Or rather, am I being ridiculous?

[missmakesstuff]

To constantly worry about everything since my first DC arrived?

She is 8 months old, and I have not been too PFB I think...am generally very easy going, have been quite relaxed about most things to do with her, but I now just can't go through any day without some horrible situation where something horrible happens to me, to my DH, to DD, goes through my mind. car crashes, accidents, her being left alone in the house after I fall down the stairs and break my neck, you get the picture.

I can't watch the news - it brings me almost to tears - I just saw the story about the awful child abuse in Cornwall - it made me feel ill.

Is it normal to feel like this after having a child? just an almost constant feeling of worry?

Or am I being mental ridiculous?

Might be worth mentioning I havent slept for more than 4 hours in over 8 months, which may be contributing to the mentalness anxiety.

You sound quite anxious; perhaps it might be helpful if you had some short term support say from a counsellor to discuss these anxieties?

Is there any way you can get more sleep? e.g. get your dh to take her out at the weekend, or get up with her, or go to bed really early once or twice a week?

It is "normal" to become more sensitive when you have a baby/young child, but if it is really overwhelming for you then it can become a bigger issue.

I think it's normal, and it gets better over time.

Well, when anyone has children there are big world events.
You just didn't feel so affected by it before because you were pre-child.
It's normal, you are not mental.

I think it is normal. It does wear off a bit. I was like this for about nine months both times. Lack of sleep doesn't help.

I remember thinking scornful thoughts at my friend when she said that she couldn't watch the news anymore after the birth of her child. I thought she was being affected

Lack of sleep is a big issue, and yes I think you have described a perfectly normal response to the events in Cornwall.

My baby does not sleep much at all - which means I don't get much sleep.

I find it helps to lie down a lot, even if you do not sleep (even if you leave the washing and do not answer the phone).

I stopped ironing clothes too.

its normal to a point, but if it starts to interfere with your life the it could be depression creeping up on you. pop and see a friendly gp. i found that just the act of talking it over IRL can make you feel loads better.

Yes and no...I think that envisaging problem scenarios is normal, nature's way of preparing you for emergencies. However, "excessive anxiety" is a symptom of post-natal depression. Perhaps you could have a chat about it to your health visitor? She should be getting in touch soon re your DD's 8-12 month check anyway, but would be happy for you to contact her. All the best. PS, you're doing a great job

I was exactly like you... My DD is now three and I still sometimes cry at News stories (I cried at the abuse one too) but it really does get better and easier.

I think it's a part of wanting to keep your child safe from all harm - even just perceived. You become hyper aware of all that could happen. I think it's natural.

You are not being unreasonable at all. Like snugglepops says, lack of sleep can do weird things to you - i find that I worry about silly things when I've not had enough sleep. I just have to remind myself all the time to keep things in perspective (easier said than done). I can also often imagine awful things happening. I think it is part and parcel of being in charge of the most precious thing you've ever had (ie your DD). Try to think of it as you being protective. It will get better in time.

Thanks all, I do feel a bit less mental. It isn't taking over as such, being back at work is helping I think as I am too busy to worry..but it does just creep up on me sometimes..mostly the feeling 'what if something happened to me?'. I feel better now she takes a bottle, and formula occasionally, but it just feels like a huge weight on my shoulders.

I have stopped crying at the news every day - just after DD was born there was haiti, then a lot of other horrible stories..not a dry eye in this house .

Is it just a mum thing, d'y think? or do dads get it too?

I think it's pretty normal. I got gradually better as DS got a little older (he's 2.4), but getting pregnant again has me back to square one.

For example - this afternoon I had myself in tears over an imaginary scenario in which DS fell down the stairs and died, and I miscarried because I was so upset.
Ridiculous really, but no less upsetting for that!

It will get better, honestly.

Totally normal.

I wept continuously on day 10 as the realisation dawned that, should anything happen to my pfb I would need to kill myself!

Thereafter twas a short leap to him falling over the balcony, house on fire before I could reach his room, and so on.

It got better but I still worry.I just live with it now and accept it as part of the price of deep love.

I think it really normal to feel very mortal once a first baby arrives. They are totally reliant on you - you are their world and it's a huge responsibility. Suddenly life is less throw away/cheap but very precious and fragile. You deeply love your little one - and it a love like no other.

Are you suffering from post natal depression?

Maybe you should talk to your GP they might be able to help.

Yes, I suppose that is a way of looking at it, thanks perfumed.

Although have just finished settling dd for the 2nd time tonight, and after an hour have gone from feeling like that, to just now feeling like if I had just a tiny accident, nothing serious or anything, I might actually get a short stay in hospital..just a short one, with a comfy bed and no disurbed sleep...

Thanks for all replies though, will keep an eye on it, if I feel it is getting on top of me will talk to someone, I am glad to know I'm not odd...just a mum!

Part and

part and? ok, sorry, typing had gone mental, thats for sure!

I did google post natal depression a lot when DD was born, I had a c section, a fairly rough time in hospital, and for the first few weeks felt very emotional, but I have to say, 80% of the time, I feel absolutely fine. its just the driving into work, when a car cuts me up, or the middle of the night, when I'm feeding dd, and it just creeps up. I'm sure I obsessed before, just I didn't have a focus...

I have been losing patience at night, and we have decided we just have to do something, so have started to try and sort dds sleep, it's shocking at the moment. I'm hoping some sleep will help.

awakenings - I too am glad I'm not the only one, I have been dwelling on this of late. I do think talking helps, but I just felt like I shouldn't mention it, as people might think I was a bit wrong...

Normal.....but that child abuse case on tonight's news was just down-right vile and sickening. With or without my own children that story would have sickened me.

Doodlez It was horrible, I just can't let things like that go past me now, before it was upsetting, now it just is unbelievable how anyone could do that to another person, and preys on my mind for weeks.

I do the mad senarios too, Alibaba they get ridiculous, with me obsessing with who would take DD if I died, my parents or his.

nice to know I am probably mental in a normal way though...

I am definitely much more affected now than I used to be by news stories about children, I think that's natural: some of it is just that it wouldn't have jumped out at you before, some of it is because you identify with the people involved. DS is 8, some news stories etc still get me, just as they did when he was tiny, they wouldn't have before. And many people have the "what ifs" without there being anything too wrong. Lack of sleep, new routine, new responsibiities - all add up.