The fall has made childbirth painful and dangerous. But in Christ, the deepest dangers of the curse have been removed. Tokophobia is the fear of childbirth. It’s the fear of the pain of childbirth — the fear of injury during childbirth, both for baby and for mom. And it’s a fairly common fear we hear about in the inbox. The prospect of parenthood can be alluring. But the pain and the dangers of childbirth are realities to be considered. Here specifically is the question I’m talking about. “Dear Pastor John, my girlfriend and I have recently started having conversations about our future. She’s a God-fearing servant whom I can see myself marrying. I also believe she would be a great mother. However, she told me that while she wants to be a mother, she is very fearful of pregnancy and childbirth and said she may only want to adopt. I’m fearful that I would harbor some level of bitterness in my heart toward her if we chose to not have biological children. Should this be a marriage deal-breaker for us?” Episode 1366: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/im-terrified-of-giving-birth-should-i-still-pursue-marriage Related Resources: “How Far Is Too Far Before Marriage?” https://youtu.be/Xd-YfSA8dNU “Weddings: Don't Break the Bank” https://youtu.be/iNlDaBDHQu4 “What Advice Would You Give Newly Married John Piper?” https://youtu.be/wpL9DXwje_k “Our Wedding Date Is Set — Why Not Have Sex Now” https://youtu.be/t09B90PeDj8 Ask Pastor John Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFF7F6AE365DA3564 Find other recent and popular Ask Pastor John episodes, http://desiringgod.org/ask-pastor-john