The Tokophobia Severity Scale: What It Measures, and What It Misses
A 13-question scale now scores tokophobia, and it was built for women who’ve never been pregnant. Alexia Leachman on what it gets right and what it leaves out.
From the publication
Category: Tokophobia
We’ve Been Measuring Fear of Childbirth Too Simply. Two New Studies Show Why
Two new studies suggest one fear-of-birth score hides more than it shows. Alexia Leachman on what the research found, what it misses, and what needs to change.
One in Six Pregnant Women Have Severe Fear of Childbirth: The Numbers
A 2026 meta-analysis by Maghalian and colleagues, drawing on 67 studies and more than 905,000 pregnant women, found that 16.5% had severe fear of childbirth. That's roughly one…
When Fear Takes Over: The Abortions We Don’t Talk About
Women who dreamed of motherhood… and still couldn’t continue the pregnancy. Not because they didn’t want the baby. But because the fear felt life-threatening. This isn’t the kind…
I Never Had the Right Words for My Fear… Until Now
Discover what Reproductive Anxiety Disorder (RAD) is and why it goes beyond tokophobia. This episode reveals its hidden effects on women’s mental health and support.
The Root of Toko: What If the Fear Didn’t Start With You?
Discover the hidden roots of tokophobia as Alexia and JJ reveal how your own birth may shape lifelong fears. Explore trauma, healing, and hope for recovery.