Tokophobia

[namechangedforanon]

Hi all,

Just wanted to let you know about my experience today .

I have severe tokophobia ( primary ) and this was causing me a lot of anxiety day to day .

I spoke to my GP and requested to speak to someone in Perinatal mental health ( as I found from my research this is the go to point) . I had to wait 15 weeks to be allocated a Perinatal specialist and have been booked for 12 sessions with a psychotherapist .

Today I had my first session, and I feel better already - as she made me feel for the first time that my fears , are real , that they are OK and totally rational . She let me know that from our first session she's happy to write me any supporting reports I need and we are working on a plan over the next few weeks of how I can get the anxiety it causes under control with elements of CBT.

(As you might know I'm going to be having an elective when I get pregnant, however was potentially likely to go private - following this I'm exploring options with the NHS still .)

I just want to encourage anyone who feels like this to push for the support , as I can say already I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders having my feelings accepted and validated .

You don't need to suffer in silence xx

Hi,

Thanks for your post. I feel I may have tokophobia and wanted to speak to my midwife about it but she had a student observing her during my first appointment and I felt too uncomfortable to share my anxieties. Me and my brother were very big babies and I feel my mother has scarred me with birthing stories. I felt certain I would have a c section, but have also been told so many horror stories about them too....I’m just so anxious about either option now!

At what point in your pregnancy did you request support from your GP?

I'm not pregnant , I felt I couldn't conceive without getting this sorted .

You need to request a referral to Perinatal mental health and I'd recommend calling to discuss with your midwife x