To get over the fear of being pregnant, talk to trusted doctors, friends, or support groups to understand your feelings, learn about pregnancy through classes and reliable sources, and practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, while also addressing specific worries like contraception or past negative stories. Professional help, such as therapy (like Exposure and Response Prevention for phobias/OCD), is also very effective for intense anxiety.
Women who have had past anxiety or depression also are more likely to develop tokophobia. It can develop after a difficult labor, delivery, or other traumatic birthing event. This was the case for a pregnant patient who came to me. Her medical records showed her last birth had been very difficult.
Making changes at home may also help you manage your anxiety symptoms. Speak with your partner, family, or friends about your issues and ask for support. Allow yourself to relax, slow down, cut down on chores and tasks, and put your health and well-being first. Taking care of yourself is vital to taking care of baby.
Do something you enjoy that's just for you. Chill out to some music, close your eyes, gently massage your bump – do what makes you feel peaceful. If you're finding it difficult to relax your mind, try mindfulness or meditation. The NHS has more information on mindfulness and a bedtime meditation video.
A common tokophobia treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Undergoing CBT helps you identify the aspects of childbirth that are fueling the phobia. You can also learn healthy coping methods by working with a mental health professional.
The "3-2-1 Rule" in pregnancy is a guideline for first-time mothers to know when to call their midwife or doctor for active labor: consistent contractions that are 3 minutes apart, lasting 2 minutes each, for 1 hour (or sometimes cited as 3-1-1, meaning 3 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour). For subsequent pregnancies, the 5-1-1 Rule (5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour) is often used, indicating labor is progressing more quickly.
Try these tips to help with your anxiety:
There's no single "hardest" month, as challenges vary, but many find the first trimester tough due to nausea, fatigue, and hormonal shifts, while the third trimester (months 7-9) often brings the most physical discomfort from the baby's size, affecting sleep, mobility, and causing aches, heartburn, and frequent urination. The difficulty often shifts as pregnancy progresses, with the first months focused on adjustment and the later months on physical strain and preparation for birth.
Most pregnancy outcomes are a healthy baby and a healthy mom. But also less than 20% of pregnancy cases result in miscarriages. Around 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage is about 5%.
There are many studies that have show that stress and anxiety during pregnancy can increase a woman's risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery, and giving birth to a baby that is low birth weight, So stress and anxiety can cause affect the health and even the viability of a fetus.
Here are some common symptoms of anxiety:
How can I prevent or manage anxiety in pregnancy?
Some 5,359,550 pregnancies occurred in the United States in 2020, the most recent year for which data are available. Of these pregnancies, 67% ended in live birth, 17% in abortion and 15% in fetal loss. In 2020, there were 83 pregnancies per every 1,000 women (see box) aged 15–44.
Descriptive Statistics. Among our analytical sample (N=769), 30.2% of women (n=232) experienced a pregnancy scare for at least one week. Five hundred and thirty-seven women in the sample reported no pregnancy scares during the study.
Cost of Childbirth
Yup, you'll be paying your hospital bills for baby's birth during baby's first year. Childbirth is a serious expense: On average, you'll pay around $18,000 to $51,000 without insurance and $2,800 to $4,500 if you have insurance.
Teas for stress and anxiety relief
The rule is simple: Commit to doing the task for just five minutes. That's it. Once you get over the initial resistance and begin, even if only briefly, something shifts. Momentum builds, anxiety decreases, and your brain transitions from avoidance to engagement.
Many experts will say that if you are working to achieve a positive goal then you should push through the anxiety that comes up as you step outside the comfort zone. The idea being that if you push yourself through the anxiety you will get past it and achieve what you are wanting.
What week do most miscarriages happen? More than 80% of miscarriages happen during the first trimester or by the end of the 14th week.
Week 7: The head develops
Seven weeks into pregnancy, or five weeks after conception, your baby's brain and face are growing. Depressions that will give rise to nostrils become visible. The start of the eyes' retinas form. Lower limb buds appear that will become legs.
There's no perfect time to share your pregnancy—do what feels right for you. Many wait until after the first trimester. Miscarriage risk drops after 13 weeks, but it's also OK to tell trusted loved ones earlier for support.
My advice: Focus on caring for yourself and take things one day at a time. If you're feeling stressed, talk with your ob-gyn and supportive friends or family members. They can offer guidance and resources to help you prepare for a healthy pregnancy and birth.
According to Cleveland Clinic, sometimes the root cause can be traced back to: Worries about shifts in your lifestyle or routine. Worries about lacking control of the future. Hearing stories of others' negative birth experiences.
Pregnancy fatigue is usually at its height around the middle of your first trimester. That's around weeks six to eight. But, of course, some may find that their energy runs low sooner or later than that. “Typically, we see that fatigue is worst in the first trimester,” Dr.