freaked out by thought of a baby inside me, anyone else?

[bebe1]

11 weeks with 1st much wanted baby. Saw a picture today of a baby at 11weeks, actual size and it has unsettled me. I'm a bit freaked out by the mini-human inside me.

Has anyone felt like this ?

For about a year before I got pregnant I was worried about what it would feel like to be pregnant and I often felt panicy about it. Even put off conceiving for months though DH was desperate for a baby. We're very excited about a baby arriving in September and I am very confident about caring for a baby (eldest of 8 and a teacher) so it's not a realisation of my new responsibilites that scares me just the idea of a person inside me...

[Tinwe]

I think I understand just what you mean. When I had my first scan it felt very strange that there was a baby rolling and kicking around inside that day to day I had no 'direct' experience of, i.e. I didn't know what it was doing in there. When I started feeling movement I got a little creeped out at first and had a couple of 'claustrophobic' moments in the middle of the night when Bean was breakdancing and I just wanted some sleep. Felt really bad as I know I'm lucky to have a healthy baby but it took time to get used to sharing my body. I imagine it will be similar for you. Now I worry when she doesn't move for a while and i quite enjoy knowing she's getting comfy in there. Having said that I'm getting uncomfy now at 31 weeks, I'll be glad when she arrives! Good luck and try to enjoy it :)

[Janoschi]

Oh yes, totally with you. I'm 28 weeks now and can say it only gets freakier as you feel little hands pawing at you! I find myself caught between the logical 'it's all totally natural' stance and the 'there's an alien inside me!' panic. My OH thinks I'm bonkers, by the way.

[Maitri]

Am also hugely freaked out by the idea and I'm now on #3 and am just days away from giving birth. If it's any help, I haven't found it's a constant freak-out and often find myself awake in the middle of the night feeling the baby's kicks and actually quite enjoying it. I remind myself that millions (billions) of women have done this before me and billions are likely to do it after me - sounds obvious but it's helped me to recognise that having a baby inside me is actually pretty "normal".

My hormones have certainly played a part in the whole "weirdness" and I've learnt to not trust what I think are my real feelings over the past 9 months.

Not sure if it helps but, if it's any consolation, my ambivalence/dislike regarding having a human being inside me is propelling me confidently towards labour - I can't wait to be normal again! HTH

[SnapFrakkleAndPop]

Yep, there's an alien thing inside me and I don't like sharing my space at the best of times so the fact there's a baby there 24/7 creeps me out a little. It's much easier now (33 weeks) than it was - when it started moving I was practically hysterical.

[bebe1]

Thanks for all your reassuring replies! not many people understand and my DH keeps saying "buts it's our baby, we made it.." that's not the point! hopefully I'll just get used to the idea. We have decided to find out the sex of the baby and name it asap (20wks I think?) so it becomes more my baby rather than some random moving thing in my tummy!
Maitri how interesting, you and I are probably be the only people in the world looking forward to labour lucky you being days away from birth, I've 29 weeks to go good luck with the birth btw!

[Boja123]

Hi, I search the internet for days looking for similar experiences. And I'm glad I'm not the only one. I'm 7 weeks pregnant. And I have a fear of pregnancy. My fear also has a name, tokophobia. The thought of living something alive in me causes panic. I'm not going to work for a month. It also kills me, I feel guilty. I'm married, and we want a baby. I hardly work. I'm not leaving the house. Is there anyone who has managed to go through the pregnancy with this fear?
My English is not perfect, I hope you understand. in my country no one has ever heard of this phobia. Not even my gynecologist, no psychologist.

[carin27]

Oh thank goodness...i was also searching the internet for this! I thought it was bad of me to feel weird or a bid freaked out. I am 12 weeks and just had our first sonar, it was amazing but mostly weird and my husband and gynecologist was like so happy and i tried to be happy, but i was stuck in some freaky thoughts...well, thank you to you all for sharing!

[Nad1987]

Hi I’m not sure if anyone will read this but this thread is the closest thing I have found with women who seem to have experienced the same feelings as me - I’m 12 weeks pregnant and the further I come along the more intense my fear is of the thought of another human growing inside me - I haven’t even thought about giving birth yet - but whenever I think about it it makes me feel nauseous, so much so I’ve stated having nightmares about feeling my baby move for the first time. This results in me feeling incredibly guilty for not feeling like a natural mother and I actually cry every night about it and I feel so incredibly abnormal and if I mr ruin it to friends or family I can see they think I am strange for feeling this way, which in turn makes me feel more alone than ever. Has anyone experienced these feelings and how did you find ways to manage these feelings? Any advice would be extremely appreciated 😔♥️

[Sms1994]

not sure if you’ll see this or not but this thread is literally how I feel. I’m not pregnant but I know this is how I will feel when/if the time comes. Any tips in helping me overcome this? I do want children but this is seriously bothering me and I’m not even pregnant!

[Abee89]

Hi Nad1987, how are you doing now?