Anxiety in Pregnancy

Going into pregnancy expecting to have no anxiety at all would be unrealistic.
I would say that most women, 90 percent or more, experience some anxiety around pregnancy, although the causes of the anxiety may vary over the course of the pregnancy. For example, in the beginning, most women worry about delivery because they know that’s going to happen one way or another. However, other reasons for anxiety can arise during pregnancy.

You can have abnormal screening tests, your blood pressure may go up, or you may develop preeclampsia. Many women will also worry about the amount of fetal movement they feel, and this worry is indeed justified.

Excessive anxiety does have a negative effect on your pregnancy, so you and your physician need to figure out whether your concerns are normal, or whether your anxiety level interferes with your ability to lead a normal life during your pregnancy.
First-time moms often enter pregnancy with little previous knowledge of what they will experience. They will worry about the one thing they know for certain is going to happen—labor and delivery. This is certainly a legitimate concern. There are many choices to be made in the course of any pregnancy, and all these choices will lead to labor and delivery.
Women who have had a previous miscarriage have a lot to worry about. In theory, first trimester miscarriages are common and if you count the miscarriages that occur before or around the time of the first missed period, you would be looking at about 40 percent of pregnancies ending in miscarriage.

When you understand all of the things that must happen correctly to have a normal baby, it is indeed a miracle every time a pregnancy and delivery ends with the successful birth of a healthy baby. Stress and anxiety are never helpful to a pregnancy. If you have had a previous miscarriage, your anxiety level may well be higher than normal.
If you feel overly anxious, discuss your feelings with your physician.

Stress can be associated with babies which are small for gestational age, and for the mother, with depression, suicide, and even homicide. Excessive anxiety in pregnancy should be treated effectively whether it’s by antidepressant medications, antianxiety medications, counseling, or all three.
Dr. Lindemann’s RuralDocAlan Etsy store offers printables about many pregnancy issues which you might find helpful.

DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to be used as medical advice or diagnosis, or as a substitute for professional medical services. Dr. Alan Lindemann and ARL, Inc., make no representations or warranties regarding the content of this post and will not be held liable with respect to its accuracy, completeness, or usefulness. The information provided here is for your general knowledge and is not medical advice or a substitute for medical advice.