Blame it on pregnancy hormones, or maybe the swelling that overtakes your ankles also targets your brain. But if you suddenly have the urge to wear a lead vest when microwaving a TV dinner, don't despair. Pregnancy can turn even the most rational woman into a paranoid, worrywart.

"Early on, I was very concerned about miscarriage, but then my worries shifted to the completely irrational," says 32-year-old Lee Anne, pregnant with her first child. "I worried that driving through a big pothole or sneezing too hard might jar the baby loose from my body. Logically, I knew these things just weren't possible. But I couldn't shake that constant feeling of 'what-if?'"

While some worrying during pregnancy is normal, constant fretting won't do you or your baby any good, says Dr. Pamela Berens, associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. "The vast majority of pregnancies are going to turn out fine, no matter what, unless you are at increased risk during pregnancy," Berens says.

What, Me Worry?

The best way to ease pregnancy anxiety is to have a lengthy chat with your doctor, before you become pregnant. Your ob/gyn can determine whether your age, health or genetics might make you more likely to have a risky pregnancy. Your doctor will also prescribe prenatal vitamins containing folic acid, which helps prevent neural tube defects, a serious birth defect that occurs early in pregnancy. And she can provide a voice of reason when your pregnant imagination goes haywire.

Top-10 Hit-Parade of Fears

From fear of cats to sex, your doctor has heard it all, so don't hesitate to share your concerns.

"The one I hear most often from my patients is that the umbilical cord will wrap around the baby's neck if they reach for items over their heads," Berens says. "That is not how cord compression happens, and it usually does not happen until labor. Even then, we know enough to be able to handle it without too much difficulty."

The worry that loud music would affect her unborn child drove one mother-to-be to dress like a Glamour "don't."

"During my pregnancy we went to a Dixie Chicks concert that was incredibly loud," says Harriet, a mother of a 3-year-old girl. "To protect the baby's ears, I wrapped my sweater around my stomach and then wrapped my arms around the sweater and stayed that way for the whole concert."

Another woman (who remains anonymous because she has yet to announce her pregnancy) says she is worried that fish she ate recently might contain harmful levels of mercury.

Relax, Berens says. Occasional exposure to loud music at a concert will not cause any long-term damage to your baby's hearing. And as for fish, "Mercury doesn't automatically get into your baby's system after you eat fish," Berens says. "It doesn't work that fast, but builds up gradually over time. That said, don't eat fish associated with high mercury concentrations every night for dinner."

Pregnancy Fact and Fiction

So what should women worry about when they are expecting, and what can they put out of their minds completely? Berens addresses some common pregnancy concerns.

Smoking, drinking, taking medicine, eating or drinking anything before you knew you were pregnant: In a perfect world all women would know when they became pregnant so that they could avoid harmful behaviors such as drinking alcohol or smoking. However, this is not a perfect world.

Once you know you are pregnant, you can make up for lost time by cutting out smoking and drinking alcohol, and adopting healthy eating and exercise habits. You should also talk to your doctor about using medications during your pregnancy. Some may be harmful to a growing baby.

Microwaves: Don't worry about heating up that Lean Cuisine, Berens says. "There is no good science that shows microwaves harm the fetus."

Computers: Those hours hunched over the keyboard looking at the computer monitor may give you some eye and neck strain, but won't have an effect on your growing child.

Caffeine: You don't have to give up your morning jolt of java, but go easy on the Starbucks during your pregnancy. "Moderation is very important with caffeine," Berens says. "I tell my patients they can have one or two caffeinated beverages of their choice a day."

Cats: Don't give away your feline friends when you're pregnant, to avoid catching toxoplasmosis. Just skip litter box duty. "Most people who have had cats will have already been exposed to the disease," Berens says. "To be sure, you can get tested. Better yet, get tested before pregnancy. It will be a lot less anxiety-provoking."

Fish: Pregnant women should avoid eating swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish, which can contain potentially risky levels of mercury. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has advised pregnant women to eat no more than 12 ounces of canned tuna per week. Also avoid eating any game fish without first checking its safety with your local health department.

Sex: Berens gives most pregnant women the green light for sex during any stage of pregnancy, with a few exceptions. "If a woman is bleeding, has placenta previa, or is at risk for early labor, we advise them not to have sex."

Hot tubs and hot baths: Turn down the heat while you are pregnant. The hot water is not likely to hurt your baby, but the temperature may cause you to pass out more easily while you are pregnant.

Driving over speed bumps at high speed: The amniotic fluid surrounding your baby provides good cushion against even the bumpiest of speed bumps. However, if a sudden stop causes your abdomen to hit part of the car, like the dashboard or steering wheel, go see your doctor to be safe.

Don't sweat the small stuff

We haven't even begun to scratch the surface of what keeps pregnant women up at night. But if you're following your doctor's advice and establishing healthy habits, all that time spent worrying might be better spent counting sheep.

"We encourage women not to regret every little thing they did before they knew they were pregnant," Berens says. "If they did something once, it is unlikely to have an effect on the health of the baby."

If you still are worried, take advantage of today's technology and ask to listen to your baby's heartbeat, or get an ultrasound if your insurance covers it and your doctor approves. Hearing the helicopter rhythm of your little one's heart, or seeing your baby's sweet profile on the TV screen helps reassure even the most nervous of mothers and fathers-to-be.

UPDATED: 11-08-2004

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