Counselling when pregnant?

[likelucklove]

New around these parts so bear with me.

I've been referred for emergency counselling for before my baby comes (I'm 34+4) to help me with some issues that they think may cause PND and to deal with issues that I've had for a long time.

I wanted to ask if anyone has had any experience in having counselling during pregnancy? Obviously I know it's the best thing and will help me and my baby in the long run.

However, I'm worried it may in fact make me feel worse and damage bonding with my DD. I regularly have flashbacks to the event that caused my problems, display depression symptoms, have panic attacks and find it hard to be completely nice and open with my DP.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[madmouse]

The best thing would be to go to the appointment and explain to the counsellor that you worry about getting worse and not bonding with your baby so you can plan the way forward together (which is how counselling should work).

I would not think that this is the time to start digging in your past so I would expect that you would be focussing on some unhelpful thinking patterns and doing some CBT to help with those.

Am impressed that there is such a thing as emergency counselling that can be arranged at such short notice!

[lovelychops]

I had counselling whilst pregnant.
The counselling was arranged before I knew I was pregnant, and didn't tell counsellor till our second session. It was for me, a great thing to do. I felt it helped me 'feel prepared' to be a mum - as in I felt I was dealing with stuff I'd always wanted to get sorted out. It really worked for me.

Although the counselling wasn't pregnancy related it was a good time for me to have it. To be honest it took my by surprise - I went to my first session fully intending to say I didn't really need to be there, then everything came spilling out!

Good luck, I say go along with an open mind and no expectations. Just see what happens.