Well, the therapy os starting properly next week. I want to concentrate on relaxing for the c section. It looks like they'll keep seeing me once the baby's born too - don't know if it's because of the risk of PND or if it's in case I have another baby (this one's my 1st) and would be scared still. My mum lost 3 babies and I'm an only child so we're working on that too with the therapist because it might be where it all comes from. I'm particularly afraid of somethng happening to the baby during the birth. I was completely panicked for the 1st term - and feeling down with horrible morning sickness didn't help. But then the hormones kicked in and I felt better and it helped me face the problem and look for a solution. I find it definitely helps to talk about it, and I'm not afraid to admit that I know it is irrational, but I just can't help being afraid. But having the phychiatrist on board is reassuring because it means it's a real and serious condition and that I'm not acting up! You should ask if there's any help available in your hospital. As for the lack of replies, I think that for a start people don't check the "General Pregnancy" section as much as the monthly ones. Also, my title might not mean anything to people - I'd never heard of tokophobia before. They did talk about it on GMTV once and on the Wright Stuff too I've read other threads where women were afraid of giving birth the 2nd time round because of bad experience with the 1st one. So we're not alone! Cx

Yep, same here. And it's been going on since I'm a teenager (was shown a birth video in school age 14 and was really shocked). Are you getting any support? I'm 28 weeks now but told the midwife straight away and they've been great. I was refered to a consultant and another midwife who knows about tokophobia. Then I saw a psychiatrist who's now giving me therapy. But we've agreed I won't get it sorted in time so I'm having a c-section and the therapy is concentrated on getting me ready for it, and probably the breastfeeding too. I'm still repulsed by it but want to give it a go (better quality than formula and free). I'm surprised noone else has replied to the thread as the staff here in Brum seem to know quite a bit about it and it seems more common than we think. Good luck, Chazza

Anyone else has got it? I seem to read a lot of threads about women who are a bit nervous about the birth but haven't yet found anyone with the irrational fear of it (like me). Thanks, Chazza