That strong fear of pregnancy, even when you're not pregnant, is likely tokophobia, an intense fear of childbirth or pregnancy, often stemming from anxiety, past trauma (like abuse), hearing scary birth stories, or a general fear of losing control/life changes, and it can be managed with therapy (CBT) and support to understand and reframe these overwhelming feelings. It's common to have worries, but when it's debilitating and affects your life, it's time to seek professional help.
It's normal to have worries and concerns about pregnancy. You may worry about labor pains or whether you'll have a healthy child. In most people, these concerns usually pass and don't affect their daily lives or cause great anxiety.
It's natural to worry about whether your baby is healthy, have fears about being a good parent, or stress about how your relationship with your partner will change. The changes in your hormone levels that come with pregnancy can also affect your mood and emotions, making you more prone to worry and stress.
Many pregnant people have fears or concerns about giving birth. If you have worries, make sure to communicate them to your healthcare team. Reading reliable sources and taking childbirth classes can help you feel more prepared. See if a coping technique like meditation or deep breathing can help.
Bloating: While it may take several weeks or months to have a noticeable baby bump, the surge of hormones can cause your stomach to feel bloated and lead to passing gas more than usual. Acne or skin changes: Your increased hormones and blood volume are to blame for any skin changes you experience.
If you are a first time parent, you can follow the 3-2-1 rule = consistent contractions every 3-5 minutes, for 2 hours, lasting 1 minute or more. If this is a subsequent pregnancy, you can follow the 5-1-1 rule = consistent contractions every 5 minutes or less, for 1 hour, lasting 1 minute.
The 5-5-5 rule is a guideline for what kind of help a postpartum mom needs: five days in bed, five days round the bed — meaning minimal walking around — the next five days around the home. This practice will help you prioritize rest and recovery while gradually increasing activity.
For many women, the first trimester of pregnancy is often the hardest. During this period, your body is going through a major transformation and needs time to adjust to the changes.
High levels of stress or anxiety can cause irregular menstrual periods, which can sometimes be mistaken as a symptom of pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting, heightened sensitivity to smells, breast soreness, fatigue, frequent urination, constipation—these may be signs that you are “pregnant”.
There are many studies that have show that stress and anxiety during pregnancy can increase a woman's risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery, and giving birth to a baby that is low birth weight, So stress and anxiety can cause affect the health and even the viability of a fetus.
An extreme fear of pregnancy or giving birth may be linked to an anxiety disorder, depression, past trauma, or another psychiatric concern.
The hardest week in the first trimester of pregnancy is often around weeks eight or nine. During these weeks, you may feel very tired and queasy.
In the Middle East, resting 40 days after having a baby is customary in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Palestine. During this 40-day period, someone comes to the house or stays with the new mother to take care of the baby, the house and the other children, so that all new mothers have to do is rest.
This is what experts call the “second night syndrome”. It's a completely normal and common milestone where newborns become more alert, fussy, and demanding during their second day of life—compared to their more “easygoing” first 24 hours.
Maintaining a healthy pregnancy is not hard when you know how to do it! The three golden rules are to always listen to your doctor's advice, eat healthy, and stay active. Remember, don't focus only on your baby's growth because ultimately keeping yourself healthy is the first step to keeping your baby healthy!
A woman's peak reproductive years are between the late teens and late 20s. By age 30, fertility (the ability to get pregnant) starts to decline. This decline happens faster once you reach your mid-30s. By 45, fertility has declined so much that getting pregnant naturally is unlikely.
Planning for pregnancy