At some point, just about every pregnant woman worries about whether her baby will be okay, and she feels nervous about birth. These are normal reactions to pregnancy. While they can make you feel unsettled, they are not something you should dwell on.

The whole point of your pregnancy is to have a healthy baby, and most women are well aware that there are many things that can go wrong. However, the odds are that you will have a healthy baby. Your health-care provider can help ease your fears. It's his job to help make sure that your baby grows well and comes into the world healthy. Some health-care providers tell their patients to let them worry about the unlikely possibilities and ask the patient to keep her mind focused on enjoying pregnancy.

If you've never given birth before, labor and delivery is a new thing for you. New experiences are always a little frightening simply because you can't completely know what to expect in advance. If you are fearful or nervous about birth, the best thing you can do is take a childbirth preparation class. The class will provide you with a lot of information and help you talk through your fears. You will also learn techniques that will put you in control during labor and delivery and help you manage your fears at that time.

Talking to other moms may help with your fears, or it may make them worse. Don't talk to people who are intent on sharing their horror stories with you. Remember that each woman is different. Your experience will be your own, not a re-enactment of someone else's. Talking to your health-care provider can also ease your worries. Let her know what aspect of birth you are most worried about, and she can talk you through it and help you understand that she will be there to help you get through it.