Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Does every parent feel like this?

53 replies

Heyduggee123 · 28/05/2021 21:22

Bit of background as I don’t want to drip feed

5 rounds of IVF over 8 years
In between cycles my 15 months old DNiece died of SIDS
Last round of IVF we got our amazing, now 2 year old twins
TW1 - very small, still very small. When she was 8 months old she had suspected meningitis which turned out to be sepsis. Absolutely terrifying.

She is currently poorly with a nasty ear infection. She picks up every single bug going. She is on antibiotics, but 3 days in she is still running a temperature and I’m so worried.

This is the part where I’m not sure if I’m “normal” whenever either one of them is poorly, I don’t deal with it very well. It’s like this fog descends, I’m checking their temperature every 5 minutes. Normal things like putting washing on or mundane things feel like I’m climbing a mountain, I can’t seem to keep a straight thought in my head. I am totally unorganised and feel overwhelmed by everything.

As soon as they perk up and get better everything is good with the world again. Everything runs smoothly, I feel like a massive weight has been lifted, I’m organised and on it with daily activities and trips out.

Does anyone else feel like this when their kids are poorly? My DH certainly doesn’t, of course he worries and hates to see them poorly but I feel like I almost shut down from every other activity apart from worrying about them.

Is this just being a parent?

OP posts:
DrinkFeckArseBrick · 28/05/2021 22:49

I didnt have any trauma in my past and still fall to pieces when mine are ill. I found it got a lot better once they could talk though and tell me they didn't feel well etc. I feel like once they are 2.5 - 3 they are a lot more robust

Obimumkinobi · 28/05/2021 23:14

When my daughter was a baby she had severe tonsillitis every 6 weeks. She'd have dangerously high temperatures and end up in hospital, often sent by GP. I would at my wits end with worry and it always affected me more deeply than my husband. It was like being under a cloud that only lifted when she got better.
This was made worse by medical professionals 'kindly' asking if this was my first child? As if somehow a child with a 40+ temp who was barely conscious would be 'less ill' if she had a sibling?
It cam to a head when she had an ear infection, rapidly followed by tonsillitis, then conjunctivitis, after which her immine system went haywire and she had a massive allergic reaction. We gave her antihistamine but it didn't touch it, then the marks started appearing on her body. Called 999 and told to try antihistamine. Didn't care we'd aleeady done it and refused ambulance. Argued my corner and she spent 3 days in hospital.
I never thought it would end and couldn't bear the thought that it would always be like this and that I'd never be able to let her out of my sight because I couldn't trust anyone else to look after her properly. Friends and family can be dismissive, as they've "been there, done that" and are not going to get up in the night when she's poorly and regularly check her belly for spots with a torch (it got this bad with me).
But, as others have said, it will get better and now she's a tough little kid, who amazingly still has her tonsils, as it all magically sorted itself out in time.
You will feel better and your children are blessed to have such a caring mum.

Msha8819 · 28/05/2021 23:23

I think it’s understandable after what you’ve been though. My daughter has had two hospital admissions 6 weeks apart starting when she just turned 1 :( they never found out what was wrong, said it was an infection but didn’t find the source. Now everytime she’s ill I freak out and think it’s going to happen again or worry she’s got some underlying illness they haven’t identified. I think it will get easier as she gets older but when they can’t talk it’s so tough as you don’t really know what’s wrong :(

Msha8819 · 28/05/2021 23:27

@Obimumkinobi can totally relate to the friends and family being dismissive thing. Both times my daughter was hospitalised with 40 degree fevers everyone including husband thought I was mad and said she had a ‘teething fever’ Hmm

TheNextCaroleMiddleton · 28/05/2021 23:40

I voted YABU but I completely understand why you have your reaction. I think it’s worth speaking to your GP to see what support you can get. Speaking as an IVF and multiple losses experience, but thankfully through the other side with 2 lovely (trying) DC x

SleepingStandingUp · 28/05/2021 23:45

It's an understandable response to trauma. Your niece. Your route to pregnancy. Vulnerable babies.

I have healthy 17 month old twins but we did 18 months in and out of hospital with eldest DS and he's still complex. I'm constantly paranoid about everything, thankfully have an understanding doctor who still sees us even more pandemic when I need it because I'm worried it's something bigger.

