Read this; then relax!
It begins the moment you find out you’re pregnant—the nerves; the fretting; the all-consuming thoughts about your baby. And while you may see other pregnant mamas and think they’re just sailing through their pregnancy without a care in the world, the fact is, all expecting moms go through exactly the same thing. It’s only natural to be worried about the health and welfare of your little one. After all, you’re carrying this magnificent person inside your body. And even though you know deep down that everything will be ok, there are those fears that can drive you crazy (if you let them). Before you lose your mind, take a moment to read this:
Miscarriage
This is probably the top worry for expecting mamas and, although it’s understandable, it’s actually a lot less common than you may realize. Only about 10-20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage, and as you pass the 12 week mark of gestation, the odds of this happening drop specifically. Even those women who have had a miscarriage before shouldn’t fret too much because the odds of having a second miscarriage are less than 3 percent, according to Diane Ashton, MD, MPH, and deputy medical director for the March of Dimes.
Miscarriage is usually caused by a chromosomal abnormality and in most cases, this abnormality is completely unavoidable, meaning there’s nothing you did to cause it and nothing you can do to keep it from happening.
Birth defects
With all the talk that we’re bombarded with on a daily basis, it’s no wonder many women worry about birth defects. But here’s the reality check: approximately 97 out of 100 babies in the United States are born without any major birth defects or chromosomal abnormalities like Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, and Cleft Palate. That translates to about a 3 percent risk for your baby.
So if you’re not in a high-risk category (meaning you do not have diabetes, epilepsy, you are obese, an alcoholic, or addicted to drugs), take a deep breath and remember this fact every time you have to go in for a test.
(Important note: You do have some control over reducing risk, such as living a healthy lifestyle overall – including exercising consistently, eating nutritious foods, and not smoking. You may also consider taking a multivitamin with folic acid before you even get pregnant.)
Make sure that once you’re expecting, you follow your midwife’s or doctor’s guidance, and continue to research and implement the healthiest practices, every day throughout your pregnancy.
Premature birth
If you sat down and talked to a group of moms, you’d probably find that several of them gave birth to their children early. And just like other common worries, you can reduce your risk of delivering early by taking good care of your body before you become pregnant (maintaining a healthy weight and by not smoking or drinking alcohol during your pregnancy). Those moms who are suffering with high blood pressure, obesity, or diabetes are at a higher risk, but again, if you do fall into this category, following your midwife’s or doctor’s orders and staying on top of your condition goes a long way in keeping that baby inside the womb for as long as possible.
Getting to the hospital on time
The drama of childbirth that we’ve all witnessed (with fear and dread!) on TV shows and blockbuster movies is not real life! Of course, there are instances where a woman doesn’t make it to the hospital on time, but it’s not at all common, especially if it’s the first baby. The fact is, in the vast majority of cases, it takes several hours for your cervix to fully dilate (on average about 8-12), and then a few more hours of pushing before you’ll be welcoming your little one. All labors are unique and all women have different experiences, but giving birth in the back of a car on the side on the road is unlikely to happen, especially if you know how to read your body’s signals to determine the progression of your labor, and the best time to head to the hospital.
The effects of stress on your baby
Normal stress, like a long day at work or traffic on the way home, is common and really shouldn’t concern you. Even the stress associated with being pregnant, which most moms feel at different levels throughout all three trimesters, is nothing to be worried about. Of course, if you find that you’re suffering with major stress and/or depression and anxiety, and that it is inhibiting your daily activities, it’s a good idea to seek help. Stress in and of itself doesn’t usually cause great harm to a fetus, but if it is out of control, it can increase your risk for a low birth weight baby or premature delivery.
The pain of labor and delivery
There’s likely not a first-time mommy out there who will tell you they weren’t worried about the pain of labor and delivery. But while it’s completely understandable, there are many ways for you to manage the pain and techniques that will help you get through it much more easily than you’d imagine. If you’re determined to have a confident, empowering labor and childbirth, enroll in one of my childbirth education courses to learn all you need to know to be prepared to manage your experience with the least amount of discomfort. Whether your goal is to have a completely natural childbirth or not, education is always the best route to take so that you know all the options available, and how to make informed choices about what is best for you and your experience, before and during labor.
Pregnancy is the most magical and emotionally intense experience many women ever have; and rightfully so. Just think about what you’re doing! And even though these fears are common, as you can see, most of them are unfounded. Ease your mind and relax as much as you can over the next nine months—because once your bundle of joy arrives, you’ll have a whole bunch of new things to worry about (…many of which are also unlikely to be causes for concern, but more on that another time)!
Remember, get educated to be fully prepared for your childbirth experience. Get in touch with me to find out about my next class.
