So, you’re pregnant! Congratulations! There’s so much to look forward to during your pregnancy, but do you find yourself thinking about a lot of negative “what ifs” too? If so, you’re not alone. As someone who has been pregnant four times, including one miscarriage, we want to give you some advice on how to deal with any pregnancy fears you might have.

ASK QUESTIONS

The person you should be able to rely on most is the person who will be delivering your baby. Ask any and all questions you have about your pregnancy and what you can expect in the upcoming weeks to them. It helps to come prepared with these questions for your check-up appointments. Also, write down any questions you have when they come! Otherwise, you may forget what you wanted to ask.

CALL YOUR NURSE

Keep your doctor’s phone number handy to call your doctor’s nurse. They are a great resource if you have a question or concern and you don’t have another appointment with your doctor for a time. When you call and leave a message for them, be sure to be as specific as you can, so they know how to address your question to the doctor before calling you back.

AVOID GOOGLE

The internet can be a great resource and a scary resource too. What I have found is that it is better to avoid Google and call your doctor’s office instead. Everyone’s situation and bodies are so different that you could end up with false information that may not apply to you at all.

PREGNANCY BOOK

I loved having a good, recommended book on my bedside table. My favorite was “Your Pregnancy Week by Week” that you can find here. Not only does it give a great overview of what your baby and body are doing weekly, but it has a great reference guide in the back of the book if you have a symptom you’d like to learn more about.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

Be sure to take extra care of yourself while pregnant. Don’t push yourself harder than you have to. For example, right now is not the best time to sign-up for a half-marathon if you’ve never done one before. Listen to your body and rest when it needs to rest. Eat healthy foods and take your prenatal vitamins. Always carry a water bottle with you.

With that said, if your fears go deeper than physical fears and are affecting you emotionally to the point where you cannot sleep and have anxiety, tell your doctor. Some women do suffer from depression during pregnancy. If you feel like emotionally you are not 100% for most of the week, talk to your doctor about how he can help you.

Did you have fears while pregnant? What helped you?