Any advice on how to deal with anxiety with postnatal restrictions?

[1990shopefulftm]

I'm due with my first baby at the end of next month and I'm not too nervous about the labour itself.
But, I'm bordering on having moments of very bad fear of what happens after birth every day now. My current plan is to go to the midwife unit which means I wouldn't have to be alone afterwards, however, if i have to be transferred to the postnatal ward, i'm very scared of being alone 22+ hours unless I can get out very quickly or self discharge.

I live in a local lockdown area, and restrictions at the hospital haven't changed in month so feel there's no point being hopeful anymore with possibly 4-6 weeks to go.

Any words of wisdom as to how I can deal with my anxiety better?

I gave birth in the middle of lockdown in May, and had the exact same fears beforehand. I spent 2 nights on the post natal ward where my husband wasn't allowed in. I know you're anxious but please don't be scared. Trust me , you will be fine . The midwives are well aware that the new mums are scared and alone and looked after us so well on the ward. In all honesty , as much as I would have loved my husband there, it didn't dampen the post natal experience. I felt worse for him, sitting at home wishing he was with us!

Good luck 😊

@secretllama if it's too personal to ask then tell me so, but I ve read so many stories of mums saying they pressed a buzzer for help to get baby up and no one coming for a good half hour whilst baby was left crying, was the ward you were on quite quiet at that time so you didn't have to worry about that being an issue ?

I ve had to a heart to heart with DH since posting and he's agreed that if the ward is that bad and our son was suffering or I was in a lot of pain because no one comes to help me in a reasonable time frame that he ll fully support me discharging myself against medical advice since there d be no gain me being on a ward, which has helped me feel like I have some control over the situation again.