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Ocd?

3 replies

HazelViewer · 01/07/2024 16:07

Hi everyone, I had my baby 9 days ago and thank god everything is perfect bar my mental health. At around 34 weeks I started getting bad intrusive thoughts, “What if the baby isn’t my partners?”, and it has gotten so much worse now since my baby has been born. I don’t understand why I’m getting these thoughts even though I know there’s no chance that she could be anyone else’s. I don’t recall getting them at the start of my pregnancy and I can remember praying that I was pregnant because my partner was told he only had 60% chance of having kids so we were trying for 2 years. My mind is always on overload with intrusive thoughts such as “what if I blacked out and can’t remember if something happened”, “what I’d say on a contaminated toilet seat” and it’s ruining my time with my baby and partner. What can I do? Was anyone else ever in this position? It’s coming to the point I’m nearly considering a paternity test even though I know the outcome would be that she’s his. I know that talking to him about it will just make him anxious for no reason, so what’s the point? Please does anybody have any advice? Thank you❤️

OP posts:
FunLurker · 02/07/2024 10:29

You need to go to the doctors, they can put you on medication to help with the anxiety/ocd and then refer you somewhere if you need. Anxiety/ocd and many other illnesses aren't uncommon in pregnancy and after the birth but get some help so you can enjoy your baby. Mental health is horrendous for anyone but you have the added bit of having a new baby, so please get medical support.

Ilovedogs1 · 02/07/2024 22:08

@HazelViewer this is actually more common than you would think. There is a charity called Maternal OCD which might be worth a look. It's founder Diana Wilson had these exact thoughts. Google Diana Wilson Daily Mail, there is a whole piece about it. X

aridiculousargument · 03/07/2024 13:43

I had perinatal OCD (started during pregnancy) and my intrusive thoughts were on a different theme - it’s awful. It’s so difficult for someone who hasn’t had it to understand how it feels like your mind is playing tricks on you at the same time not listen to it.

I had EDMR for it last year and it absolutely changed my life. I didn’t think I’d be able to go back to work or ever leave the house with my baby (my intrusive thoughts were related to my baby’s safety), and now he’s in nursery, I’m back at work, we go everywhere and have fun.
I had it with the perinatal mental health team. Ask your GP for a referral.

best of luck and congratulations on your baby

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