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Reassurance-seeking and excessive researching can unintentionally increase anxiety over time.

Fear and hope can coexist during pregnancy after complications, loss, or infertility.

Acceptance and commitment-based skills can help women respond to anxiety with flexibility and self-compassion.

When Pregnancy Feels Uncertain

Pregnancy is often described as an exciting and hopeful time, but that is not always how it feels emotionally—especially during a high-risk pregnancy. For some women, pregnancy becomes closely tied to fear, uncertainty, and constant monitoring. Medical appointments can feel stressful instead of reassuring. Physical symptoms may become a source of worry. Even moments that are supposed to feel joyful can carry an undercurrent of anxiety.

A high-risk pregnancy can involve many different circumstances, including pregnancy complications, infertility, prior pregnancy loss, chronic health conditions, advanced maternal age, carrying multiples, or increased medical surveillance. While these experiences are usually discussed medically, the emotional side of them often receives far less attention.

Some women describe feeling unable to relax during pregnancy because they are waiting for something to change or go wrong. Others notice themselves becoming highly focused on bodily sensations, searching for reassurance online, or struggling to feel emotionally connected to the pregnancy because becoming hopeful feels risky.

These reactions are understandable given the level of uncertainty many women are carrying.

Why Anxiety Can Become So Consuming

Pregnancy naturally increases awareness of vulnerability. During a high-risk pregnancy, that awareness can become difficult to turn off.

Questions and fears may begin repeating throughout the day:

“What if something is wrong?”“What if I lose the baby?”“What if I get bad news at my next........

© Psychology Today