Pregnancy fears: Know which are real and which are not

Pregnancy is one of the toughest but also the most joyful time of a woman’s life. Since no two pregnancies are alike, it is also an extremely unpredictable phase and is full of ups and downs. The body undergoes rapid changes over this period of nine months which can at times be surprising and at times, scary. But while some apprehensions and fears might be warranted, others are definitely not worth the worry or time. We bring to you the top five pregnancy ‘fears’ that women face and whether or not they are worth bearing all that anxiety for.

Since most women end up getting truckloads of advice as to what one should eat and what one shouldn’t, it is only natural to overthink every time you think of eating something. It is important to understand that all these advice that are also part of certain lists, are given keeping extra caution at the back of the mind. It is important to avoid alcohol, raw meat, raw seafood, unpasteurized milk or cheese, but even if you accidentally take a bite or two, you need not worry your head off.

It is a valid fear, given all that movies and shows have fed us till date. It is, however, not so. Data suggests that less than 15 per cent women experience this and even when they do, it is not a situation akin to flooding but gentle trickling down of water which will be known to you and only you.

This risk is real, especially if you smoke or suffer from an infection. In case you are carrying multiple babies or have had a similar previous experience, you are more likely to go through pre-term labour. However, pre-term labour doesn’t always end in preterm birth and there are now several techniques that can help prolong birth. However, you should contact your doctor immediately if you have any such apprehensions.

A lot of women have this fear that if they roll over on their stomach while sleeping, they might crush their baby. However, it is important to know that you have to relax because your body protects your baby on its own. If you are used to sleeping on your stomach, after sometime it will be very difficult to roll over.

This fear is real and can haunt a lot of expecting mothers. It is important to know that the first trimester is a risky time for the child and the little chances of a miscarriage that exist, are present during this time. Once you get past it, the chances of any such mishap reduces to almost one per cent, which should be a matter of relief.