12 Things Pregnant Women Can Stop Worrying About

When you’re pregnant, you worry about all kinds of things. And when you’re pregnant during a pandemic, your stress level may hit new highs as you add new worries to your list. We’ve found a list of 12 things you can stop worrying about, so you can stress less and enjoy your pregnancy more.

Dr. Aviva Romm is an obstetrician, a midwife, a mother of four, and an advocate for blending natural and conventional medicine for your best health. She’s compiled this list of 12 things pregnant women can stop worrying about, and she reminds us that most babies are born healthy. Those that aren’t tend to have health issues that aren’t your fault. Instead of worrying about the what if's, it can be helpful to make educated choices and pay attention to the risks that you can avoid.

“Most babies are born healthy – even perfect. And when there is a problem, it’s just not your fault. Period.”

— Dr. Aviva Romm

Here’s her list of 12 things to stop worrying about:

1. Harming your baby.
   If you’re reading this, you’re probably already avoiding the most dangerous activities for your babies, like drinking in excess or using drugs. Chances are, you’re not going to do anything that could harm your baby.

2. Eating for two.
   The need to eat for two is a myth. During your first and second trimesters, you don’t need to increase your caloric intake. During your final trimester, you only need to add about 300 calories to what you’d normally eat. This is not the time to throw your usual healthy diet out the window! What matters more than the calories you consume is eating a variety of nutritious foods to support your body and your baby during pregnancy. (see Embrace Real Food for Pregnancy)

3. Having sex during pregnancy.
   It’s totally fine to have sex during pregnancy if you feel comfortable and safe to do so. If you're concerned about your partner passing a disease on to your baby this would be a good conversation to have with your midwife or doctor. Also, if you’re experiencing symptoms of pre-term labor, miscarriage, or your have placenta previa, avoid sex until you’ve been cleared by your midwife or doctor.

4. Eating foods that could give your baby allergies.
   Unless you need to avoid certain foods for your own allergies or health concerns, there’s no need to restrict certain foods while pregnant. In fact, eating a wide variety of nutritious foods may actually be more beneficial to your baby, in terms of allergy prevention and overall health.

5. Sleeping on your back.
   This is not something to worry about until you’re six months pregnant. And even then, don’t panic if you wake up on your back! Yes, that position can restrict blood flow to you and your baby, but it’s unlikely that briefly sleeping on your back will harm your baby.

6. Stress during pregnancy.
   Normal daily stress won’t harm your baby’s long-term mental health. Extreme stress, like living in a war zone or with domestic violence, may be a different story. For most of us, though, stressing about our stress is unproductive. Try practicing gratitude instead. Check out our 30 Days of Gratitude blogs for daily prompts!

7. Being a vegan or vegetarian.
   It’s totally possible to have a healthy pregnancy as a vegan or vegetarian. You may have to try a little harder to incorporate plenty of protein, calcium and iron, though. Talk to your midwife, doctor or nutritionist to make sure you’re meeting your nutritional needs while pregnant.

8. Normal pregnancy symptoms.
   Bleeding gums, a stuffy nose, and sensitivity to certain smells are just a few of the weird symptoms you may experience while pregnant. Educate yourself about pregnancy symptoms, so you’ll know what’s normal and what’s not. Talk with your midwife or doctor about any that seem serious, then let the others go.

9. What labor will be like.
   ”The best thing you can do is prepare for labor.” Very few women will tell you their labors went exactly as planned. Our babies and our bodies will dictate what actually happens, so be gentle with yourself. Take birthing classes, learn about the kind of birth you’d like to have, then “move gracefully through any obstacles on the way.”

10. Dying.
    Death is a fear shared by many pregnant women, but the reality is that the infant mortality rate is very low, as is the chance of a healthy woman dying in childbirth. Try journaling about your thoughts, and talk to your doctor or a therapist if you just can’t shake this fear.

11. What other people think.
    Your mom, your sister, your best friend and even the random stranger at the store all have their own ideas about what you should and shouldn’t do while pregnant. And while their opinions have good intentions, the only opinion that matters is yours and the choices that are healthy and comfortable for you.

12. Being “The Perfect Mom”
    The perfect mom doesn't exist! You’ll get things right, you’ll make mistakes, and it’s all okay. Your baby needs you to love her, take good care of her, and be present with her.

How to Handle Your Worries

So what can you do when your brain goes into overdrive, worrying about your baby’s health and yours? Dr. Romm suggests these tools for calming your mind and easing your worries.

1. Laugh more

2. Practice meditation (see How Meditation Changes Your Brain)

3. Keep a journal

4. Talk it out

We wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy!

For information on what to eat during pregnancy, moving meditation, pregnancy and COVID-19, and making healthier choices during pregnancy, check out our Pregnancy & Birth blogs.