During both of Karen Wright's pregnancies, she had a fear of falling. She had heard it can be harmful, and if significant enough, could cause a miscarriage. An avid inline skater, Wright, from Mankato, Minn., quit once she found out she was pregnant because of the risk of falling.

"Plus, while I was pregnant, my balance was off," Wright says. "I was especially concerned during our Minnesota winters on the snow and ice. My husband was very diligent to assist me while crossing icy spots to prevent falling. There were times I chose not to go out to a store because of the slippery conditions."

Wright's fear isn't unusual. For many expectant moms, there's a real fear of falling while pregnant. What happens if this fear is realized?

Pregnant women are more likely to fall more often than others. One reason is their center of gravity. The extra weight and size of the baby in the front of the body shifts the center of gravity and can stress the muscles and joints of the back and pelvis, says Dr. Randy Fink, an OB/GYN in private practice in Miami, Fla. "As the baby grows, Mom may become less stable and lose her balance and fall," he says.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.