Most Common Pregnancy Fears
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Pregnancy can be a time of joy, excitement and for many expectant mothers and fathers, fear. In particular with my first pregnancy, I was cautious about eating certain foods and participating in some activities. I questioned every pain, every discomfort, and even times when I felt nothing but believed that I should.
I have researched several lists of the most common fears among pregnant women. These are the things that expectant mothers worry about the most, in no particular order.
Having an unhealthy baby
Suffering a miscarriage
Fear of labor
Fear of parenting
Weight gain (and the inability to lose it)
1. Having an unhealthy baby
You can go to every appointment and have a great check up. Your measurements can be right on track. Your eating can be healthy. It is still very common to worry that something will be wrong with your child until he or she is born and you can actually see the perfect baby you have created. It is the fear of the unknown, or more like the unseen. Some women fear everything from birth defects to health problems. Some even admit they just fear having an ugly baby. But if you are a parent, you know this is not possible. For when you hold your newborn, you will believe that you have never seen anything more beautiful.
2. Suffering a miscarriage
When it comes to the thought of a pregnancy loss, this is a fear that haunts the hardest. But considering the facts may ease some of the worry. “Most miscarriages happen within the first trimester and occur within about 15-25 percent of all pregnancies; but from about twelve weeks onward, the risk is dramatically reduced. So if you’ve made it past the 14 week mark, your risk of miscarrying is actually somewhere around one percent.” (Pregnant.thebump.com)
According to Pregnancytoday.com, “the most common causes of miscarriage are genetic defects or failure of the egg to implant properly in the uterus, things which women can't help. You can improve your baby's chances by not drinking or smoking.”
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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