Dear PWPL blog readers,
I have received the following letter, which stems from Jennifer Derwey’s post about tocophobia. I have asked the letter writer for her location, because I thought we might put our heads together and try and find some counseling support for her in her area, which turns out to be Ocala, Florida. This looks to be about 100 km north of Orlando.
Please comment or send me an email, which I can then forward on, if you have any ideas. Thank you, and here’s the letter now.
I have tocophobia and cannot even leave the house. I was so traumatized with my first birth and the embarrassment was horrifying. I can’t find any help and have thoughts of suicide. I am to far along for termination an feel so helpless I can’t wake up day after day continuously thinking of giving birth and all that goes with it. I am terrified.
______________________
Update: Some of you have asked how things are going here. Better, I believe, and I remain in touch with her. Thank you for countless great recommendations and thoughts. I will continue to forward on anything else you’d like to offer.
by 
Here is a list of non-profit pregnancy centers in her area (about an hour drive to some is the closet I could find). Now, many are Catholic, but that will not deter them from helping, supporting, and offering counseling.
Central East Florida
Catholic Charities Of Brevard County
817 Dixon Blvd. Suite 16
Cocoa, FL 32933
(321) 636-6144
Fax: (321) 631-4209
Monday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Tuesday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wednesday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
JMJ Life Center Of Orange County
1400 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32804
(407) 839-0620
Fax: (407) 839-0630
Office Hours Not Available
Catholic Charities Of Orange County
1771 North Semoran Blvd.
Orlando, FL 23807
(407) 658-1818
Fax: (407) 282-2891
Monday: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Tuesday: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Thursday: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Friday: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
JMJ Life Center Of Osceola County
1403 13th Street
St. Cloud, FL 34769
(407) 891-6969
Monday: 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Tuesday: 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Friday: 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Sanford Pregnancy Center Of Seminole County
1002 French Avenue
Sanford, FL 32771
(407) 323-3384
Fax: (407) 323-8005
Office Hours Not Available
Catholic Charities Of Volusia County
207 White Street
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386) 255-6521
Fax: (386) 238-0048
Monday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
I would also recommend the midwife centers in your area. The Munroe Regional Medical Center has a midwifery department, you can call the Health Resource Line & Community Health Information 352-867-8181
M-F 8:30am – 5:00pm.
I second Jennifer’s suggestion of midwives, but I would also recommend that she check out the support that a doula could offer. There are a couple of women advertising doula services in Ocala:
Stevie’s Doula Services: https://sites.google.com/site/ocaladoula/
Rachel Nedboy: http://www.doulas.com/AhavaRachel
I forget, sometimes, just how traumatic an experience birth can be for some women. Please, please talk to your partner/husband and let him know what is going on. Let your doctor know your fears. Talk to your family–moms and aunties can be a great source of support.
La Leche League is also a good place to find support. The leaders go through extensive training on breast feeding and birth, and are usually wonderful fonts of information on resources available in your area. The chapter in Ocala is here:
http://www.lllflorida.com/New%20Site%20Map%20of%20FL/New%20Site%20Central/Marion%20County%20FL.html
Best of luck.