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If the thought of pregnancy or childbirth brings intense fear, you’re welcome to talk about it here. You might be pregnant, considering pregnancy, worried after a previous birth, or unsure whether you want children. You don’t need to justify your feelings or explain your plans.
What is tokophobia?
Tokophobia describes a severe fear of childbirth, sometimes accompanied by fear of pregnancy. It can affect everyday life and decisions about pregnancy, rather than being an occasional worry.
The fear can centre on different things, including pain, medical procedures, changes to your body or feeling that your wishes might not be heard. You don’t have to identify one particular cause before asking for support.
What do primary and secondary tokophobia mean?
Primary tokophobia refers to severe fear before a first birth - it may have been present for many years, including before pregnancy.
Secondary tokophobia develops following a previous birth experienced as traumatic. It's important to remember that having given birth before does not make someone’s fear less valid.
These terms can help explain different experiences, but you don’t need to decide which label fits before speaking to a healthcare professional.
How can the fear affect you?
Some people find themselves repeatedly worrying about pregnancy or birth, struggling to sleep, or finding related conversations and appointments distressing. Others avoid thinking about the subject because it feels overwhelming.
These experiences alone do not establish a diagnosis. If fear is affecting your daily life or decisions, you deserve to have it taken seriously.
Finding support
If you’re pregnant, tell your midwife or doctor about your fears as early as you can. You can ask about support from someone with experience of tokophobia or perinatal mental health.
If you’re not pregnant, your GP can be a starting point for discussing the anxiety and support available.
Write down your concerns before an appointment, or bring someone you trust. You don’t need to describe everything perfectly: “This fear is affecting my life and I need help discussing it” is enough to begin.
Support should help you feel heard and make informed choices; it should not pressure you towards pregnancy or a particular birth experience.
You’re welcome to share your experience
What feels most difficult for you: the thought of pregnancy, childbirth, a previous experience, or something else?
A sentence or two is enough to start, and you’re equally welcome to read without posting. Please avoid graphic descriptions in this thread and remember that posts are public, so leave out identifying details you would rather keep private.
This is a peer-support discussion, rather than individual medical advice.
Further information
NHS: Fear of childbirth
NICE: Antenatal and postnatal mental health guidance
What is tokophobia?
Tokophobia describes a severe fear of childbirth, sometimes accompanied by fear of pregnancy. It can affect everyday life and decisions about pregnancy, rather than being an occasional worry.
The fear can centre on different things, including pain, medical procedures, changes to your body or feeling that your wishes might not be heard. You don’t have to identify one particular cause before asking for support.
What do primary and secondary tokophobia mean?
Primary tokophobia refers to severe fear before a first birth - it may have been present for many years, including before pregnancy.
Secondary tokophobia develops following a previous birth experienced as traumatic. It's important to remember that having given birth before does not make someone’s fear less valid.
These terms can help explain different experiences, but you don’t need to decide which label fits before speaking to a healthcare professional.
How can the fear affect you?
Some people find themselves repeatedly worrying about pregnancy or birth, struggling to sleep, or finding related conversations and appointments distressing. Others avoid thinking about the subject because it feels overwhelming.
These experiences alone do not establish a diagnosis. If fear is affecting your daily life or decisions, you deserve to have it taken seriously.
Finding support
If you’re pregnant, tell your midwife or doctor about your fears as early as you can. You can ask about support from someone with experience of tokophobia or perinatal mental health.
If you’re not pregnant, your GP can be a starting point for discussing the anxiety and support available.
Write down your concerns before an appointment, or bring someone you trust. You don’t need to describe everything perfectly: “This fear is affecting my life and I need help discussing it” is enough to begin.
Support should help you feel heard and make informed choices; it should not pressure you towards pregnancy or a particular birth experience.
You’re welcome to share your experience
What feels most difficult for you: the thought of pregnancy, childbirth, a previous experience, or something else?
A sentence or two is enough to start, and you’re equally welcome to read without posting. Please avoid graphic descriptions in this thread and remember that posts are public, so leave out identifying details you would rather keep private.
This is a peer-support discussion, rather than individual medical advice.
Further information
NHS: Fear of childbirth
NICE: Antenatal and postnatal mental health guidance
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