"Don't Worry!"...easier said than done!

First of all, I would like to say thank you to all of the people that have started to read my blog! I really appreciate it and keep the topic requests coming! Can you believe it, I already have requests? So here goes...

As requested, I have decided to spend a little more time of the topic of pregnancy in an effort to relieve some of the 'worry' that is out there.

I did have my share of 'freak-outs' while I was pregnant and like many expectant mother's my first was about the fact that I had been drinking before I knew I was pregnant. My husband and I were not exactly trying to get pregnant, but there was one night (yes, it only took the one time) when we 'forgot'! I guess I knew in the back of my head that there was a chance that I could be pregnant, but I continued on with my life as usual which included the consumption of alcohol on a fairly regular basis, occasionally in large quantities.
My cycle was very irregular so I didn't end up taking a pregnancy test until I was already a couple of weeks late at which point I was already 4 weeks pregnant. The weekend prior to taking the test, we had family visiting and I may have indulged a little too much. Needless to say, one night I found myself hugging the porcelain. When I found out a few days afterward that I was pregnant, I FREAKED OUT!
I instantly started worrying about the damage I may have done to our baby and could not stop. I started Google-ing like crazy and discovered that a lot of women go through this very same thing. I was comforted, but this in no way stopped me from worrying. Even after my midwife assured me that my baby would be fine because I was not far enough along for it to have done any damage (apparently, when you start to experience morning sickness several weeks into your pregnancy is when what you put into your body starts nourishing your baby), I still worried.
As my pregnancy progressed, I started worrying about this less, but I have to admit it stayed in the back of head until I saw for myself that our baby was just perfect (although now I suppose I have to wait until she is a full grown adult to know whether there are lasting effects on her cognitive development...but, I suppose that could also be attributed to the fact that I drank while I was breastfeeding...I never ends!)

Eating (what to eat/what not to eat) seems to be another source of worry for expectant mother's. I was determined to eat super healthy throughout my pregnancy. I even went out and bought the book What to Expect: Eating Well When You're Expecting. I did read the book when I bought it, but I have to admit, I never cracked it open again. I was a fairly healthy eater to begin with and decided that this was going to have to be good enough. Of course I gave up sushi, deli meats, coffee (cold-turkey...ouch), Coke, alcohol and the other foods and beverages that you really should avoid (or limit) when you are pregnant, but I stopped obsessing about what I was putting in my mouth. When I was feeling nauseous, I would eat whatever tasted good even if it was not the most healthy choice. I didn't deprive myself of goodies either (if you put anything chocolate in front of me, I will eat it). Toward the end of my pregnancy, I started drinking coffee again (1 cup a day), I would have a half of a glass of wine of beer on occasion and I took advantage of the fact that I was "eating for two"! So, if you are a relatively healthy eater and you take your prenatal vitamins, don't stress too much about what you are eating rather enjoy the fact that you are supposed to be gaining weight and eat up!

I don't want to scare any expectant mother's out there, but this whole 'worrying' thing only gets worse! I now understand why my mother would lie awake in bed at night until I was safely home when I was well into my 20's. I get why parent's say things like "It is not you we are worried about, it is everyone else out there!". Now that I am a parent myself, I know that I will be doing and saying the very same things in the not too distant future!

Welcome to mommyhood, a constant source of worry!