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.
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