Health anxiety and pregnancy.. help?

[mommagee2023]

Hi, first time joining and posting in here!
I am 23 years old and expecting my first child, I suffer quite severely with my mental health and more specifically health anxiety.

im just wondering how everyone copes? I’m only 5 ish weeks so I’m super early in but I can’t cope with the anxiety! I’m afraid something will happen to the baby, or me, or baby’s dad. Super bad intrusive thoughts about how one of us could fall terribly ill, just a big ball of anxiousness!
I am currently on 100mg sertraline, and my main health anxieties are around something being wrong with my cervix (??? I don’t know why either, was r*ped at 16 and bled but I googled it at the time and it said bleeding after sex was a sign of CC..so little me thought that’s what was wrong), or having a miscarriage (I had a missed miscarriage 1.5 years ago)

would really love any tips or words of affirmation and support, I feel quite alone in my thoughts atm:(

Reach out to your gp who should refer you to a mental health nurse and then they will go on from there maybe for some help/therapy. I had this in my first pregnancy and it was hell but there's a lot of help! I'm also pregnant too so you are not alone! Remember let your thoughts come and go.. accept them as just thoughts. They aren't you and they aren't real.

I would tell your GP straight away your pregnant and your worries.
At your booking in app with MW tell her the same.
They will support you whichever way through but it's important you speak to them.

Thank you for your reply! I have reached out and have my first mw appointment in 2 weeks! :)

Thank you for your reply !! I have reached out and have a first mw appointment in 2 weeks time, thank you for you kind words. My mind is moving so quickly I forget I need to just let some thoughts pass🌸

Thank you for your reply !! I have reached out and have a first mw appointment in 2 weeks time, thank you for you kind words. My mind is moving so quickly I forget I need to just let some thoughts pass🌸

How are you doing @mommagee2023

Be as honest and as open as you can with your midwife. You can ask to be referred to the perinatal mental health team and they normally have a lot more support available.

I found that although I thought I was 'over' my rape, or was at least ok with it, I really wasn't. That all surfaced during pregnancy and as I started to get very anxious about the birth and not feeling safe during labour. It continued to get worse after the birth of my first child and I started having panic attacks nearly daily. It was a really difficult awful time. It's very common for mental health problems to resurface and worsen during pregnancy and post partum. It also puts you at higher risk of developing PND/PNA or something more serious like post partum psychosis. Having your care providers aware of this will enable them to support you as much as you need- with more appointments during pregnancy, an extended amount of time being seen

I'm pregnant with our second and have been referred to the perinatal team and have already found them so helpful, I only wish I had been referred during my first pregnancy and maybe could have avoided some of the pain of the last 2 years.

Good luck with your pregnancy and congratulations!