pregnancy altogether.
- Feelings of isolation and guilt.
- A sense of being trapped or losing control.
- Panic attacks.
- Avoid thinking of pregnancy as a reality.
- Disconnection from loved ones.
- A preference for cesarean delivery.
Your rights during childbirth
Individuals with tokophobia must receive proper medical and obstetric guidance, including information about the whole process of childbirth and their rights during pregnancy and delivery.
- Human Rights in Childbirth (HRiC) – A global organization advocating for the human rights of birthing people. They provide resources and advocacy on birth rights, mainly focusing on ensuring that women and birthing people are treated with respect and dignity during labor and delivery. Website: https://humanrightsinchildbirth.org
- International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) – FIGO advocates for maternal health, women’s rights, and improving the quality of care during childbirth. They provide international guidelines and support regarding the rights of people giving birth. Website: https://www.figo.org
- Greece: In the case of hospital birth, you can learn about your legal rights by reviewing Article 47 of the following document: 2071/92, F.E.K. 123, Article 47.
Treatment for Tokophobia
Tokophobia can be effectively treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trauma therapy.
In our therapy sessions, we will explore the fear of childbirth and, using evidence-based therapeutic methods, develop a personalized treatment plan to address your fear and meet your overall needs. For more information about my therapeutic approach, please refer to the relevant section.
Additionally, we prioritize collaboration with your obstetrician to ensure that your physical needs are addressed during the therapy, providing you with optimal and holistic support.
Resources on Tokophobia
• Women’s stories of Tokophobia:
• Videos about Tokophobia
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For further information on how we can cooperate in the frame of psychotherapy, you can contact me:
