When women are thinking about getting pregnant or first find out they’re pregnant, all kinds of thoughts, questions and worries might run through their heads. Even though they might have friends, sisters or mothers who’ve had children, this is the first time they’re really thinking about themselves and what to expect and what might happen to their body, their baby and how their life might change.

It doesn’t help that mostly what they hear from other women are stories about when things didn’t go well.

Jade Elliott spoke with certified nurse midwife, Emily Hart Hayes from Intermountain Healthcare, on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast, to help allay some of those common fears that pregnant women have.

The statistics show that 96 to 97 percent of the time, babies are born normal and healthy

“Birth defects only occur in about 3 percent of births according to the U.S. National Institute of Health,” says Hayes. The US Healthy People 2020 initiative estimates that about 85 percent of pregnant women enter labor at “low risk” for problems. While complications can arise in pregnancy and birth, they are not the norm.

How to prevent birth defects

There are ways to help prevent birth defects. Starting out your pregnancy at a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, and taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid when you’re planning a pregnancy or could become pregnant. Other ways to prevent birth defects are to avoid alcohol, smoking, and drugs, and discuss any medications you take with your doctor or midwife. See your provider as soon as you think you’re pregnant and then go to regular prenatal visits as recommended by your provider.

It’s common for women to worry about their health and their baby’s health during pregnancy

“Pregnancy is a normal, natural condition, but it can also be an uncomfortable condition. Women’s worries during pregnancy are often centered around whether what they are feeling is normal. Common worries include concerns about miscarriage, birth defects and preterm labor,” says Hayes.

Fear of miscarriage – when to call your doctor or midwife

“Being uncomfortable during pregnancy is normal. But sometimes it’s hard to differentiate between what’s normal and when it’s reasonable to call your provider. If you have persistent pain, consistent cramping, or bleeding, call your provider,” says Hayes.

“Pregnancy can cause lots of discomforts that aren’t dangerous to the mom or baby. Common causes of pain are due to stretching of ligaments and muscles, muscle strain from extra weight of a growing uterus and baby, swelling from extra fluid levels, or even constipation from the extra hormones from the pregnancy. That said, persistent pain could signal something that needs attention, ranging from an ectopic pregnancy during the first trimester to a placental abruption that can occur later in pregnancy. Light spotting during the first trimester is not uncommon, but you should always call your provider if you experience bleeding to make sure it’s not a sign of a complication.

“First trimester miscarriage is common, but most of the time, people don’t miscarry. Incessant worrying is not good for a pregnancy. Many times women think they’ve done something that caused a miscarriage, but most miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities or where cell division didn’t go right,” says Hayes. If you miscarry, don’t feel like you did something wrong.

Other reasons to call your doctor or midwife include if you have a fever, body aches, chills, or pain that doesn’t get better with rest or Tylenol.

Prenatal visits are important

“Your doctor or midwife’s goal is to help you and your baby stay healthy. We have prenatal care to help you be as healthy as possible and to treat problems if they occur,” says Hayes. Your provider will recommend regular screenings to check for high blood pressure, infections, anemia (low iron levels), gestational diabetes, or other problems. They will help manage issues that arise. They’ll check your blood pressure at each visit.

“Blood pressure disorders are common. They are silent and then suddenly you have a problem, so it’s good to keep an eye out for them,” adds Hayes.

Preventing premature birth

Preterm birth is another complication that affects some pregnancies. The biggest risk factor for preterm birth is having a previous premature birth. Avoiding smoking and drugs before and during pregnancy will also reduce your chances of having a preterm birth. Infections, having twins or other multiples, conceiving via in vitro fertilization, and having problems with your uterus, cervix, or placenta, are other factors that can increase your risk for preterm birth. Be sure to watch for signs of infection including fever, body aches, or chills. You should also call your doctor or midwife if you experiences symptoms of preterm birth including pelvic pressure, leaking fluid, or contractions.

To learn more about pre-term births, click here for the Baby Your Baby podcast on this topic.

Keep exercising – it’s good for you

One of the most effective ways you can help your pregnancy stay health and normal is to eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise. It’s best to start pregnancy at a healthy weight. Continuing to exercise will help you stay health and not gain too much weight.

“Exercise helps you keep morning sickness at bay. It keeps your body healthy and able to manage the physical strains of pregnancy, keeps muscles strong, and reduces back pain. There are mental health benefits, too. Exercise reduces the chance of perinatal mood disorders such as depression or anxiety. Exercise is hard, there is some discomfort involved even when you’re not pregnant. Even just walking can do wonders,” says Hayes.

Hayes recommends women avoid exercise that would increase the chance of a blow to the abdomen or a fall, such as contact sports, skiing, or horseback riding. During exercise, your heart rate should be such that you can you carry on a conversation. Listen to your body. Is it too much? If it doesn’t cause pain or exhaustion then it’s ok. If you’ve been a regular runner then you can continue, but you may find you need to adjust your routine as your pregnancy progresses. You may be more prone to injury. During pregnancy, your balance changes. Cycling could be an issue. You may want to look more to low impact exercise such as swimming. Don’t start a rigorous new sport or exercise program when you’re pregnant, but starting a low-impact program such as daily walks is not only ok, but it’s encouraged.

Be careful with your diet and weight gain during pregnancy

Gaining some weight during pregnancy is normal, but gaining too much or too little can increase risks of developing complications in pregnancy. “It’s easy to gain too much weight in pregnancy. It’s not like eating for two. It’s just 300 extra calories per day, which is about the number of calories in one extra snack. Because extra protein is needed, I recommend folks focus that extra snack on a protein-rich food, like nuts or Greek yogurt,” says Hayes.

The amount of weight gain recommended during pregnancy for women who start their pregnancies at a normal weight is 25-35 pounds. It you are underweight you should gain 28-40 pounds. If you are overweight, you should aim for 15-25 pounds.

Gaining more than that can put you at risk for gestational diabetes and other complications. Gaining more than that can make it difficult to lose the weight afterwards and increase risks to your health in the long-term. To learn about the weight gain guidelines, click here.

To learn more about nutrition during pregnancy, click here for our Baby Your Baby podcast on this topic.

Feeling your baby move is one of most reassuring things

Be aware of your baby’s movements in the second and third trimester. Feeling those regular movements reminds you that your baby is ok. By the third trimester you should be feeling your baby throughout the day. If you think your baby is moving less than usual, take a rest and feel for baby movements. If you don’t feel your baby 10 times in an hour, call your doctor or midwife.

Concerns during labor

There is lots of fear about labor and giving birth. It’s the fear of the unknown, something you’ve never experienced before. We hear the horror stories. We don’t hear all the normal stories.

In labor, many moms worry the baby will be harmed as birth is a difficult process.

One of the best things you can do to help reduce those fears is to attend a prenatal class with your birthing partner to learn what to expect during labor, what birthing options are available, how to adapt when things don’t go as planned and how to manage labor pain.

For more information and resources, click here.

The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.