Зміст
Fear of childbirth and pregnancy (tomophobia) affects many women. Women are most worried: physiological changes in the body, hospital stays, frequent gynecological examinations and checks, and the soreness of the birth itself. Fear of pregnancy in women also raises many questions about life and relationships after the birth of a child. Does maternal instinct always manifest itself? How to deal with this kind of fear?
Fear of pregnancy are women’s most common fears
Fear of pregnancy and childbirth (tomophobia) impacts most women. Areas of concern are physiology associated with pregnancy and childbirth itself – changes in the body, frequent visits to the gynecologist, tests, possible hospital stays and expected pain.
Added to that is uncertainty – what then? What will life be like after childbirth? In the first year of life, the child is dependent on the mother. Later, it was also at the center of his interests and needs for many years. It changes every woman’s life, creates restrictions related to mobility, flexibility in work or simply loss of freedom.
Finally, there is also a relationship issue with your partner. There are doubts – will he want me with my body after giving birth? Can I count on him? Will my man be a good father? It is worth noting that we often face fear of pregnancy in men.
Maternal instinct and fear of childbirth and pregnancy
Why, despite the above doubts and fears stemming from fear, do women even decide to have a child? Some women simply don’t have such anxiety, making it easy for them to make a decision about motherhood. At a certain age, a maternal instinct also appears, which stimulates the motivational centers in the brain so that the body tries to have a child.
However, there are also women whose maternal instinct does not take over their fears. Fear is a strong, irrational emotion, deeply rooted in our nervous structures and therefore in our thoughts.
Its sources should be sought in previous social (especially family) experiences. All situations related to the difficult financial situation of the family, the physical or emotional disadvantage of both parents, the lack of love, and negative images from the lives of other mothers, make the biological desire to have children depressed or not manifested.
And so, a woman can live for many years until a partner in a stable relationship begins to raise this issue because of her own biological needs and desires. This is followed by the physiological aspects of anxiety – pallor of the skin, redness of the skin, sweating, weakness (the so-called soft knees) and the desire to immediately escape. These symptoms also accompany other types of anxiety. In this situation, the body’s response may be related to problems that may at first resemble gynecological problems.
Pain during intercourse and conception
In sexual life, there may be sexual intercourse issues associated with pain during sexual intercourse. Then the conception of the child fades into the background, and the issue of overcoming discomfort comes first.
Often, visits to the gynecologist’s end with the patient being redirected to a psychologist or sexologist. Then there’s the somatic pain caused by a mental issue – typically it’s the fear of pregnancy and having a baby. Then, work with a specialist is based on finding its source and trying to reformulate the attitude towards motherhood into a positive one.
Fear of pregnancy in a woman – the role of a partner
In the case of the discussed fear of pregnancy or childbirth, the most important thing is the conversation of partners. This is the only way to determine whether the desire to have children is mutual. After discussing their concerns, the couple will be able to check their concerns. However, it is worth remembering that only a child and time will check the previous agreements of partners.
However, the most significant thing is cooperation and mutual support. A woman and a man should not forget that a child will be born through love, and they will be united, which is the basis of the family.
If during interviews it turns out that only one of the parties wants the child, carefully weigh the situation – will one of the partners have to “sacrifice” to give the child to another? Or maybe this victim will be a rejection of his desire? Will “going to hand” confirm love or harm relationships?
Pregnancy fear therapy in women
If overcoming anxiety seems impossible for partners, and it will be necessary to work with a therapist, the role of a partner remains very important. Only thanks to his support, a woman will be able to go through the whole process in order to finally make a decision on the birth of children – then it will be made not under the influence of fear, but through the prism of realizing both the limitations and capabilities of a woman who will be freed from fear and anxiety. There is no only right therapeutic pathway to achieving an outcome.
All methods of the therapist’s work depend on the basis of fear – that is, its source and the mechanisms that influenced its deep roots in the woman’s mind. It should be remembered that the effect of therapeutic work may be different from first thought. The most important thing here is motivation to deal with anxiety and work on yourself.
This article is for informational purposes only, at sovetplus.com we are not authorized to prescribe any treatment or make any diagnosis. We invite you to contact your doctor if you experience any type of condition or discomfort.
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