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

THE FEAR: I'll never lose all this baby weight.

THE (RELAX!) FACTS: Every giant-bellied gal on the planet worries about getting her pre-baby body back. And it doesn't help to see celeb after celeb snap back to their skinny selves the instant they're wheeled out of the delivery room. Truth is, research shows that 14 to 20 percent of women do keep on at least some of their pregnancy weight, but there are ways to boost your odds of shedding every last pound: First, try to stay within the weight guidelines during your pregnancy (that's about 25 to 35 pounds for normal-weight women). Research shows that women who gain more than what's recommended are the least likely to melt it off afterward. Another biggie: breastfeeding. It's known to rev up metabolism (by hundreds of calories a day!) and helps a lot of moms naturally slim down. And once your doctor gives you the green light, get some exercise. Brazilian researchers found that women who dieted and worked out after delivering lost significantly more pregnancy weight than those who only cut calories. (But remember, breastfeeding moms shouldn't cut back too much -- you still need about 2,000 well-balanced calories a day to meet the nutritional demands of nursing.) And it's easier to slip in exercise than you think -- yes, even when you're a totally pooped new mom. Try going for long stroller walks or picking up some Pilates or cardio DVDs and slipping in a quick workout after you put baby down for the night. Finally, try the old "nap when the baby naps" advice. According to a recent Kaiser Permanente study, new moms who got five hours of sleep or less a day were three times more likely to keep on their extra baby pounds (11 of them, on average) a year later than those who got more zzz's.

THE FEAR: I'll have complications like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes.

THE (RELAX!) FACTS: The risk of developing dangerously high blood pressure (preeclampsia) is just between 5 and 8 percent. It's more common in women under 18 or over age 35 -- as well as in women who have borderline high blood pressure going into their pregnancy. "But if you had any of these factors, your doctor would be monitoring you closely from the very beginning -- and would likely catch the condition early," says Dr. Ashton. Preeclampsia also doesn't tend to develop until the second half of pregnancy, and in some cases, arises so late that there are few, if any, adverse health affects. There's no way to necessarily lower your risk for the condition. But making sure you get regular prenatal checkups (during which your blood pressure will be checked) and alerting your doctor to any symptoms of preeclampsia, such as swelling of your hands or face, blurry vision, or major headaches, will ensure it's caught in its earliest stages. As for gestational diabetes -- a condition where your body becomes unable to process sugar properly, so it accumulates in the bloodstream -- the risks are similarly low. Simple dietary changes, like limiting your intake of starchy carbs, are usually all it takes to get it under control. For healthy women with no history of diabetes, a routine blood glucose test between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy can spot the condition.