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Designing
Motherhood
Tokophobia
Pregnancy is a major physical, psychological, and social event in every woman's life. Instead of being a joyful experience, pregnancy may become a worrisome and fearful event in few patients and the fear may assume a pathological dimension and becomes a disorder worth recognition and treatment. Majority of women are able to cope up with fear and anxieties by self-help efforts, social support, and medical help. However, when it becomes pathological dread, and was first described in literature by Knauer in 1897.
“I couldn't rationalize [my fear] because in the society I grew up in, women were expected to be married and giving birth," Chacko, originally from India, told Mic. "I mean, motherhood was considered as a default, not an option.”
"I dread family get-togethers where nieces and nephews and everyone asking me when I am planning to have one," Chacko said. "No matter what I've achieved in life – the books I've written, the career I made, the interesting travels — at the end, mine is not a complete life, because I am child-free."
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