7 Things That Pregnant Women Worry About

7 Things That Pregnant Women Worry About
María Alejandra Castro Arbeláez

Reviewed and approved by the psychologist María Alejandra Castro Arbeláez.

Last update: 27 December, 2022

All pregnant women worry about certain things. When the news arrives that you’re going to have a baby, your whole perspective changes, and you start to get nervous and anxious to finally get to see your little one.

Pregnant women have a completely different lifestyle due to several physical and mental factors. During this process, it’s important to let your partner know if something is making you particularly scared or causing you to worry.

First of all, all pregnant women worry, and have concerns and fears at some point during their pregnancy. This isn’t something abnormal that you should hide.

On the contrary, it’s actually very important to be honest about your fears with your doctor, your family and your friends. In doing this, you’ll receive valuable and relevant suggestions that will help you experience a healthy pregnancy.

What most pregnant women worry about

1. “I might have a miscarriage”

This is one of a pregnant woman’s biggest fears. But with good medical attention, it is unlikely to happen. The vast majority of pregnancies throughout the world result in healthy and beautiful babies.

The number of miscarriages during the first six weeks is less than 20% and, after the eighth week, the risk decreases to less than 5%. If you have the necessary care and attention during the first few weeks, it’s highly likely that you’ll have a very healthy pregnancy.

“Pregnancy is a physiological process that involves changes in a woman’s body. It is important to maintain a good state of mental health and, if there is a history of psychiatric illness in your family, then you should evaluate the possibility of continuing with the treatment or modifying it to avoid any adverse effects during pregnancy”
–Dr. José Mendoza Velásquez–

2. “I feel too ill in the mornings”

If the nausea and general discomfort throughout the mornings worry you, then rest assured that this isn’t a serious condition that can in any way harm the baby. Unless you have severe dehydration or a diagnosed nutritional imbalance, then this is perfectly normal, especially in the first trimester.

In many cases, doctors can recommend medication that will reduce nausea and that are completely safe for the baby.

7 Things That Pregnant Women Worry About

3. “I don’t know what to eat to feed my baby well”

Many pregnant women worry whether they’re eating the best food for their baby. The good news here is that this isn’t as complex as it may seem.

The most important thing here is that your food intake is balanced and that it provides sufficient nutrients. What you need most are fiber, protein, iron, folic acid and vitamins. Your baby will absorb all the elements that he needs to develop properly.

4. “My stress might affect the baby”

With hormonal changes, work life, family, fatigue and worries it is virtually impossible not to feel some kind of stress. If this stress is just intermittent then it won’t harm your child.

If, however, the bouts of anxiety or depression are severe or prolonged then this can have adverse affects. Your pregnancy will be considerably more difficult and, in the worst case scenario, it may cause premature birth.

The best advice for this is to carry out some sort of physical activity or hobby that will help you release these emotions.

5. “I’ll never be able to lose the weight I gained during pregnancy”

All pregnant mothers worry about being able to recover the figure and weight they had before pregnancy. To help you achieve this, you should ask your doctor to keep a record of your weight and give you recommendations throughout your pregnancy.

An advantage here is that breastfeeding helps you burn extra calories and lose weight, as well as being essential for your baby.

7 Things That Pregnant Women Worry About

6. “The birth is going to be difficult and painful”

This is something that pregnant women worry about especially when its their first time, or if they’ve had complications in a previous pregnancy. When these thoughts invade your mind, just remember that you’ve already endured very strong pain and difficult experiences and, because of this, you’ll have the strength to put up with anything.

A good practical step is to go to prenatal classes to learn how to manage your breathing and to be ready for when the big day arrives.

7. “I won’t be a good mother”

This is another common concern that pregnant women worry about. To stop this from tormenting you, start working on your self-esteem in order to feel more self-confident.

Seek support from your partner and your family and, from early on, think about what values you want to promote in your child’s life. Don’t allow fears to undermine the wonderful experience of bringing another human being into the world.

Finally, remember this: it is quite normal for you to feel anxious about what will happen when your baby arrives, but don’t let yourself be consumed by these worries.

If you take all the necessary care and precautions during pregnancy, then the birth will go well, and you’ll start an amazing new adventure in your life!


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.