Have I got PTSD after baby pram rolled? (TW accident involving child/near miss))

[Iggypoppie]

When my DD was about 6 weeks old I took her for a walk and stopped outside a shop, as I was so sleep deprived I didn't notice the pram rolling away from me towards the road of busy fast moving traffic. Fortunately a woman reacted quickly and stopped the pram before it fell into the road. I'm now left with flashbacks and a sense that I failed my DD and it could have been game over for my much longed for chance to be a mother (she is an only child and I'm no longer with her father).

My DD is now 3 but I feel very protective of her and anxious that something will happen to her.

Has anyone else got experience of near misses and how they play on your mind, particularly when you feel you were at fault? (Also, I realise that some people have to live through worse such as accidents and illness - my heart goes out to you.)

My youngest son had a fall down some stairs last month when I was distracted trying to get some stuff through the front door. Apart from a bump to the head he was fine but I got myself in such a state, I threw up and hardly slept for checking him. However when I start to think about it I tell myself it was a accident, he was fine and lots of parents make mistakes. I always go to advice from my nan, who has always had children around her and worked as a preschool leader for years and even she tells the story of how she lost my aunt in a shopping centre and found her sitting on a bench talking to a elderly lady.

If you feel it’s made you a anxious parent, talk to the gp? Health visitor?

Thanks Esmee. Yes there are always stories that people tell you about near misses that make you feel better. I think my anxiety is getting worse as she gets more independent and maybe counselling would help me.

Ask the GP or HV whether it is possible to access EMDR for the PTSD

My horse kicked out at dd when she was 3 ( now 16) and very nearly kicked her head ( never done this before ever ) and I still have awful thoughts about it ( yes I know it was daft having her in the stable .. I admit I got complacent about the danger of horses after having them all my life) .. I don't have ptsd it any other mental health issues , it's a perfectly normal response to the situation . Don't beat yourself up about it , she is fine .

When DS was 2 (now 27) he managed to get out the front door with only a vest on (no nappy, I had just nipped to turn bath on) I ran out in the street and couldnt find him. A neighbour found him in the middle of the road, a car had stopped. I had dreams for years that I'd lost my son, it affected me for a long time.

@Iggypoppie I had the same thing happening with one of my sons. It was very, very scary and I still think of it years later.

The same happened to me with the pram- it rolled out of the shop down through the automatic doors onto the pavement and started to go across the road.
I didn't have ptsd from this but sadly did later on about something else.

I haven't got PTSD and I've never had a near-miss with my children. But what I can tell you and I've discussed it with a number of other mum friends is that I/we do have a heightened sense of awareness of any risks re our children! I was chatting to a friend just the other day about how mums constantly think about all of the awful things that could happen and how to avoid them (eg holding a child's hand when they are close to a road, closing windows that could be risky etc).