Fearing for Your Baby

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

03 May 2007 09:26 AM

This blog is the result of a conversation I had with a close friend the other day. She is expecting a baby in December. She told me that she always worries about the health of her babies until they are born. I realized that I tend to do the same thing. In speaking with other mommies, I realized this is a very common issue among pregnant women.

I've worried about my babies with each pregnancy. Would they be healthy? What if the baby was stillborn? What if he or she had a condition that was incompatible with life? If the baby didn't move for a while, I'd get nervous. For some reason, panic would set in during the night. I'd wake up in a panic, worrying about the baby.

The fear was the worst with my youngest baby. I'm not sure why. I think I read some stories about stillborn babies, which caused me to worry about ours. I also had three healthy children at the time. I felt so blessed and lucky. Could my luck hold out? Or would something terrible happen to my son? Thankfully, he is absolutely perfect.

Fear for the baby can prevent you from enjoying your pregnancy. This is especially true if the fear is extreme, or if it happens daily. There are some things you can do to deal with your fears. One constructive thing you can do is to get regular prenatal care. When you visit with your doctor or midwife and see that the baby is fine, you may worry less.

Talk about your fears with someone. Mention it to your doctor. The vast majority of babies are born healthy. Your doctor or midwife can give you some comforting statistics regarding this issue. Realizing that your baby has a far greater chance of surviving and living a healthy life can help alleviate your fears.

Talk to a friend, family member or your partner about your fears. Sometimes just saying it out loud will be enough to get it out of your system. Be careful who you choose to speak with. We all have negative people in our lives, whether they are family or friends. Don't choose these people. They may actually make you more afraid with tails of doom and gloom. Pick an upbeat and positive person. Someone who will listen to your fears, but won't mirror them.

If fear is taking over your life, seek help. A few sessions with a counselor can help you put things in perspective. A counselor will help you work through the fear, without dismissing your feelings. Focus on the positive and enjoy this miraculous time of your life.

Related Articles:

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How Pregnancy Changes Your Marriage

Manage Pregnancy Related Stress

Learn more about Pattie Hughes

Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University.

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