What pregnant women worry about

Highlights

• Will it hurt the baby?
• Sibling rivalry
• Cross your fingers
• Fear of labor
• Can we afford this baby?
• Will I be a good parent?

Excitement, joy, anticipation — all of these emotions go into high gear once you confirm you're pregnant. But pregnancy brings out the worrywart in us, too. And for good reason: You're growing a life inside of you. It's natural to fret about what you eat, drink, think, feel, and do because you don't want anything to hurt your baby. You may also worry about how this new person will change your life and personal relationships. Here's a rundown of the most common pregnancy fears and concerns:

Will it hurt the baby?

I cannot even list all the fears I have with this pregnancy — my first. I will spend an entire day worrying that every strange cramp, every fleeting backache is leading me straight to miscarriage.
— Kimberly Bolton
Concord, California

What an overwhelming feeling it can be to know that you and you alone are solely responsible for the life and well-being of this unborn miracle! I worried, particularly in the first and second trimester, about every "bad" thing I had ever done to my body over the last 28 years!
— Amie Aiello
Evansville, Indiana

Sibling rivalry

I worry that I may neglect my 4-year-old daughter. She has been my whole world and now we are adding another factor into the picture, a newborn.
— Jennifer Wilson
San Miguel, California

Cross your fingers

I have had four healthy babies after four non-eventful pregnancies, labors, and deliveries. I feel as though with this child, I am "pushing my luck."
— Christine Goldman
Syracuse, New York

Fear of labor

I worry about labor, although I've already had one baby. I feel as if I'm starting all over again — I don't know what to expect. I had an easy delivery with my son; I think that maybe this baby will be different.
— Keonda Buford
Detroit, Michigan

Can we afford this baby?

Like many parents, I am fearful of the money situation. Both my husband and I work; however, I make more money and have better insurance. I used to be an educator and have a firm belief that children do better with a parent at home.
— Anonymous

Will I be a good parent?

I've been given the precious task of cultivating this incredible new life within me. And like so many parents before me, I am definitely challenged to offer my child the best of this world. I yearn for him to be always bright and happy, and I find myself wondering just where to begin. I fret over articles written for and in his best interest, and worry over the reported statistics of this and that. What is best? In this world where children bore easily, have too much too soon, and even resort to violence when they realize that life is unfair and difficult, I seek answers and guidance for "doing it right."
— Cate MacKrell
The Woodlands, Texas