Overcoming Tokophobia: Heather's story

Fear Free Childbirth

In this episode of the Fear Free Childbirth podcast, Alexia interviews Heather, who shares her inspiring journey from being tokophobic to becoming a mother of two. Heather never expected to have children but was motivated to confront her fear for the sake of her relationship. Initially seeking information, Heather discovered a supportive community that understood her struggle. Heather shares her experience of going from a fear-ridden imagination of childbirth to a positive reality. She feared the worst but found that the actual experience was relaxed, with kind professionals guiding her. Heather emphasises the importance of being heard during pregnancy and childbirth. Alexia and Heather delve into the topic of tokophobia, a fear of childbirth that affects up to 35% of women. They discuss the need to take women's fears seriously and explore their specific concerns, rather than dismissing them. Heather believes tokophobia is not well-known enough and hopes that by discussing it, more women can receive the support they need. The episode provides valuable insights for both women experiencing tokophobia and professionals supporting them. Alexia also introduces her program for conquering tokophobia, offering group and one-on-one support. Heather's story serves as an inspiration to embrace the journey of motherhood.