The Worry-Wart's Guide to Pregnancy- Tip #1

The Worry-Wart’s Guide to Pregnancy- Tip #1

It has been said a million times, a million different ways, and will be said a million times more…Being a parent is both the most rewarding and terrifying experience of a lifetime. And if you are like me, the intensity of those feelings (gratification and fear) is one hundred times more strong due to the fact that I AM WORRY-WART MOM!!!


From the moment I found I was with child, the switch was flipped to anxiety-overload. How crazy, do you ask? Three trips to the ER, and about 7 emergency visits to the OBGYN all before I hit the 18 week mark. I attribute these trip to the overwhelming instinct to protect my unborn child and poor internet research. When you are a worry-wart by nature, the hormones of pregnancy can multiple your tendency to worry by the millions. Add some random, unreliable, or misunderstood internet article and you have recipe for craziness!

I submerged myself in all things pregnancy as soon as the pee on the stick was dry. Unfortunately, I didn’t always finish the paragraphs. When I was six weeks, and was sitting in my recliner reading my books when I gazed upon the signs of premature labor, one of which is the leaking of fluid. About fifteen minutes later, with the thought fresh in mind, I was sure that I felt a gush. I rushed to the ER. After sitting in the waiting room for three hours ( I didn’t rate to high on triage during a holiday weekend) and another two in exams, I endured a catheter to inflate my bladder for an ultrasound and bloodwork that told me that everything was just fine. At my 8 week and first visit, my OBGYN found a rather large cyst on my ovary. He was very honest and told about all of the problems that could occur should the cyst not shrink on it’s own. He told me what to watch for (pain, etc) and that we would monitor the size of the cyst. However, he told me that in his experience, the cysts almost always shrink on their own and that I should not worry. Yeah right! I wept the whole car ride home. I knew I would lose my ovary or have to undergo surgery. I of course went straight to the internet. After a straight four weeks of sheer anxiety, and ultrasound showed the cyst had indeed shrunk significantly.

This brings me to my Worry-Wart’s Gide to Pregnancy Tip #1- HAVE FAITH AND KEEP IT!
I should have listened to my OBGYN, who told me on my way to the ER that he had never heard of anyone leaking amniotic fluid that early in pregnancy. But, my worry-wart tendencies made me second guess my very respected and trusted doctor. He told me that in pregnancy, it is very common to have increased discharge, and that was all I was feeling. And even though he had thirty years experience in his field, I chose to lose my faith in him and be uninformed enough to think that my few weeks of internet research was more valuable than his medical degree. Now, don’t get me wrong, if you really feel that something is up, you should always be persistent or get a second opinion. In the back of my head, I knew that I was being overly apprehensive. I have that worry-wart trait that lets that one part of doubt overshadow the 100 parts of certainty.

Now, in order follow my WWGTP Tip #1, you have to have initial trust. Make sure that you have a doctor that understands your personality as a worry-wart. My OBGYN never once made me feel like foolish. He always listened to my worries and complaints, and never dismissed any of them as just anxiety. He followed up on all of my symptoms just as he would with any other patient. And do not be scared to ask questions…essentially, they are working for you!
Of course, looking back, I wish I would have spent less time worrying and more time enjoying the first five months of my pregnancy. As worry-warts, we tend to think that the world is on our shoulders. Think of how wonderful it would be to put that burden on someone you trust! You need to do what you are expected to do…take care of yourself and get ready for that new bundle of joy! If you experience anything that makes you uncomfortable, tell your doctor and trust that he will use his experience and training accordingly. Hand over your burden of responsibility to things out of your control to your family, your spouse, and the Lord and enjoy your pregnancy!



If you find yourself worrying excessively, check with your doctor. He or she may be able to help you or direct you to someone who can. Here are a few links that might give you more info-

http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/188_15663.asp



http://www.babycenter.com/0_managing-stress-and-anxiety-during-pregnancy_1683.bc?Ad=com.bc.common.AdInfo%401f7f9fd

And please, if you are a Worry-Wart Mama, I want to hear from you!