# Fear about complications of pregnancy

- Category: chronic
- Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page)
- Sources: ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class WS91 - condition scope only, no dose · Illness Anxiety Disorder - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (NBK554399) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554399/ · No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care · Karrar SA, Vadakekut ES, Hong PL. Initial Antepartum Care. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Last Update: August 12, 2024. NBK570635.
- Verified date: 2026-08

## Verified against

- No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care

## Treatment metadata

- No drug therapy in primary care (Recognition & Referral)

## Complete treatment card

```text
FEAR ABOUT COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY
Sources: ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class WS91 -
         condition scope only, no dose · Illness Anxiety Disorder - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
         (NBK554399) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554399/ · No dose - referral pathway,
         no medicine given in primary care · Karrar SA, Vadakekut ES, Hong PL. Initial Antepartum
         Care. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-.
         Last Update: August 12, 2024. NBK570635.
Review status: REVIEWED against the source listed above  (2026-08)

1. NO DRUG THERAPY IN PRIMARY CARE (RECOGNITION & REFERRAL)[1st line]
   Adult    Pregnant patients presenting with severe fear or anxiety regarding pregnancy
            complications require empathetic active listening, validation of maternal concerns, and
            routine clinical and obstetric assessment (blood pressure, symphysis-fundal height,
            fetal heart tones). Provide structured antenatal education, normalize common pregnancy
            discomforts, and coordinate with obstetric services to provide continuity of care and
            clear safety nets. Screen for perinatal generalized anxiety disorder or depression
            (e.g., using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and offer perinatal mental health
            referral if anxiety impairs maternal functioning or daily activities. - Refer
   Peds     Adult-only condition - paediatric section not applicable
   Source   No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care
   Why      Pregnant patients presenting with severe fear or anxiety regarding pregnancy
            complications require empathetic active listening, validation of maternal concerns, and
            routine clinical and obstetric assessment (blood pressure, symphysis-fundal height,
            fetal heart tones). Provide structured antenatal education, normalize common pregnancy
            discomforts, and coordinate with obstetric services to provide continuity of care and
            clear safety nets. Screen for perinatal generalized anxiety disorder or depression
            (e.g., using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and offer perinatal mental health
            referral if anxiety impairs maternal functioning or daily activities.
   Caution  RED FLAG - Spontaneous fluid leakage from the vagina (premature rupture of membranes):
            assess urgently and refer.
            RED FLAG - Severe persistent headache, visual disturbances, or epigastric pain
            (preeclampsia): assess urgently and refer.
            Make sure any real symptoms prompting the fear, such as bleeding or reduced fetal
            movements, are properly assessed before offering reassurance.
            No medicine is prescribed for this in primary care - this entry is for recognition and
            referral. Anything given is decided by the service it is referred to.

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.
```

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Dawaa Reference is a reference for prescribers, not a medical device, and does not replace clinical judgement.

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