How To Tackle Fear Of Pregnancy?

Basics

oi-Anwesha

By Anwesha Barari

Friday, November 18, 2011, 14:54

Pregnancy is usually associated with hope, happiness, celebration of a new life so the association of fear with pregnancy may sound odd. However, it is a very common condition to have anxiety attacks during pregnancy or when you suspect you are pregnant. Every emotion has its roots in your mind and there is psychology behind it. If we explore the psychological aspect of pregnancy then we will be able to explain fear of pregnancy with a clear perspective.

Here are some of the causes of anxiety related to pregnancy and how to handle them wisely.

Why There Is Fear Of Pregnancy?

• This kind of fear is common enough to have a phobia coined on it; it is called tocophobia. Tocophobia may sound like a really exotic name but it is just any other phobia.
• People fear snakes, spiders or open spaces, in the same way women have a fear of giving birth. The process with its blood and gore freaks them out.
• Women fear child birth for different reasons but it can be called a 'phobia' only when it is uncontrollable and forces her to avoid getting pregnant. Some women keep delaying the prospect of having a baby until they are 40 just because they are scared.
• This fear or phobia if you choose to call it that, has many causes. Each woman could have her own reason. Some fear that they would loose control over their body after child birth and never be able to get back in shape. In short they fear unattractiveness.
• Some women fear that their partners won't love them anymore or they will turn out to be bad irresponsible mothers. Some may also feel that a baby will change their lifestyle irreversibly.
• But the most common fear is the pain of childbirth. The more anecdotes and experiences you read or hear, the more scared you get.

How To Handle Fear Of Pregnancy:

• Anxiety over pregnancy is natural; it is not incurable that it should prevent you from having a baby. What you need is proper counselling. Either go to a professional counsellor for help or else you could talk to people you trust.
• The partner be it husband or boyfriend has huge role to play here. As a partner you have to help her get over this irrational fear by promising to be there when she delivers and at every step of the child's upbringing.
• Gather positive experiences of having a baby from books and television instead of the bad ones. Pregnancy is time when you can indulge yourself in eating without counting calories so enjoy the positives.
• You need to focus on other important points like why so many people would opt to have a baby if it were not a positive experience. If women could do it without medical help in the ancient times, you can certainly do it with the help of modern science.

Use these pregnancy tips to manage fear of pregnancy and become proud parents.