Fear of pregnancy and childbirth

Abstract

Pregnancy is a major life event for all women. However, when a psychiatric disorder is added to or exacerbated by the pregnancy then the problem requires expert knowledge from more than one area of medicine. This paper looks at pregnancy and the relationship with depression, eating disorders, and pathological fear of childbirth or tokophobia. It also examines the outcome for these women and their babies. Mental illness is a serious concern. It is now recognised that death from suicide is the leading cause of maternal death overall. Research in these areas is relatively sparse but an attempt is made to collate what is known.

Pregnancy, risk perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine

“…Worry, anxiety and fear of childbirth is common and seems to be on the increase (Ayrlrie et al 2005), confirming a range of risk theorists' views about the fear generated by risk (Beck 1992, Giddens 1990, Furedi 2002, Bauman 2006. Moreover, many women seem to have lost faith in their ability to birth naturally without medical intervention (Melender 2002, Hofberg andWard 2003). As Davis-Floyd (2004) suggests the medical model shapes expectations, beliefs and practices and makes it difficult to think about pregnancy and birth in any other way.…”

Prevalence of Fear of Childbirth and Its Associated Factors in Primigravid Women: A Cross- Sectional Study

“…Fear of childbirth in multiparous women can be related to the previous experience of traumatic or negative delivery (12,(25)(26)(27). Although delivery is considered to be a natural phenomenon, women's labor experiences are not only dependent on interventions and medical complications during labor, but also are related to their traumatic and negative experiences (28,29).…”

The Validity and Reliability of Persian Version of Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (Version A) among Iranian Nulliparous Women

“…Tocophobia is a Greek word means extreme fear of childbearing that may cause a woman to avoid pregnancy (Hofberg & Ward, 2003). Severe fear of childbirth affects around 6-10% of women worldwide (Saisto & Halmesmäki, 2003).…”