Preggy Worries: What to do about your Top 3 Fears

Pregnancy can be an anxious time for many of us. We worry whether the baby in our tummy is okay. We worry about childbirth – will it hurt? We worry, too, about our changing body and about how we look, with the extra weight we get.

Because pregnancy brings about such huge changes in our life, worrying is certainly normal – but there are ways to alleviate it, no matter which area in your pregnancy you feel doubtful about. 

 

Worry # 1: What if I miscarry?

 The biggest thing that haunts a lot of pregnant women is the prospect of miscarriage – according to the Mayo Clinic, up to 20% of all known pregnancies end too early, before the baby can survive outside the womb. 

Still, often, our worries are needless. Here are a few things to remember about miscarriage: 

1. Most of the everyday things we do don’t cause miscarriage. 

Lifting and straining do not cause miscarriage in normal pregnancies. Neither do exercise and sex.Of course, if you have a history of spotting or previous miscarriage, your doctor may put you on bed rest, and you probably will not be allowed to do any of these things. But if your doctor says your pregnancy is going well, you should believe your doctor and live your daily life without fear of endangering your baby.

 

2. Many known causes of miscarriage are things we eat and drink. 

A few things have been proven to increase miscarriage risk: alcohol, caffeine, smoking, and certain medications.

Therefore, for the duration of your pregnancy, limit your alcohol intake to one glass twice a week. Avoid soda, coffee, teas (especially those that contain guarana), and energy drinks, which contain caffeine. Stop smoking; it will be bad for your baby too, after he or she is born. And do not, under any circumstance, take illicit drugs.

Speaking of drugs, make sure all medicines you ingest are known to your ob/gyn. Some medications, such as ibuprofen, are suspected of increasing one’s risk of miscarriage. Others, such as some anticonvulsants, can cause either miscarriage or birth defects.

If you need a certain drug to maintain your own well-being, consult your doctor. He or she will prescribe the drugs that are safest for you and your baby. Self-prescription is dangerous in any circumstance, but it is even more so when you are pregnant.

 

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3. Many miscarriages are not the mother’s fault. 

Some of the known causes of miscarriage are abnormality in the fetus itself (e.g., problems with the baby’s genes or chromosomes) and the mother’s health conditions. For instance, if you have problems in your uterus, cervix, or thyroid, or if you have uncontrolled diabetes, you are at risk for miscarriage.

But since these conditions are generally present upon conception, there is really not much you can do to change them. One thing’s for sure: worrying will not help. 

If you find yourself in a high-risk pregnancy, the best thing to do is get the care of a competent ob/gyn who is easily accessible at all times of the day, and obey your doctor’s advice.

 

Worry # 2: Is childbirth really so painful?

For first-time moms, childbirth can be a daunting prospect. Although the fear of pain certainly plays its part in our uneasiness, it is more a fear of the unknown that causes most of our anxiety. So to feel more confident about childbirth:

1. Read up on the topic. 

 There are plenty of good pregnancy books out there that will give you a good inside view of how childbirth normally goes and what possible complications you may need to prepare for. Read one or two of these books, so that when you go to the delivery room, you’ll have a better idea of what to expect. And if something goes wrong – knock on wood! – you’ll know what to do or what they will be doing to you.

 

2. Talk to your OB/Gyn or midwife. 

 Ask as many questions as it takes for you to feel that you won’t be going blind into that birthing room. But read your pregnancy books a few times first, so that you’ll know the right questions to ask.

 

3. Attend childbirth classes. 

If possible, attend them with your husband. These classes are one step better than books because they give you hands-on practice on what you need to do when D-day comes.

 

4. Have a plan ready in case of emergencies. 

 For instance, if you need emergency CS or if your baby is born too early and will need an incubator, where will you get the emergency funds? If you don’t have your own cash at hand, it will help if you prepare other fund sources right now. If, when the time comes, you will have no other recourse but to borrow from a relative of friend, then it’s best to ask the friend or relative now if you may rely on them if a sudden need arises. 

You may also need blood donors. If you don’t know your blood type yet, find out now and bring your blood-type documents with you when you go to the hospital.

 

5. Do not listen to the stories of layman moms. 

That’s right: avoid these kinds of conversations at all cost. Too many women like to exaggerate the amount of suffering they experienced during labor, but they seldom tell you what to do to avoid similar difficulties, so their stories will serve you no good use. They will only make you worry needlessly all the more.

 

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Worry # 3: Am I still beautiful?

 Pregnancy brings a lot of changes in our body, there’s no question about that. Sometimes, our neck or armpits darken. We gain weight, and our figure-hugging clothes no longer fit. Our legs and ankles start swelling, and varicose veins come out. 

Inevitably, we wonder, “Do I still look attractive?” Well, we can be.

1. Choose clothes that you can wear even after maternity. 

 This way, you won’t feel guilty splurging on that whole new set of wardrobe. Empire-waist and tent dresses can look good on you whether or not you’re pregnant. Sleek dresses with stretchable material fit equally well on pregnant and non-pregnant bodies.

Long skirts with elastic waists and black gym pants with drawstring waists will also prove useful during maternity and after.

 

2. Use black compression stockings as tights. 

These stockings are sturdy, they ease the pain of varicose veins, and if you wear them with a nice short dress, a funky necklace, and eye-catching flats, they can give you a fashionable look even non-pregnant women would envy.

 

3. Get flats with an attitude. 

Something shiny or brightly colored, perhaps – something that can console your for the loss of your high-heel privileges. One or two pairs should suffice. Remember that you can still wear these after you give birth. Flats are excellent for baby-wearing moms (moms who carry their babies in slings) or moms who need to run after toddlers.

 

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4. Get underwear that fits. 

You’ll probably need to go one size up for all your underwear. If you plan to breastfeed, you may as well get your nursing bras now. It may also be wise to get high cut panties too, in case you get an unexpected C-section; low-cut panties tend to rub against the incision and cause pain and irritation.

 

5. Stay fit and toned through exercise. 

Exercise will not only help you through labor, it will also help you through recovery – and it will help you look better while you’re pregnant. Try brisk walking or tai-chi, and supervised weight training. 

Water exercises are often recommended for pregnant women, but we suggest you avoid them. You see, if you exercise in water, the cooling effect increases your tendency to overeat afterward. This leads to faster weight gain, which you want to avoid.

While it will probably be a long time before pregnancy becomes completely comfortable, these days are the best days in history to be pregnant. No longer do we need to hide our baby bumps; we can wear them with pride and style! And with the Internet, we have a treasure trove of information on pregnancy and childbirth right at our finger tips. More than ever, we have options for safe and – should we want it – almost painless childbirth.

So use the resources you have at hand to boost your pregnancy confidence and feel good about yourself and your baby. The best is yet to come. Enjoy!

Sources:

• Mayo Clinic. Miscarriage. Last updated October 23, 2010. Accessed March 22, 2012.

• NHS Choices. Ibruprofen may ‘raise miscarriage risk’. Last updated September 7, 2011. Accessed March 23, 2012.

• US Food and Drug Administration. FDA drug safety communication: Risk of oral clefts in children born to mothers taking Topamax (topiramate). Last updated March 4, 2011. Accessed March 23, 2012.

• WebMD. Find a Vitamin or Supplement, “Guarana.” Accessed March 23, 2012.

 

Photo by spaceodissey via flickr creative commons