What Is Tokophobia?
Tokophobia is a severe fear of childbirth, which prevents some women from having children. Actress Dame Helen Mirren has admitted to suffering from it.
There is no doubt that some scenes from movies have given plenty of women a rational fear of childbirth. Gruesome childbirth scenes added to the fact that as humans, we also have a built-in fear of the unknown are the perfect ingredients for a potent cocktail of rational fear. Some of us may have heard first hand stories that didn’t help either. Therefore a rational fear of childbirth is not a big surprise given these circumstances. But when it comes to childbirth there is also a debilitating fear called tokophobia.
Tokophobia & mental health
Tokophobia studies
There was a control group for the study, which had over twice as many women-four thousand, six hundred and seventy six, who did not feel frightened.
The system is different in Finland, than for example in Ireland or the United Kingdom. In their system, pregnancies which are diagnosed to be low risk are cared for within the public health system by GPS, nurses and midwives.
Therefore their system makes it easier for the fearful women to stand out as it is only then that they may be referred to maternity care, due to their expression of fear. When this is the case and women show this level of fear, they will go for a consultation and their care will be taken over by a specially trained team of midwives, psychologists and obstetricians.
Comparing the group of frightened women against the control group, the figures revealed that fifty four per cent of the fearful women had received psychiatric care, in comparison to thirty three per cent of the control group.
Another statistic revealed by the study was that over thirty five per cent of the fearful women would deliver by elected caesarean section as opposed to eight and a half per cent from the control group.
Federico Prefumo, BJOG Scientific Editor, added: “Obstetricians should be concerned why these mental health problems in women of child-bearing age are so common. This study highlights the need for increased support for women both before and after pregnancy.”
His comment is crucial. Reassurance and increased support are central to women both before, during and after pregnancy. It is a topic that was looked at a decade ago in the Guardian Newspaper, and the term for the extreme fear of childbirth is tokophobia.
Tokophobia’s leading expert in Great Britain, is Dr. Kristina Hofberg who found that sufferers came from all different age groups, cultural backgrounds and race. She feels that it is an issue overlooked by some experts.
Midwife sonographer facilitated
Consultant Led, Centre of Medical Excellence
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ANNOUNCEMENT
This website was formerly Merrion Fetal Health. The clinic has undergone a rebrand and is now known as Merrion Ultrasound.
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Nurse Michelle O’Conor who performed a Trans Vaginal scan for me today (25/02/2022). Admittedly I was extremely nervous and anxious and Michelle completely put at my ease with her care, concern and utterly professional attitude and skill. It was a pleasure and very reassuring to have such a considerate, warm and competent professional carrying out the scan. Many thanks Michelle.
Liadh Squires.