Tokophobia: The Extreme Fear Of Childbirth No One Talks About
Dinky15 Jul 2025

Tokophobia: The Extreme Fear Of Childbirth No One Talks About

What if the very thought of pregnancy or giving birth filled you with terror — not just discomfort or anxiety, but real, paralyzing fear?In this episode, Erika and Kristen explore tokophobia, an often-overlooked condition defined by the Cleveland Clinic as an extreme fear of childbirth. Tokophobia can affect people so severely that they may go to great lengths to avoid pregnancy altogether. For those who do become pregnant, the fear can overshadow what many new parents expect to be a joyful time. We unpack the psychological and cultural roots of this condition, share firsthand accounts from those living with it, and discuss how tokophobia intersects the choice to remain childfree. Whether you've experienced this fear yourself, or are just hearing about it for the first time, this episode offers validation, insight, and a fresh perspective on reproductive autonomy.

In This Episode, We Cover:
  • 🧠 The difference between primary and secondary tokophobia, and how each type manifests

  • 📊 Statistics from the Norwich Medical School on the prevalence of childbirth-related anxiety and severe fear

  • 🧪 Kristen’s deep dive into the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (W-DEQ) — including her own results

  • 😨 Erika’s personal experience with extreme physical reactions to discussions of pregnancy

  • 🧵 How tokophobia, PTSD, and general fear of childbirth exist on a spectrum — and why misdiagnosis matters

  • 💊 The limited treatment options for tokophobia, including therapy and planned cesarean births

  • 🗣️ Emotional Reddit confessions from those with tokophobia, and how the childfree identity often overlaps with the condition

  • ⚖️ The impact of abortion restrictions on those with tokophobia — and how forced pregnancy can feel life-threatening to some

  • 🧵 Why “being a woman” can feel like a burden when reproductive autonomy is at stake

💬 Join the Conversation: Have you experienced tokophobia or a fear of pregnancy? Tell us your story or weigh in on the conversation at @dinkypod on Instagram, or email us at dinky@dinkypod.com.

Rate & Review:
If you found this episode validating, eye-opening, or just super interesting, don’t forget to follow and leave us a review! It helps other childfree listeners find us.

TAKE A TRIP WITH DINKY:
Mexico City Weekend 1: Oct 9 - 12
8 Days In Germany + Prague for Christmas Markets: Dec. 6 - 13 (GIRLS TRIP)

Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and support the show.

Dinky is now on Substack — free of charge! Subscribe now to access exclusive content, unhinged memes, guest articles, and stay up to date on the podcast.

Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and BlueSky at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.

If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.

Episoder(125)

Regretful Parents: “I Thought Life Was Worth Living… Now I’m Not So Sure” | Reddit Stories (Ft. The Girl With The List!)

Regretful Parents: “I Thought Life Was Worth Living… Now I’m Not So Sure” | Reddit Stories (Ft. The Girl With The List!)

What happens when parenting regret doesn’t go away… it just evolves?In this episode, Erika is joined by fellow childfree girlie Abby Porter (aka z00mie, aka “the girl with the list”)  to unpack a bran...

22 Feb 26min

Regretful Parents: “My Kid Is Ruining My Mental Health” | Reddit Stories

Regretful Parents: “My Kid Is Ruining My Mental Health” | Reddit Stories

In this episode, Erika and Kristen read and react to a viral post from Reddit about a parent struggling with a chronically unhappy, clingy, sleep-hating four-year-old — and the toll it’s taking on her...

19 Feb 13min

Regretful Parents: “I've Been Scammed” | Reddit Stories

Regretful Parents: “I've Been Scammed” | Reddit Stories

In this episode, Kristen and Erika dive into another brutally honest story from the Regretful Parents series — this time from a 39-year-old single mother by choice who spent thousands on fertility tre...

15 Feb 15min

Regretful Parents: “My ADHD Wife Isn't Fun Anymore” | Reddit Stories

Regretful Parents: “My ADHD Wife Isn't Fun Anymore” | Reddit Stories

⚠️ Content Warning: Discussions of parental resentment, mental health crises, and implied threats of violence.In this episode, Erika and Kristen dive a viral Reddit post from an Australian father over...

12 Feb 16min

What Is Project 2026? The New Right-Wing Blueprint For America

What Is Project 2026? The New Right-Wing Blueprint For America

Want more exclusive content from Dinky? Join the Patreon! Today, we’re talking about Project 2026. Two years ago, we covered everything you needed to know about Project 2025, the dystopian right-wing ...

10 Feb 1h 21min

Regretful Parents: “My Life Was Taken From Me” | Reddit Stories

Regretful Parents: “My Life Was Taken From Me” | Reddit Stories

⚠️Content Warning: This episode discusses disability, regret, resentment, and medical trauma. Listener discretion advised.In this episode, Kristen and Erika dive into a post titled “I dislike my disab...

5 Feb 9min

Regretful Parents: “I've Always Loved Kids — I Just Hate My Own” | Reddit Stories

Regretful Parents: “I've Always Loved Kids — I Just Hate My Own” | Reddit Stories

This one has a twist ending!In this episode of the Regretful Parents series, Erika and Kristen react to a Reddit post titled “I genuinely hate my baby.” What starts as a familiar story about parenting...

1 Feb 14min

Regretful Parents: “Don't Do It, Unless...” | Reddit Stories

Regretful Parents: “Don't Do It, Unless...” | Reddit Stories

In this episode, Erika and Kristen read and discuss a post from the Regretful Parents sub titled “Don’t Do It Folks.” The post details a chaotic day of parenting young children and offers practical ad...

29 Jan 13min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
konspirasjonspodden
aftenpodden-usa
popradet
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
wolfgang-wee-uncut
alt-fortalt
grenselos
synnve-og-vanessa
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
min-barneoppdragelse
rss-dannet-uten-piano
fladseth
rss-frekvens-med-anine-olsen
opptur-med-annette-og-ingeborg