For expectant mothers, it’s very normal to approach birth with a feeling of trepidation, particularly for the first baby. From the moment a pregnancy is announced, the average pregnant woman is inundated with horror stories of pain and long labors by supposed well-meaning friends, and it can be hard to focus on a positive birth experience when you don’t know what to expect. But for some women, the fear of childbirth goes beyond trepidation into full-blown anxiety, panic and fear. Known as tokophobia, this phobia of childbirth affects somewhere between 3-8% of pregnant women.

Symptoms include worries specifically about the pregnancy and birth, a fear of harm or death related to the birth, poor sleep, and a sense of hyper-arousal (rapid heartbeat and breathing, difficulty winding down). The fear of childbirth is a common non-medical reason for requesting a cesarean section, and women with this fear have a much higher rate of both C-Section delivery and use of epidural anesthesia.

There is no clear path to developing fear of childbirth, but there are some risk factors that we know about. A history of anxiety or depression is one risk factor, as is a history of childhood abuse, be it sexual, physical or emotional abuse.

However, a recent study found that one of the biggest influences women reported on their fear of childbirth was the media. Hospital-based reality television programs and medical dramas often feature story-lines with dramatic emergency situations during childbirth and this may be all women know of giving birth prior to the event. Pregnant women report searching for pregnancy and birth information online, and social media and blogs hold the potential for the circulation of misinformation that may heighten fears rather than calm them.

There is another group of women who may find pregnancy and childbirth frightening due to related fears. One of the most common phobias in adults is blood/injury phobia, often including a fear of injections. Pregnancy and childbirth is hence very confronting for these women, who may faint or experience extreme distress at even routine blood tests throughout their pregnancy.

Researchers have found that for first time mothers, a positive birth experience can often relieve the fear of childbirth so that it is no longer an issue for future pregnancies. However, whether or not women start with a fear of childbirth, a negative birth experience can make them up to five times more likely to develop tokophobia for future pregnancies.

The good news is that like all anxiety disorders, the fear of childbirth and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) can be addressed and treatments are available. One of the most vital elements of treatment is education on birth, whether through the obstetric care provider, midwives, or antenatal classes. Knowing what to expect and having an agreed plan with your care provider can assist to overcome some of the irrational fears.

Linked to this, a supportive and trusting relationship with the care providers who will manage the birth is essential. This is not always possible as some obstetric settings do not allow for repeated contact with the same provider, but a relationship of trust will be more likely to create a positive birth experience.

When problems do occur in pregnancy and birth, a post-birth debriefing can be useful and may help prevent the development of PTSD symptoms. Understanding what went wrong and why things happened the way they did can help with processing the events and accompanying trauma. As with other anxiety disorders, relaxation, light exercise and slow breathing can help to calm the body and relieve the hyper-arousal that comes with the fear of childbirth. Anxiety management techniques can help in curbing or minimising the fears.

For those who find the idea of pregnancy and birth overwhelming, it is important to know that help is available and such symptoms can be successfully treated. The first step is confiding your fears so that those around you can start to support you through what could be a wonderful journey.

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