Dealing with postnatal anxiety

[ItWasNotOK]

My baby is now 6 months so I'm not even sure if it is termed postnatal at this point, but I am anxious about him all the time. I am generally an anxious person anyway, but I managed it well til I had him. I don't think the covid situation helps, of course.

He has just started eating solid food so I watched a video about what to do if a baby chokes, and I just burst out crying because the thought of something like that happening to him is just so awful. I have so many intrusive thoughts of things happening to him. Weirdly, I feel ok about leaving him with others eg my MIL will take care of him for an evening once he's asleep. Sometimes I wonder if it's more a confidence issue, that I don't know how to take care of him properly.

I don't live in the UK and mental health treatment is not good where I live so I can't really see a doctor.

It sounds all hippy and woowoo but I honestly found meditation to really help me with pnd and anxiety after my baby was born. It was the first thing I was shown to do in the mother and baby unit and its invaluable. Headspace is a good app to begin with. 5 or 10 minutes alone and relaxing. Good luck

I have always done meditation, nothing hippyish about it really. It does help in the moment but not long term really.

Its classed as post natal up until 1 year post birth as yes it takes that long for hormones to settle down the doctor told me. It prob is just confidence op and remember a baby's gag reflex is much further in the front of the mouth to protect them from choking. They should slowly slow this reflex but in the beginning coughing is normal and all part of learning. Oh and remember when baby coughs or gags that is the reflex working and means food is at the front of the mouth and that they are okay. Choking would be silent and is very unlikely when you are giving the baby appropriate spoon and finger foods, remember the chances of it are so low. I now have a second baby and has forgotten how stressful weaning can be. It is amazing what they can gum down and chomp on too.

Also remember you are feeding your baby closely supervised and nothing will happen to him, as a new parent I think its easy to imagine every eventuality. I have found having a second baby and a toddler at the same time has def helped me because I don't have time to stress now!