In in antidepressants as I'm struggling with my anxiety but that isn't the answer for everyone. Right now I'm not really to process the refund through therapy but looking term is a goal

Tinymrscollings · 28/05/2021 23:49

Yes, I do. I had a very poorly baby. One of those ‘but it won’t be that’ situations that turned out to be exactly ‘that’. It took me a long time to realise that the way I react when the children were poorly isn’t the same as how other people react. I had some counselling and it really, really helped. Just a few sessions and I felt like I’d left some of it behind. I’d recommend it.

stressfuljune · 28/05/2021 23:56

Yes defo at times. Mine are much older now!

TableFlowerss · 29/05/2021 00:00

Totally the same OP. X

Moriarosesbebe · 29/05/2021 00:25

I'm so sorry for your losses OP.
Does every parent feel like this, probably not, but many do and certainly if they have experienced the trauma that you have gone through. I'm still trying to figure out how to manage my thoughts and emotions when it comes to worrying about DS. I've a great counsellor who has helped me shift my thinking and supported me in developing coping skills so it doesn't get on top of me. I still have my moments but I find since going into counselling the frequency and the intensity of those moments is less.
Don't be hard on yourself, it's an understandable reaction to your past experiences. Unfortunately when the worst thing happens to us we can lose the ability to say "ah that will never happen, don't worry about it". For me, it's like my brain is telling me bad things happen and stay vigilant because it can happen again. While it's understandable and normal, it's not helping you so I'd definitely seek some support if you can. Google 5,4,3,2,1 grounding technique in the mean time. It really helps me when my thoughts are spiralling

Myphone · 29/05/2021 00:33

Completely understandable, I go the complete opposite and become hyperactive. Also NICU and repeat hospital visits baby. It is the utter fear and anxiety of seeing them in a bed with tubes and monitors attached again.

Myphone · 29/05/2021 00:35

@Crunchymum

I'm an emetophobe (didn't think that through before having kids) but due to a few events in my life [DC3 born with rare genetic condition and registered disabled and my mum literally dropping dead less than a year ago] my health anxiety has spiralled.

Not to mention the effect of adding a fucking pandemic to the mix.

I'm referring myself for CBT.

@Crunchymum Sending you big hugs.
PastMyBestBeforeDate · 29/05/2021 00:41

I remember recounting the exacerbating factors in my OCD anxiety to an NHS CBT counsellor. She told me she'd feel anxious given those events. Sometimes anxiety isn't disproportionate. Sometimes there's been stuff that is a big deal. Go back 3 or 4 generations and most mothers lost a child, women who weren't getting pregnant were lucky or unlucky. We've forgotten how to deal with this. And people who need that understanding are somehow wrong now.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 29/05/2021 00:45

For the avoidance of a row, I mean the women who wanted to be pregnant but weren't were unlucky, the women who didn't want to be pregnant and weren't were lucky.

Graphista · 29/05/2021 01:45

Totally understandable

I'm similar but full disclosure I have ocd which was undiagnosed at that point in my life.

I lost 3 before dd and one was ectopic and required emergency surgery, upon which the endo i had long suspected was discovered and also required surgery due to scar tissue etc

Then I got pregnant with dd and it was far from a straightforward pregnancy culminating in pre-eclampsia and eventually an emcs, we were both genuinely lucky to make it out of the birth alive for different reasons. I have a rare condition that only presents in the first Labour but which means future pregnancies are highly likely to prove fatal to me.

Dd was full term but very poorly and was in scbu a while and I was kept in longer than most too.

She had multiple illnesses and puzzling injuries throughout babyhood and childhood, severe allergic reactions to things that aren't common allergens etc

My ocd went a bit nuts and I cleaned everything of hers daily and froze the soft toys etc

Health visitor had an inkling something was up with me but didn't pursue and completely dismissed my concerns about dd as being just me basically imagining it!

When dd was TWELVE after all those years of illnesses and injuries, febrile convulsions, hospital stays etc we FINALLY got a referral and as soon as we saw the specialist it was physically obvious to her what was wrong with dd

2 of the things she noticed had been present since birth and not one hcp had thought to consider there might be a reason especially when the full medical history was considered

Dds specialist was great but she is now away studying and having to battle new gp for a referral to get a new specialist and it's delaying her accessing certain support and treatments which is pissing me off!

I've also a number of friends and relatives who've had a difficult journey to parenthood with losses, fertility issues and even non Gynae issues causing obstacles eg one has a congenital heart condition which she was fine with just as a non parent adult but to be able to cope with pregnancy and potentially childbirth she needed surgeries and a lot of treatments and basically building her health up to get to a point where she could even ttc and also sadly a few who've lost babies and children after they were born, but I'm older and I know a lot of people due to being a military brat so not so odd that I seem to know a lot of people so affected.

