You may feel on high alert, trying to detect any possible symptoms of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Being pregnant again can also sometimes be comforting, easing feelings of loss. But you might also feel guilty or worried about forgetting your last pregnancy. Know that your feelings, whatever they are, are normal and understandable given what you have been through. For some people, talking to family and friends can be a key source of support during pregnancy after loss.
But you might also feel reluctant to tell them until you are further on in pregnancy. It was very difficult managing my anxiety throughout the whole pregnancy. The biggest help was the support of healthcare professionals and, most importantly, my husband. He was so supportive, especially when it came to the night before a scan, when he knew I was at my most anxious. It can help to share how you are feeling with your GP, midwife or early pregnancy team. During the coronavirus pandemic, you may have very limited access to your GP, but your midwife and the early pregnancy team will still do their best to support you.
Access to early and regular ultrasound scans is also very likely to be limited at this time and many hospitals will allow only the woman being scanned to attend her appointment, to reduce risk. That can be upsetting, we know, but it is in order to reduce risk for you, staff and other patients.
If you previously had an ectopic pregnancy, early assessment is important, either via a scan or by telephone assessment, so do contact your early pregnancy unit — see here. Miscarriages often occur as a result of a chromosomal abnormality—meaning the fetus is unable to develop normally and a miscarriage is completely unavoidable. Having said that, there are definitely things you can do to lower your risk of miscarriage. This includes cutting back on your caffeine intake to about milligrams or less each day and refraining from smoking, using drugs, or drinking alcohol.
The first several weeks of pregnancy can be hard on mothers mentally, emotionally, and physically. Surging hormones can be to blame, but so can the natural worry about the safety and wellbeing of your child. Try to remember that your fears are normal, but that this phase will pass.
Take time to practice mindfulness, meditation, and take some time for yourself. This could include any stress-reducing activities you enjoy like yoga or going for a walk. Take time to educate yourself with helpful facts and how to recognize what your body is going through, but try to not become burdened down by your worries. As a word of comfort, remember that some symptoms that may seem concerning are often normal in early pregnancy. In fact, up to 25 percent of women experience some type of bleeding in early pregnancy.
We can conduct testing like an ultrasound or blood test to make sure your pregnancy is still on track and healthy. Above all, try to remain calm and positive. I have struggled with fertility for two years and am finally pregnant! This article was really so helpful and calming! Thank you! Thank you for this calming article.
I miscarried at 4w1d in June and am so anxious and nervous at every twinge. I find comfort in this article and that other women are going through the same feelings. I want to be ecstatic and celebrate but am also so scared. Prayers to all for very successful rainbow pregnancies.
Thank you for this article it really calmed my nerves as I am 8 weeks pregnant and suffered a miscarriage 3 months ago. But pregnancy risks are generally low—especially for healthy women—and don't warrant a high level of concern on the part of most moms-to-be. That's why we asked experts to provide a reality check on 10 of the things pregnant women worry about most, based on a recent March of Dimes survey the number beside each worry is the percentage of respondents who reported having that concern.
Also, she says, instead of worrying about things you can't control that martini you had before you knew you were pregnant , focus on what you do have control over how much weight you gain during pregnancy. Here's the bottom line on some of the fears you're likely to face during pregnancy, along with issues you might want to pay more attention to.
Plus, we tell you what really counts—the simple things you can do to move past worry and improve your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Reality Check: About 97 of every babies born in the U. That's the optimist's way of viewing the 3 percent risk of delivering a baby who does have one. Plus, many birth defects , such as club foot, webbed toes, and even some heart defects, are minor or very treatable.
If you're not in a higher-risk group, the chances that you'll have a baby with a birth defect may be even lower: Risk factors include diabetes, epilepsy, smoking, drinking alcohol, and obesity, although for 70 percent of all birth defects, the cause is unknown.
What You Can Do: Act as if you're pregnant as soon as you decide you want a child or even before—half of all pregnancies in the U. Waiting until you know you're pregnant may be too late to prevent these defects. Take at least micrograms of folic acid daily to reduce the risk for neural-tube defects, such as spina bifida; eat a healthy, balanced diet; avoid fish that contain mercury; stop drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes or using recreational or over-the-counter drugs; don't eat undercooked meat or change the cat's litter box both are possible sources of toxoplasmosis, an infection that can cause birth defects ; lose weight, if needed; and make sure your blood sugar levels are normal.
Reality Check: The risk of miscarriage is probably lower than you think. For women younger than 35, it's 10 to 12 percent; for to year-olds, it's 18 percent.
It does rise to 34 percent for women 40 to 44 years old. But a great many pregnancies are lost so early that a woman never even realizes that she conceived. What's even more reassuring is that by the time you see a heartbeat on an ultrasound usually by week six or seven , the chance of having a miscarriage drops to less than 5 percent, says Lu. What You Can Do: Remind yourself that most miscarriages occur because of chromosomal abnormalities that cannot be prevented; research does not show that exercise, sex, or even heavy lifting can cause a miscarriage.
One lifestyle caveat: Recent studies have shown that drinking two or more cups of coffee a day may increase your risk, as may contracting certain infections, including sexually transmitted diseases and gum disease. Reality Check: Everyday stressors like having to work late, getting stuck in traffic, or arguing with your husband are not likely to pose a risk to your pregnancy or your child.
But ongoing major stress accompanied by depression the two often go hand-in-hand may increase your risk of preterm delivery or having a low-birth-weight baby or a child with long-term behavioral issues. What You Can Do: For ongoing stress or depression, see a cognitive behavioral specialist who can teach you coping strategies, such as questioning the anxiety-causing chatter in your head.
She can also teach you relaxation exercises and visualization to lower your stress hormone levels. You can even use the breathing exercises taught in childbirth classes. While practicing deep breathing, imagine what concerns you as you're inhaling; then, while exhaling, picture yourself releasing the thought or concern that is on your mind. You can also use a phrase like "let it go" when you breathe out, says Shepphird. Reality Check: Prematurity is a legitimate concern.
However, worrisome as pre-term birth is, the great majority of babies in the U. An estimated 12 percent are born preterm, which increases their risk of health problems, but keep in mind that 70 percent of them are born between weeks 34 and These so-called "late-term" babies still have increased risks, but they are less vulnerable than the tiniest ones.
The biggest risk factors for preterm birth are having had a previous premature delivery, being pregnant with multiples , and having certain uterine or cervical abnormalities.
Still, about half of women who deliver prematurely don't fall into any high-risk category. What You Can Do: Obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes are risk factors for prematurity, so try to maintain a healthy weight and make sure your blood sugar and blood pressure levels are normal. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and recreational drugs all are linked to prematurity , get good prenatal care and make sure you have all your necessary immunizations and have any infections even minor ones treated promptly, as infections are a leading cause of preterm birth.
Ongoing major stress can also trigger preterm labor , so be sure to treat any severe anxiety or depression. Many mood-altering medications are considered safe during pregnancy; ask your doctor which ones might be best for you.
Reality Check: We're not going to tell you labor doesn't hurt—most women rate it as a 7 or 8 out of 10 on the pain scale—but you have options when it comes to easing both your pain and your fear of it. If you want to avoid medication, there's much you can do to reduce the pain and the anxiety surrounding it, such as laboring in a tub of water, changing positions often during labor and practicing relaxation techniques like guided imagery.
Or, you may want to opt for pain meds.
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