If you fear childbirth or giving birth and it is affecting your life, follow the below-coping methods for Tokophobia:
Planning always reduces the fear in half. So, your first step can be to consult a doctor to prepare a birth plan. You must discuss your needs and wants in the session, including your birth and pain management options. A plan that addresses all your problems will help you feel empowered and in control.
It's common for people to develop anxiety at the thought of childbirth. However, share the same with your midwife or doctor, as he or she will provide further reassurance and assistance. Here, you can also talk to a loved one or trusted friends.
It makes you realise that there are people who understand you and are there to help when you feel anxious.
Attend a Prenatal Support Class
Prenatal classes educate you about what happens during childbirth. Also, you will get to learn how to manage labour pain and other pregnancy issues. As a result, you feel more capable as the date of childbirth nears.
Consult a Mental Health Expert
You can also take the help of a counsellor, psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health experts for guidance. This is in case the fear is negatively interfering with your life.
Start Practising Mindfulness
In addition to treatments, making certain lifestyle changes also helps cope with fear. So, the healthy lifestyle practice that one can adopt is mindfulness meditation. It includes the act of being aware of the present moment. However, to achieve this level of concentration, one needs to practise other habits like yoga, meditation, conducting body scans, etc.
From the above information, we understand that Tokophobia is an intense and irrational fear of being pregnant or giving childbirth. It is more common in women, but men can also have it. The reason behind it is either added responsibility or fear of labour pain. However, there are ways to overcome it, as mentioned under treatment methods and coping techniques.