witchynerd

A New Blog of Interest

For those who are interested in overcoming their tocophobia.  The author--a doula--suggests journalling, etc. Interesting blog entry, no triggering pictures.  Tocophobia:  the Fear of Childbirth.

I've Googled tocophobia occasionally in order to provide offerings here.  On one hand, I'm disappointed that the most sensible advice seems to be found among midwives and such.  I have nothing against doulas and midwives, but they are on the medical "fringe", at least in the states, which suggests that the medical establishment doesn't know/doesn't care/throws anxiety pills and c-sections at tocophobic women.  Also, birth advocates are obviously addressing women who want to have children, so those of us who don't are on the fringe of the fringe, so to speak.  On the other hand, it's great that this issue is being openly discussed now rather than something women did not dare mention.  Yay, internet anonymity, I guess. 
witchynerd

The Basics

Tokophobia (cf tocophobia, parturiphobia, maleusiophobia, lockiophobia):  an intense and irrational dread or fear of pregnancy and/or childbirth.

Primary Tokophobia:  unreasoning fear of pregnancy and/or childbirth without having experienced either previously.

Secondary Tokophobia:  unreasoning fear of pregnancy and/or childbirth after having experienced a traumatizing pregnancy/childbirth experience.  cf PTSD, postnatal depression, prenatal depression

Links:

A midwife considers tokophobia and its implications vis a vis caesarian sections vs vaginal births.  Warning:  picture at the top of the page may be triggering, detailed accounts of childbirth in blog and comments.  Interesting.  Navelgazing Midwife

News articles discussing primary and secondary tokophobia.  GeekEnough, Jezebel

Medical Abstracts PubMed

Information and counselling Resources Non Violent Choice Directory Blog

Anyone having more links is welcome to post them.