Top 12 Pregnancy Fears (and Why You Shouldn't Worry) Cont'd

THE FEAR: Sex will never be the same again.

THE (RELAX!) FACTS: After baby makes her way out, it's hard to imagine how everything down there will get back to the way it was. But it will! You just need to give your body a little time to heal, and your libido a chance to fire back up again (breastfeeding may dampen your sex drive at first). During the first few months, odds are you and your hubby will crave sleep more than sex, anyway. Once your doctor does give you the green light to go for it, take it slow -- it may hurt or feel uncomfortable the first few times (lube will be your new best friend). But the human body is an amazing thing with an incredible ability to snap back and recover. In fact, nearly 70 percent of women report that things are back to business as usual by six months after delivery, according to one recent study in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. And once the initial ouch-ness passes and your muscles regain their strength, a lot of new moms actually find their sex lives improve post-baby. They crave it more often and find the intimacy more satisfying than before.

THE FEAR: Labor will be too tough or painful -- I'll never make it through.

THE (RELAX!) FACTS: It's easy to get so wrapped up in your pregnancy -- all the week-by-week developments, picking out baby names, decorating the nursery -- that it doesn't dawn on you until those last few weeks that your baby actually needs an exit strategy. So you start worrying about all the different things that can happen: How much will it hurt? How long will it last? First, take a step back and realize that women have been doing this since the dawn of time (so yes, you can handle it too) -- and these days, there's plenty you can do about pain. If you're the type of person who gets more nervous the more information you have, you might be better off talking with your doctor about a few specific issues, and then just waiting until it happens to get through it. And don't watch those real-life delivery room shows on TV! They're not indicative of what you'll go through, since they tend to show just the super-dramatic deliveries. And if you're the total opposite -- and really do feel better the more uber-prepared you are -- then go for the childbirth classes, poll all your friends for tips on how they got through it, and draw up a birth plan and discuss it with your doctor. "Regardless of your worrying style, it's most important to have a doctor you trust and can chat openly with about your fears and wishes in the delivery room, and who can talk you through what to really expect," says Dr. Morse. "That will go a long way toward putting your mind at ease."