You may periodically have some of these worries:

  • Will my baby have birth defects?
  • Will I have a miscarriage?
  • Will my baby be stillborn?
  • Will the drugs or alcohol I had (or ingested or took) before I was pregnant affect my baby?
  • Have I been exposed to or done something that could hurt the fetus?

Common worries about childbirth

  • How will I cope with the pain of labour?
  • How badly will I tear?
  • What if I can’t have the birth that I want?
  • What if I need to get an emergency C-section?
  • What if I lose control and make a fool out of myself?
  • What will my partner think of me during and after labour?
  • What if I defecate or vomit during labour?

Some women find it helpful to hear that only a very small percentage of babies are born with a problem. For the very few babies that do have a health issue of some kind, most have a problem that can be treated. Thanks to a multitude of factors, life-threatening birth defects are very rare nowadays.

Worries about life with a baby

  • Will I be a good parent? Will my partner/husband be a good parent?
  • Will the baby change our relationship?
  • How will my child cope with a new baby coming home?
  • Can we financially afford this baby?
  • What if I don’t feel love for my baby?
  • What if I can’t breastfeed?
  • What if I get postpartum depression?

When should you worry about worrying?

If you find that you are spending a lot of time ruminating about some of these things, to the point that it is causing you significant distress over a long period of time, and is interfering with your life and relationships, you may be experiencing an anxiety disorder.

Check out the other sections of this website to learn more ways to cope better with your worries.