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Top 12 Pregnancy Fears (and Why You Shouldn't Worry)
It's only natural to worry a bit throughout your pregnancy -- after all, this whole baby thing is new, nail-bitingly unpredictable, and you just want so badly for it to go perfectly. And guess what? It usually does. Here, doctors explain the real facts about the things that freak you out most. Read on -- and heave a huge sigh of relief.
THE FEAR: I'll have a miscarriage.
THE (RELAX!) FACTS: It's unlikely. Most pregnancies result in healthy babies (less than 20 percent end in miscarriage), says Karyn Morse, MD, an ob-gyn at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "Remember also that most miscarriages also happen within the first few weeks of pregnancy, when many women typically don't realize they're expecting and wouldn't know if they did miscarry. They'd just get a normal-looking period," she says. After your doctor can see a heartbeat (usually around 6 to 8 weeks) the risk of miscarriage drops to about 5 percent. And there's very reassuring news if you should have one. The odds of having a second miscarriage is very small -- less than 3 percent, says Diane Ashton, MD, MPH, deputy medical director for the March of Dimes. So what causes a miscarriage? Often, it's due to a chromosomal abnormality that prevents the fetus from developing normally, and miscarrying is totally unavoidable -- not because of anything you did or didn't do. But you can lower your risk by not smoking or drinking alcohol and cutting back on your caffeine intake (aim for 200 milligrams or less, or one large cup of coffee, a day).
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I had a miscarriage in April. I had no bleeding or any signs of having one. It was devastating hearing I lost my baby,especially when you think everything is fine. I am pregnant again. I go at the end of this week for my first appointment and ultrasound. I've been trying not to think about miscarriage but I've been worried. I've also had a normal pregnancy with zero complications. My daughter is now almost 4. What are the chances of having another miscarriage??
10/31/2011 02:14:26 PM Report AbuseMy husband and myself just found out we are finally pregnant. Although I should be excited, I am too afraid to celebrate. We both want this so bad, and I do not want anything to happen to my baby. The worst part is I do not see my doctor until February 2! This will be our first child and I can not stop praying that everything will be okay. I do not smoke or drink, I have cut my caffiene intake to one small cup a day,and am taking vitamins. I hope I am doing enough.
1/9/2011 06:02:13 AM Report AbuseFor those who have had a miscarriage before, though, this is a real fear. I've heard the number is actually closer to 30%.
12/3/2010 11:14:45 AM Report AbuseCandace, Try to just worry about you and your baby. If the guy doesn't end up being there you will have enough strength as a new mother to get through it on your own and you will be a better person for it. Remember, you are only 18 years old your life is far from over and he doesn't deserve you if he doesn't stick around. Good luck to you!
10/29/2010 12:29:49 PM Report Abusei am 9 weeks pregnant and i have so many fears like will the father be here the whole time even though he has kids with 2 other women even if he says he will plus im only 18 and he is 30 what do i do?
10/13/2010 09:25:56 AM Report Abuse