Stress and Miscarriage - can it be caused by?

[Wills]

Hi,

I'll get straight to the point. I'm 6.5 weeks pregnant and scared stupid. I've had a couple of small bleeds (really small) and the last one was on christmas Eve (not good timing) but although I've still got good symptoms I can't let go and I've gradually got more and more fearful. This probably sounds really crazy but I'm scared that my stress and fear of loosing this baby will cause me to loose this baby (as in a self fulling prophecy). I've had a couple of sharp cramps last night but no blood or anything yet I've worried all day. I've got so much adrenaline flying around me at the moment that I'm shaking.

Unfortunately (or hopefully fortunately) I've fallen pregnant at virtually the same time as I fell last time (i.e. last Xmas) and of course all memories are centred around the my loss last year.

I'm currently driving myself crazy and need to know - can a panic attack cause the loss of this baby?

[bossykate]

Hi Wills

Not surprised you are worried. However, women have conceived and carried babies to terms in the most appalling conditions - war, famine, concentration camps - so I think it's highly unlikely that a panic attack could cause a miscarriage.

I found the following link to a women's health site which lists out the causes of miscarriage - stress and panic attacks are not mentioned.

Causes of Miscarriage

Hope I have done the right thing including this link. In my case, reading up on symptoms usually makes me convinced I am a sufferer (recently convinced myself that a bog standard flu virus was lymphatic cancer! ) I only included it so you could see for yourself that stress/panic are not shown as causes of a miscarriage according to this source.

A number of us on this site have had bleeding in early pregnancy, and fortunately it did not turn out to be an mc - this happened to me - so it needn't be all over this time. I'm sure you remember from last time, but it's really important to get a scan as soon as you can.

Hope this all turns out well for you.

[PamT]

My first 2 pregnancies involved bleeding on and off between 6 and 18 weeks, both due to low placentas. I remember feeling that if I was going to lose the baby just get it over with quickly. Both pregnancies produced healthy boys. I hope the bleeding stops and you have no further problems, I'm not surprised you're worried. Fingers crossed for you.

[Wills]

Thanks for the site it did help. Another question did either of you ever have a panic attack during a pregnancy that lasted. I'm struggling to get a handle on this one. I've only ever suffered a panic attack once before a long time ago and I managed to "get control" using distraction. This time however I can't seem to "get a grip". Any suggestions (have tried books and films and going out to friends).?

[ScummyMummy]

Oh wills- I really hope you feel better soon and that everything will be ok with the pregnancy. Re panic attacks: Have you tried taking deep breaths or having a warm bath, getting your partner to give you a massage, having a really good cry and then sleeping? Perhaps you could call NHS direct or your GP for advice on both the spotting and controlling the panic attack? As bk and Pam have said I'm sure your stress will NOT have any effect on whether or not the pregnancy is viable but feeling very anxious is horrible in and of itself and it may be worth taking medical advice on that basis alone if the attack doesn't subside. Lots of love to you. x

[baffled]

Wills, I suffered extreme bouts of breathlessness during pregnancy, so much so that I was sent to hospital for an ECG, numerous tests on my lungs and blood oxygen levels. The results were all normal and my GP suggested that panic attacks were the cause. With the benefit of hindsight, I am inclined to agree with her analysis, although I didn't believe it at the time. I spent my entire pregnancy in a stressful workplace situation which could easily have been the cause of panic attacks. As I didn't realise the problem at the time, I didn't develop any coping strategies which I can now share with you. However, having read this thread, I can reassure you that, although I worried constantly about the effect the stress was having on my unborn child, there now appear to be no ill effects. Best of luck.

[robinw]

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[Wills]

A massive thanks to you all. Its great to hear that stress doesn't appear to cause miscarriage - thanks (and before I'd got to bed too)! I plan to talk to my doctor tomorrow and if I don't get anywhere (she doesn't really want to see me unless I "make it past 8 weeks" I'll go elsewhere until I get a result.

Thank you.

[Wills]

How the heck did I end up with a winking face???

[Katherine]

Wills, I'm so srry. It is torment isn't it. I understand your reluctance to go to your GP when you feel you are not "welcome" until you reach a certain point. If you have a decent size hospital nearby they will probably have an early pregnancy unit and if you've had bleeding they may even see you the same day for a scan. You don't need a referral and they are used the the stress and trauma you are going through so will handle it more sensitively. Sending you hugs.

[WideWebWitch]

Wills, poor you, sounds horrible. I agree with whoever said try deep breathing to get you through it. I seem to remember reading somewhere that it's almost impossible to panic if you're breathing like this. I've had panic attacks in the past so I know the feeling, horrible isn't it? Anyway, I sort of told myself the above was true about the breathing and psyched myself out of it that way one time. I know what you mean about self fulfilling prophesies and worrying that you will make something awful happen but honestly, it is unlikely. It must be hard if the timing is the same as last time so understandable that you feel this way. Good luck, let us know how you get on.

[oxocube]

Wills, lots of love to you: its so horible, isn't it, the not knowing what will happen. I have had 5 pregnancies, all with bleeding at various stages until about 14 weeks: I miscarried the first two then went onto have to have 3 healthy children. I honestly don't believe stress can cause m/c but its one of those things which is so bound up in guilt that many people (me included at the time) feel that they have done something 'wrong' which resulted in the loss their baby.
I hope everything calms down for you and am keeping my fingers crossed. xxx

[Marina]

Oh Wills, I'm sorry to see you've been having a horrid time and glad to see that so many people have confirmed that feeling very stressed will not cause you to lose your baby.
If your delightful GP can't be bothered to see you yet, maybe it would not be too much trouble to be referred to an Early Pregnancy Unit? Or could you take yourself along to the walk-in one at St Thomas'? OK, so your baby may still be too small to be detected on a scan, but you could talk to a midwife who might be able to help you with relaxation techniques, and generally put your mind at rest.

[Hebe]

Hi Wills,

I had a miscarriage in 2001 and became pregnant at more or less the same time the following year, like you. I was really concerned in case that ended up the same way but my ds was born in October and I hope you have the same outcome. TRY not to worry!