There are very few things as overwhelming as being pregnant, and to be pregnant in the middle of a pandemic is enough to drive one’s fears to insanity! Pregnancy comes attached with a sudden surge of a range of emotions, and not all of them are positive. It is common to feel afraid, anxious, and not in control of situations. Even if the pregnancy is planned it does not take away the questions and confusions that a mom has on her mind.

While it is not possible to eliminate the worries completely, the focus should be to learn how to manage them and cope with them for a healthier lifestyle. For all pregnant women, here is a list of top pregnancy fears that you might be losing your sleep over and how you can overcome them.

#1 ‘I’ll have a miscarr1age’

Let’s start by stating some statistics – as per the PubMed report, an estimated 23 million miscarr1ages occur every year, and the risk of a miscarr1age is 15.3%. Numbers that are not too big, but high enough for anyone to be worried about. On average, most miscarr1ages happen during the first few weeks of pregnancy. After the period of 6 to 8 weeks, the doctor is able to hear the heartbeat of the baby and with that, the risk of miscarr1age also drops significantly. 

It is understandable to feel under pressure because of the constant fear, and you can never fully eliminate the risk of a miscarr1age. There are a few ways with which you can still control the situation greatly. You can control the risk by quitting sm0king and drinking and cutting back on your caffeine intake to just one cup of coffee per day. 

#2 ‘I’m too stressed and it will hurt the baby!’

The crazy hormones, deciding the baby’s name, planning about the future, managing the work deadlines..oh the sheer exhaustion. Stress is a pregnant woman’s middle name! Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Planning for a new life is supposed to be stressful.

Be assured, normal levels of stress won’t have any impact on the baby. The most unproductive way to be stressed is to get more stressed about your stress levels! So lie down, take a nap, and let things take their course. Having said that, it is also advisable to avoid a significant rise in the level of stress.

#3 ‘I’ll eat the wrong thing and give my baby allergies’

Pregnant women are subject to a lot of restrictions which make them too conscious about the choices they make. Eating right is the biggest cause of worry for all mothers-to-be. But choosing the right food is not so agonizing and it is actually more stressful and unhealthy to constantly restrain yourself over the little details.

There are a few restrictions that your doctor will make known during your visit. But apart from them, it is actually beneficial to eat a wide range of nutritious food for a healthier baby. So go ahead and eat away! 

#4 ‘Labor will be too painful’

One of the most difficult and painful experiences logged into human history is a pregnant mother in labor. There is no getting away from this pain. But after some time and some agonizing, you’d soon realize that you would need to go through this. I’m not telling you to acquiesce to the pain, but to come to terms with it. 

Before you start worrying about this again, you also have to remember that this is the 21st century. While you can’t get away with the pain, you can certainly take some steps to reduce and control it. You can enroll in pain management classes, talk to your doctor about it, and attend a few childbirth classes. Your mind will finally be more at ease.

#5 ‘How will I lose all this baby weight?’

A few months into the pregnancy, every woman starts developing a plan on how to get that pre-baby body back. This might sound a bit overstretched, but it’s wise to start thinking about proper weight management in the early months. It is not some publicity gimmick, but an effort to stay healthier for a long time.

Eating healthy during the pregnancy months and gaining the right kind of weight will help in shedding it off later on. Pregnancy shouldn’t be about weight but embracing a healthier lifestyle.

#6 ‘I won’t be the perfect mom’

As if being a mother is not stressful enough, there is an inherent need in women to constantly strive for perfectionism. Some of it might stem from societal pressures, and the rest from the innate selves, but the stress that it brings cannot be ignored or avoided. As a mom, you’d feel the need to get things right the very first time, but as a human, you are bound to make mistakes.

It is okay. A perfect mom doesn’t exist. You just need to love your baby and be a present mom. In the end, that’s all that matters.

How to Relax During Pregnancy?

Both mental well-being and physical health are important during pregnancy. Here are a few tips to help you relax and take a step back during those overwhelming months.

• Rest whenever you feel the need to. You don’t have to force yourself through situations when you clearly don’t have the energy for it.
• Ask for help whenever you require it. Being pregnant is not an easy task for you and your family and friends are always ready to help you. 
• Stay active throughout the day. It does not mean that you need to sign up for a half marathon or constantly be running around doing errands, but it would be great for your body to keep moving around often in a day, going for light walks, and meeting friends for lunch dates is a good way to start.
• Talk. There is a lot going in your mind and talking about your worries with your trusted friends and family will make a huge difference in your mental stress.

Conclusion

Feeling hormonal and stressed during pregnancy is normal. If it is getting out of control, don’t hesitate to ask for help from your loved ones, your friends, your doctor, or go for therapy. Pregnancy is a life-changing event and you don’t have to feel guilty about being too anxious.

Being stressed is not avoidable, it is certainly manageable. We hope that this article will help ease your worries. Being pregnant is difficult but also a blessing. Embrace it fully and don’t forget to have fun during this period.