My Pregnancy Anxiety and How I Learned to Find Calm and Connection

Pregnancy is meant to be magical, right? And it really is but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t also full of moments where your heart races, your mind spins, and you feel completely overwhelmed.

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I had a nightly ritual that became non-negotiable. Lying down in a quiet house, just me and my baby, I would check for her movements. My eyes wouldn’t soften until I felt her kick or shift. If I didn’t feel anything after 10 minutes, I’d grab a cold glass of water or orange juice... or on a couple of occasions, sit up with my husband just waiting until she moved. With my second pregnancy, I even went in for monitoring once, just to make sure everything was okay.

It all comes down to this understandable pressure: the expectation that you need to monitor every tiny movement. And with statistics for stillbirths not really improving over the years, the advice is always “better safe than sorry.” We all know that horrifying thought of what if I didn’t?

Why Pregnancy Anxiety Is More Common Than You Think

Pregnancy anxiety is incredibly common, even if it’s not something we always talk about. Feeling responsible for your baby’s every little move, worrying about their safety, and wondering if you’re doing everything “right” is completely normal.

For me, it wasn’t just about movement. I worried about:

• How my body looked and felt

• Clothes not fitting or stretch marks appearing

• Visitors, germs, and vaccinations after birth

• How life with a new baby would change, especially balancing my first child

And when I was expecting my second, I found myself mourning a little for my first. Knowing that she wouldn’t be the only focus and that so much would change was emotional...and yes, I sobbed thinking about it- well more than sobbed. But now, watching my girls together, I can honestly say it was one of the best gifts I could ever give them: each other.

Simple Ways I Found Calm and Connection

Over time, I found small rituals that grounded me and brought relief:

• Warm baths: Feeling weightless in the water was pure magic. It slowed my racing thoughts and helped me connect with my baby.

• Pregnancy massages: The quiet, soothing touch allowed me to truly relax and let go of tension.

• Sharing my feelings: Talking with my husband and girlfriends about my worries made the anxiety feel lighter. It also really helped that alot of my close friends were also pregnant.

Even small comforts matter. They remind you that this stage, while fleeting and sometimes stressful, is also beautiful.

Tips for Other Mums

If you’re feeling anxious during pregnancy, here are some things that helped me and might help you:

• Create your check-in moment: Mine was right before bed when everything was quiet.

• Gentle tricks to encourage movement: Water, juice, or a short walk often worked.

• Breathe and slow down: Give yourself permission to pause and try to to over think it as stress and anxiety brings on more stress and anxiety.

• Seek support: If anxiety feels overwhelming, talk to a trusted health professional.

Finding the Positive

Pregnancy anxiety is real, but so is the joy of anticipating a new life. Even amidst the worries, there are moments of calm, connection and love.

I get to share more of these experiences in a chapter of an upcoming book featuring inspiring stories from AusMumpreneur Award winners. I was lucky enough to be selected to contribute my own memoir, so yes-I’ll be an officially published author! Keep an eye on my socials and website for the launch in September 2026, where you’ll also get to read mine as well as about 20 other amazing mums in business and their journeys.

Why Capturing Maternity and Newborn Moments Matters

These moments pass so quickly, which is exactly why I love capturing maternity and newborn sessions. I know you might not feel or look your best... the swollen feet and face, stretch marks, hot sweats etc but I promise you, so many people tell me they go back years later looking for photos of themselves while pregnant…and what do they find? Nothing. Zilch.

At the time, it’s easy to get stuck in your head, thinking it’s all about how you look or feel in the moment. But when you take a step back, you realise how freaking amazing women are and how incredible the journey of pregnancy truly is. Not everyone gets this experience, and it’s something you’ll look back on and see the real power, love, and awe of what your body has done.

You’ll never regret capturing these moments, you’ll only regret it if you didn’t.

If you’re pregnant or planning on possibly booking in a maternity photo shoot, let’s capture this chapter together. So you can look back and remember not just the anxious moments, but the incredible joy, connection and anticipation of welcoming your baby into this world.

Stace x