Anxiety in pregnancy

[Doodlepoll]

Hi all,

I have had anxiety in the past (controlled and much reduced by CBT and mindfulness) and was worried that it would recur badly during pregnancy. It hadn't - until a couple of weeks ago (I'm now 37 weeks pregnant) - and it feels really bad. It's just generalised anxiety which comes on at any point, leaving me feeling really tight chested and panicky. I also keep having some intrusive thoughts. It feels much, much worse than it has for years.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did it improve once you had the baby? Did it affect the baby in any way or your ability to bond with them (something I really worry about)? And do you have any tips about how to deal with it?

Thank you!

Sorry you're feeling this way. I haven't got any advice but hope you are ok. Have you spoken to your mw? Do you have support? X

Yes. Pregnancy hormones can make anxiety crazy when we're predisposed to it!
Distraction is your friend. Acknowledge that you're feeling some really unpleasant sensations/ thoughts (don't try to chase them away/ out of your head), then just go and do something else.
I find singing along with spotify quite useful because it forces my breathing into a non-anxious pattern. Any breathing exercises in which your exhale is longer than your inhale will make it hard to physically sustain an anxious state.
As for future bonding - don't worry about something that hasn't happened yet :) (easier said than done, I know).