Everyone's different, some seem to cope better than others - and yes I say seem as I can't know what goes on when they're alone. Others really struggle to keep going certainly in the initial aftermath and I've definitely witnessed other mums without ocd or other stuff going on but who've had difficulties becoming a mum or having more children after a loss and being very very aware of every raised temp, every rash etc

I think it IS normal in terms of that being a normal reaction to a trauma but that doesn't mean you need suffer in silence.

Get help if you can, gp is obvious starting point but many of the charities involved in this type of issue are incredibly helpful. I certainly got a lot of support from the miscarriage association and the endometriosis Uk and then later a charity relating to dds disability/condition. I've known others get great support from Tommy's, sands and others.

It's not easy and you won't heal quickly or even totally but you'll get to a point where it's manageable

Now I know more about dds condition and when I need to worry and when not to worry that's made things a bit easier.

Plus getting the ocd diagnosed and having some treatment for it helped a bit (I'm pretty bad at the moment but that's not to do with dd)

I wish you peace of mind as soon as possible op Thanks

Heyduggee123 · 29/05/2021 02:12

So we’re up at A&E (sent by out of hours 111), she had a temperature of 41 😢

OP posts:
Misty999 · 29/05/2021 03:11

Same here 6 rounds of ivf one early MC over five years, sids in DH family. I think it's the emotional battle of infertility that does it all those years and losses each time the ivf fails. DS is almost 3 and now have DD 5 months I do find I am better now as I become more experienced at parenting. Saying that I don't think there is anything wrong with dropping everything if your child is ill to concentrate on them, washing and housework will always keep. I also sleep with DS in my bed when he's ill to keep an eye on him.

Misty999 · 29/05/2021 03:18

Oh sorry OP just saw your update, your in the right place now. To be anxious when you child has a temp that high is in my opinion a perfectly normal reaction.

Heyduggee123 · 29/05/2021 03:48

Temperature has come down, she’s been given a supplementary antibiotic as there is still quite a lot of infection in her ear. She’s refusing to go to sleep 🤦‍♀️ Hopefully we’ll be home soon

OP posts:
ilkleymoorbartat · 29/05/2021 06:44

I have a bit so dissimilar backstory. I was like this until my youngest was about 4. I also had Cbt, which helped a lot and I would definitely recommend.

PurpleBiro21 · 29/05/2021 07:12

Yep, 8 years of IVF, 5 losses. Now have a toddler and I have some anxiety issues that relate to our experiences.

I panic with illness and my thoughts go haywire. I panic with crying. Luckily DC is chilled but in comparison with others I know somethings not 100% right.

Only reason why I’m not seeking help just now is because it’s not overly intrusive on day to day life and I’ve not got the energy or inclination to deal with the sadness and pain of the past (if that makes sense).

If it became too much, or dangerous to DC I would in a heartbeat.

PurpleBiro21 · 29/05/2021 07:12

I hope baby gets better soon.

The3Ls · 29/05/2021 08:56

Yes I can understand those feelings. Especially as I never had the until one of my kids became very ill at 12. In and out of hospital for weeks at a time couldn't work out what was wrong. She is now a teen doing absolutely fine but my younger one recently had a really mild stomach problem I spiralled into similar feelings. Doom in ability to cope with basic tasks feelings its the end of the world. I am a Highley functioning health care professional normally! Their dad doesn't do doesn't understand but sympathises. I guess I really understand it as pre all this I wasn't that kind of parent. Very easy going happy go lucky not health anxious. So it also feels very alien. Hugs be kind to yourself and enjoy the bits in between when it is OK xxx

BlueLobelia · 29/05/2021 08:59

I have a DS12 and a DS10. I feel like this also. DH just lets it roll off him.

I am a catastrophic thinker and if there is an illness or a crisis I go into hyper-focused mode.

DSTwins · 29/05/2021 09:28

I think given your history this is normal! My twins were born at 35 weeks, one needing surgery at 6 days old and at 7 months. We spent most the 1st year in and out of hospital, and still do for her various health concerns. We also lost my niece during that 1st year when she was just 7 weeks old. If one of the twins so much as coughs both me and DH panic. It has got better with time though. One hospital she is under referred us to their counsellors and we had a few sessions with them which was also really helpful. You have seen what it is like to lose a child and know that the worst can happen so how you feel is completely understandable. I really hope she is doing better soon x

Swipe left for the next trending thread