Tokophobia
A clinical-grade fear of pregnancy or birth — what it is, how it shows up, and the path through it.
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Explore the work
Sixteen years of writing, speaking, and method development in perinatal fear, anxiety, and birth-trauma recovery — in one place. The topics, the books, the white papers, and the podcasts that tie it all together. Browse whatever calls you.
Explore by topic
Start with what's on your mind.
Five areas of the work, each with its own guide, resources, and latest writing. Follow whichever one fits where you are.
Reproductive Anxiety Disorder
The umbrella framework that names the full spectrum of reproductive fear, from tokophobia to post-decision grief.
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Reproductive Trauma
Birth wounds, loss, abortion, medical trauma — naming what got left unprocessed, and how it heals.
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Pregnancy Fear & Anxiety
Fear of pain, fear of intervention, perinatal anxiety — where it comes from, and how to clear it.
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Fearless Birth Prep
Preparing for birth from confidence, not coping — for once the fear is cleared.
ExploreBooks
Two books by Alexia Leachman.
The early one that introduced the work, and the 2025 synthesis that brings the science up to date.
2025
Betrayed By Your Biology
The ultimate resource on tokophobia and Reproductive Anxiety Disorder (RAD) — for women, their families, and professionals alike. The 2025 synthesis that brings the science up to date.
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2014
Fearless Birthing
The original — the book that birthed this whole body of work. Part personal story, part early method, and still an entry point for women finding the work for the first time.
Read moreWhite papers
The research behind the work.
The case for naming Reproductive Anxiety Disorder, and a look at the culture that profits from reproductive fear. Free to read.
White paper
The Case for RAD
The academic case for naming Reproductive Anxiety Disorder properly — definitions, prevalence, clinical implications, and the gap in current classification.
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White paper
Fear Sells
How the culture profits from reproductive fear — where the fear is manufactured and amplified, and what that costs women.
Read morePodcasts
Three shows. Pick the one closest to where you are.
Fear Free Childbirth
The flagship. Over two million downloads. Long-form conversations about pregnancy, birth, fear, and what changes when fear gets cleared.
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Tik-Tokophobia
The spin-off for women who found the work through short-form content. Conversational and accessible, with the same depth underneath.
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The Head Trash & Healing Show
Broader applications of the Head Trash Clearance method beyond pregnancy and birth — fear-clearance and healing across life.
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Not sure where to start?
Two doors into the work, depending on who you are. Both lead somewhere gentle.