Tocophobia , or fear of childbirth, is a severe fear of childbirth. There are two types: primary and secondary. Primary tocophobia affects women who have never given birth but are extremely frightened by the thought of it. These negative feelings are sometimes linked to past experiences dating back to childhood. Secondary tocophobia occurs in women who have given birth and is considered a form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is more common than primary tocophobia and is the result of a traumatic birth experience.
The phobia of fear of childbirth is the name given to the fear experienced by female individuals during the periods when they will give birth or during pregnancy. They may be very worried about giving birth, thinking that the baby will be harmed or that the birth will be difficult. Research suggests that this phobia affects between 2.5% and 14% of all women, but more research is needed to determine the exact number.
What are the symptoms of tocophobia?
Women affected by fear of childbirth are more likely to have a range of mental health problems, and depression is also very common. These conditions can also take over thoughts and behaviors, leading to high levels of stress and anxiety that can negatively affect both mother and baby.
Women with both depression and childbirth phobia often experience thoughts that they will lose their lives if they have to give birth. Such recurrent thoughts can also trigger certain behaviors, such as avoiding sexual intercourse. Even if they do have sex, they may try to delay or avoid pregnancy by using some form of contraceptive pill.
Sometimes this can also happen in women who really want to have a baby. Fear of giving birth can take away some of the excitement of pregnancy or make people feel disconnected from their partner, family and friends. People may try to hide the fact that they are pregnant from others because they do not want to talk about it. It can also be felt that the bond between the baby and the mother has been severed because the birth has taken place.
Women who have a fear and phobia of giving birth may resort to some means to terminate their pregnancy. In addition, many people with this phobia may want a caesarean section instead of a normal birth.
Symptoms of fear of childbirth can be listed as follows;
- Anxiety and constant state of anxiety
- Insomnia and sleep disorders
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Prenatal depression
- Higher risk of developing postpartum depression
Why does tocophobia (fear of childbirth) occur?
The phobia of giving birth has been the subject of many studies. Research on this subject suggests that people have this phobia by listening to different birth experiences, taking them as an example and thinking that they may experience the same situation. The causes of tocophobia are as follows:
- Hearing traumatic birth stories from family or friends
- Family history of tocophobia
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy that make it difficult to cope with feelings of stress or anxiety
- Age (younger women are usually more affected)
- Different traumas in the past
Gynecological problems experienced in the past may trigger toxophobia and cause this condition to develop. They may also feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable with the contact of specialists.
Treatment of tocophobia (fear of childbirth)
People who are afraid of giving birth should discuss this situation with specialists and treatment planning should be made. There are many surveys conducted by experts to diagnose fear of childbirth. When specialists detect this condition, they help by designing a treatment plan, whether the person is pregnant or not.
Fears about childbirth should be explained when talking to the doctor. Many advice and suggestions can be given and the person can be referred to a mental health professional to improve their mental health. There are also some effective therapies to treat tocophobia .
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a very effective treatment for this phobia. The specialist talks to the person and tries to determine which situations the anxiety is caused by and tries to resolve these situations. They then work on the skills needed to improve the anxiety about pregnancy and childbirth.
In addition, medication may be recommended by the specialist for loss of depression or other psychological problems and their treatment. If the phobia is developing from post-traumatic stress disorder, some experts may recommend eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). This is a type of therapy that uses eye movements to weaken the strength of emotions linked to specific memories.