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Original poster

To ask for pregnancy anxiety survival stories

31 replies

Littlefeather2 · 31/03/2019 19:08

I’ve been having scarily bad antenatal anxiety now for at least two months. I’ve always had some anxiety but wasn’t taking medication as it was really mild. Since becoming pregnant, after years of waiting for the right moment, so much has happened in my life which has just knocked me sideways and I started to have really bad anxiety and irrational thoughts about my babies health. Any moms with experience of this and their little ones were fine? I just really want to believe my ds will be okay after all this stress and the panic attacks.

OP posts:
BookFiend4Life · 04/09/2021 04:18

I had this too but as soon as I went into active labor I felt an overwhelming sense of competence that has not left me 6 months on. I just knew that I would do whatever my baby needed to the best of my ability and that would be enough. I'm sure it's hormonal but very empowering feeling either way!

Original poster
Littlefeather2 · 04/09/2021 13:36

Hi momtobe88, no my son has no difficulties at all and my stress levels were insane, just constant all day panic attacks. I should really have been hospitalised for my mental state, it was that bad truthfully. And I was convinced it would have negative consequences for my son which of course made it all worse, but my son is a very happy, intelligent and sociable toddler. He plays brilliantly with other kids, gentle and good with sharing, dont get me wrong he can be a little terror at home when he doesn't get his own way but I suspect that thats normal 2 year old behaviour Grin

OP posts:
Momtobe88 · 04/09/2021 14:06

@Littlefeather2
Thanks so much for responding. It makes me feel like I can still have a positive outcome! My anxiety started a little after 20 weeks. It’s hasn’t been everyday, but I’m so worried after reading about chronic anxiety/stress and the effects it can have on the baby. If you don’t mind me asking, was yours over a long or short period of time?

Original poster
Littlefeather2 · 04/09/2021 16:49

I had high anxiety at the start of my pregnancy about 8 weeks in which was when a lot of issues started to arise around work and family etc, after a couple of weeks it did subside then settled until my 26th week when issues arose again and I was very anxious from that point on until I gave birth. So I would say I was extremely anxious for over 3 months of my pregnancy not including the first spell. It was a very tough time indeed.

OP posts:
Winniening · 16/09/2022 22:32

Buddytheelf85 · 31/03/2019 19:44

I’m 24 weeks tomorrow and my anxiety is absolutely horrendous. Like you, I’ve always been prone to anxiety but I now stress constantly about the baby’s health. Just for example, after every scan I’ve been obsessively googling the measurements - his head and stomach measurements are on higher percentiles than his length measurement, is that normal? I’ve been worried about my exposure to chemicals and traffic pollution. I’ve been worried that our dog poses a health risk to the baby (his flea medicine?)

It all looks so ridiculous when I write it down but it feels so real in my head! I’ve also been diagnosed with some minor complications which hasn’t helped the irrational anxiety at all.

Pregnancy yoga classes have really helped me (plus I’ve met a nice bunch of people from it). So has walking and nightly baths (not too hot of course...!) I’ve also asked for a referral to my hospital’s mental health midwifery team.

It’s awful but I think it’s pretty common OP. I just try to focus on how many lovely healthy babies there are in the world! Flowers

Hi I am exactly like you and I even have the same worries！Hope your baby is fine and not affected by the anxiety？

Winniening · 16/09/2022 22:33

Littlefeather2 · 04/09/2021 16:49

I had high anxiety at the start of my pregnancy about 8 weeks in which was when a lot of issues started to arise around work and family etc, after a couple of weeks it did subside then settled until my 26th week when issues arose again and I was very anxious from that point on until I gave birth. So I would say I was extremely anxious for over 3 months of my pregnancy not including the first spell. It was a very tough time indeed.

Hi I hope your baby is doing fine and not affected by the anxiety？

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