Sharing stories of traumatic childbirths online is contributing to a rise in women’s fear of pregnancy and labour, according to an academic.

Catriona Jones, a midwifery lecturer at the University of Hull who studied tocophobia – defined as a fear of childbirth – said social media plays a part: “If you go on to any of the Mumsnet forums, there are women telling their stories of childbirth – oh, it was terrible, it was a bloodbath, this and that happened. I think that can be quite frightening for women to engage with and read about.”

However, another academic who studied tocophobia and is executive pro-vice-chancellor at the University of Liverpool, Professor Louise Kenny, said: “[Stories] shared in safe environments can be quite healing and informative”.

If you’ve had a difficult childbirth we’d like to hear about what helped you through your experience.

How to get in touch

What difficulties did you have during and after childbirth? If you experienced post-traumatic stress disorder or any other issues, what do you think were the contributing factors? We’d also like to know what you found helpful in dealing with your experiences. You can share your experiences in the form below.

Your responses will only be seen by the Guardian, and one of our journalists may be in touch. We will consider some of your responses in our reporting.

If you’re having problems seeing the form, please click here. You can read terms of service here.