Newborn slipped off me because a spider was crawling on me and I panicked - feeling terrible

[Newmumstruggles89]

My DS is 11 days old. Yesterday, I was sat on the sofa in the afternoon and he was napping on my chest - very chilled out. I looked down and saw a huge spider crawling up my thigh (I have a phobia) and I panicked and leapt up instinctively, and DS slipped down me and fell on to the carpet. I can’t believe my spider fear overrode my mum instinct and I feel terrible. DS cried briefly, but isn’t hurt - we were just both shocked. I’m now absolutely terrified another spider will appear and I’ll do something equally ridiculous, and I’m reliving it every time I sit in the sofa. This has coincided with the baby blues I think - I’ve been really emotional and I’ve had an inexplicable feeling of doom since day 7. Just looking for a handhold really that, despite this ridiculous thing, I’m not a terrible mum.

I think you should ring 111 just in case as your baby is very young. Babies are incredibly resilient but 11 days is tiny. I'm sure everything will be fine just double check .

Take him to get checked but I'm sure he's ok anyway.

Then have a think about getting some treatment for your phobia.

Have you ever sought any help/treatment for your phobia?

Baby blues are around day 3, and last a couple of days, if you get them. But, you're low on sleep, so potentially emotional because of that.

If your phobia is that extreme, you need help. Or it could happen when you're standing up holding baby, or walking stairs etc, which would be much more serious

Have you taken him to get checked? 11 days old is very newborn and should really be checked if he’s had a fall at that age.

Kindly, please at least call 111 and speak to someone. They may recommend taking DC to get checked over

With regards to your phobia, have you looked into treatment of any kind?

Another who suggests to call 111 for some medical advice simply because they’re really tiny at that age

As others have said I would get him checked over as he is still so tiny. He is likely fine but falling from a height(which it is in comparison to his size needs a check over.

As for the spider, I think a lot of people would have jumped up if one was on them. It was an accident but your phobia is something you can work on.

Have you got your child checked over for head/ neck injuries etc? You seem a bit blasé. I can't imagine doing this but I'm not a panicky person. Perhaps work on your phobia.

You must get him checked over. And get help, it’s not acceptable to endanger others because of a fear of something entirely benign. Unless you’re going to drip feed you're in Australia or something.

DS has been checked over and is absolutely fine. I think dealing with the spider fear is useful - although, I’m not afraid to the extent that I’d panic if I saw one run across the carpet. I could happily trap it in a glass. It was just the fact that it was crawling up my leg - I’m not sure my instinctive reaction would have been much different if it had been another insect or a mouse or any unknown creature; it felt beyond my rational control and I guess that’s what shocked me so much. I’ve ordered sone anti spider spray as an immediate solution.