Strong childbirth fear among LGBTQ people

Childbirth fear is a well-studied area among heterosexuals. For those who are extremely scared, it can lead to mental illness both before, during and after childbirth. But how lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people with childbirth fear experience pregnancy, childbirth and care, there is no knowledge.

Anna Malmquist and Katri Nieminen, researchers at Linköping University, have delved into the topic and interviewed 17 people who identify themselves as either lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

Many of the people in the study state that they have several positive experiences of maternal and childbirth care, but also negative ones.

"There is an extra dimension in their fear," says Anna Malmquist, associate professor of psychology at Linköping University.

The extra layer of fear this group experiences in meeting with care is called minority stress. This means the stress that people who break the norm are exposed to when they need to explain what their relationship looks like or when they are forced to deal with misunderstanding, comments and misunderstandings.

To facilitate homosexual and bisexual as well as transgender people with childbearing fear, education is required, says Anna Malmquist.

- In healthcare, more knowledge about LGBTQ people and what minority stress means. Then you can create security and then work with the fear of childbirth as such.