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

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.

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BONUS: This God Forsaken Parenting Quiz

BONUS: This God Forsaken Parenting Quiz

This special bonus episode is only for the truly deranged souls who want to listen to the BONUS EXTENDED full quiz on if you're ready to become a parent.  TAKE THE QUIZ: https://www.thequiz.com/are-you-ready-to-be-a-parent/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support

5 Juli 202224min

Pros And Cons Of Parenthood

Pros And Cons Of Parenthood

In this episode, Kristen and Erika weigh the pros and cons of parenting based on their personal opinions and what they’ve found on the Internet. Does the miracle of life outweigh a lack of sleep? Is it ethical to bring life into the world to gain a built-in friend? To enjoy a nice sit down dinner, visit your local Red Lobster: https://www.redlobster.com/ To shop the hair dryer mentioned by Kristen in Dink Yourself: https://www.bioionic.com/10x-ultralight-speed-dryer-new-black To follow along with the quiz and discover if you’re ready to be a parent, visit: https://www.thequiz.com/are-you-ready-to-be-a-parent/ To reference the article we discuss on the Pros and Cons of parenting: https://parentspluskids.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-having-kids To play along with the Parenting Simulator, download the app here: https://www.choiceofgames.com/user-contributed/parenting-simulator/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support

5 Juli 202245min

Meet Your Hosts

Meet Your Hosts

Kristen and Erika introduce Dinky, a podcast to navigate the decision around becoming parents or remaining childfree as two women in dual income, no kid households through lighthearted (aka ridiculous) conversations. In this episode, they unpack the WHY behind the series and share their personal goals for the first season. To book the Obama impersonator (Reggie Brown) that Kristen referenced in Dink Yourself, visit: http://reggiebrownobamaimpersonator.com/2020/03/16/reggie-brown-is-now-on-cameo/ To play along with the Parenting Simulator, download the app here: https://www.choiceofgames.com/user-contributed/parenting-simulator/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support

5 Juli 202230min

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