i am 29 and pregnant for the first time, im in my 8th week. i am happy about it, but i have this contant worry about what if there is something wrong with the baby. is this normal? 

I had the same worries (still do).  I think it is a natural feeling to be worried.  I am 28 (will be 29 in 3 weeks) and this is also my first.  Second pregnancy though; I had a miscarriage last November so I have been a worry wort throughout this entire pregnancy.  I am 27 weeks today.  Even though all my ultrasounds etc. have come back normal I still worry.  It helps me to talk to my Dr. about this at my appt.'s.  She said at this age the chance of a defect is only about 1 in 4,000 which is like a 0.00025 chance so when I look at it that way it makes me feel a lot better.   I also realized that this is just the beginning worrying.  Now that we have a little one to care for you will always be worried about something......miscarriage, then preterm labor, then the delivery, then SIDS, etc.  It is just part of being a mommy; but I decided to try not to worry about things until there is something to worry about.  Try to enjoy every minute of your pregnancy because you'll never get this back.  I am sure everything will turn out just fine for you and your baby.  The odds are in your favor!

It's so normal- and your extra hormones don't help either! I'm 23 and this is my second (um, in a year, ha!) and even with the constant help from my husband to reassure me, I still worry over every little thing and pain (and don't worry about all those cramps and hip pains- those are also normal, but can be frightening!)