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Community Corner

Too Much Worry?

I have definitely gone through the cycle of anxiety that usually comes with a first pregnancy. With all the "do's and dont's" of pregnancy, it can be hard to carry on as normal without worrying about everything.

The first thing I did when I found I was pregnant for the first time was worry. I worried about a lot of things, just like anyone who finds themselves in the same situation. Had I been eating right? Had I been exposed to anything harmful before I knew I was pregnant?

There are a lot of articles out there about what is safe during pregnancy and what is not, and a lot of people will give you their opinions about what you should or shouldn’t eat, do, drink or touch. While the intentions are good, I sometimes feel that all the information puts a lot pressure and stress on the new mom.

I had awful ‘morning’ sickness for the first four months (which was more like “all day” sickness.) During that time I could barely eat anything but crackers and toast which caused me to lose a little weight. I knew the nutritional guidelines for pregnant women, but I wasn’t even close to following them because I just couldn’t stand the sight of most foods.

I took my prenatal vitamin, but I worried that I wasn’t eating right and that my baby would suffer as a result. It wasn’t until later that I learned that a lot of people go through the same experience and still have healthy babies in the end. I did my best to take care of myself, and that is all you can really do.

We all know that things like drinking alcohol and smoking are out of the question, but can we really avoid coming into contact with every single chemical that “could” potentially cause a problem?

After worrying about everything that “could” go wrong, I started to realize that everything was actually going right. All of my ultrasounds were looking normal, and I have to say I was thankful for that. I started to relax a little through my second trimester, and worry less about every minute detail.

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It’s natural to be worried during this time in your life, especially if it is your first time! There are so many things happening at once and so many sources of information available that it can be overwhelming at times. In the end it is best to consult a trusted healthcare provider about what is safe and what isn’t to help put your mind at ease; excessive worry won’t do you any good.

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