Definition of Tocophobia

Tocophobia: An abnormal and persistent fear of childbirth.

A phobia is an unreasonable fear that can cause avoidance and panic. Phobias are a relatively common type of anxiety disorder. Phobias can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy using exposure and fear reduction techniques. In many cases, anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication proves helpful, especially during the early stages of therapy.

Tocophobia is derived from the Greek "tocos" (childbirth) + "phobos" (fear).

A related term is teratophobia, fear of bearing a malformed child.