Pregnancy is a worrying time for most expectant mothers and while a lot of the fears are pretty well founded, understanding the facts behind the fear might make you feel a little better.
Here are five of the biggest worries that you are likely to experience and what you can do.
Giving birth
Giving birth is inevitable when you are pregnant, however, that doesn’t stop mums feeling apprehensive about it. The best thing you can do to settle your concerns is to talk to your doctor about taking pain relief during labour. With so many options out there you are sure to find something that will suit your expectations of giving birth. Knowing that you have options to control the pain should help you feel a little less worried about it.
There will be something wrong with the baby
As more and more women postpone having babies for as long as possible, this is a rising concern amongst expectant mothers about birth defects. However, while age does factor in, a lot of older women can go on to have perfectly healthy babies. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor who might be able to settle any fears with routine tests. However, at the end of the day there is no point worrying yourself about things that you can’t change.
Miscarriage
The thoughts of miscarriage can be particularly frightening for any expectant mother but it is important you put things in perspective. If you have a healthy diet, including omitting alcohol and reducing caffeine consumption, you are already going a long way to reducing the chances of a miscarriage. However, bear in mind that miscarriages can occur without any reason behind it so there is no point in worrying about it.
Deciding between breastfeeding and bottle feeding
For some mothers, deciding between breastfeeding their baby or bottle feeding can leave them feeling particularly stressed. At the end of the day, it is a personal decision and should be based on your own lifestyle and circumstances. If you have any concerns about either, talk to your midwife who will be able to point you in the right direction depending on what you are looking for.
Losing weight
Unfortunately, more and more women are becoming increasingly concerned about how quickly they can lose their baby weight after giving birth. The most important thing you need to do after having a baby is look after both yourself and your newborn and not worry about weight issues.
