Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Post-natal clubs

Join our Postnatal Clubs forum to find parenting advice for newborns.

Extreme Postnatal anxiety around baby’s health

2 replies

Fmlgirl · 04/08/2023 21:44

I feel like I just need to get my situation off my chest and see if anyone of you lovely Mumsnetters has been through something similar. Apologies, may be long.

Had a much longed for baby at 39 years old 9 weeks ago. Pregnancy wasn’t great. I developed pregnancy hypertension with some scary episodes and weekly monitoring at the hospital. Birth was fine however and baby lovely.

When I left the hospital my baby hadn’t latched and I developed mastitis and my blood pressure was still high. Never managed to breast feed in the end and saw a lactation consultant when my son was 6 days which is ironically where I think
my problems started. She said he was floppy (was still a bit jaundiced), had a weak suck and no neck. I stupidly go home and put these things into Google and see that my son could have really scary things such as muscle disorders and cerebral palsy.

Ever since then I haven’t been well. I have seen a Private Pediatrician out of despair who said my son was fine, an osteopath who said he was one of the healthiest babies he’s ever seen and he also had his 8 week check at the GP. Told her about my worries and she said he was totally fine and was quite reassuring.

I obsess over my son’s movements, tummy time and development. It’s really badly affecting my relationship with my fiancé who is helpful but says our son is fine and that’s usually end of the discussion.

I’ve started counselling and had a few sessions but honestly still feel my son could be seriously ill. Little things can make me question everything such as today he rolled back his eyes in his head before sleeping or he is sucking on his hands now but usually only the right. My rational mind tells me this is normal baby stuff but the anxiety is just taking over my life.

has anyone been through similar?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 06/08/2023 07:44

I've not been through this @Fmlgirl no, but I think that you realise that you do need help. I'd talk to the Pandas Foundation first. You can call or email and they should be able to offer you support Flowers

Elspethelf · 08/08/2023 07:56

I lost my first child at one day old. My second child is now 7 months and in perfect health but the anxiety is intense. I’m glad you are taking steps to get help.

Something that helped me was to not Google and instead call the pediatrician if I have a worry. Google gives you worst case scenarios that are often really unlikely.

I also had to explain to my husband that I wasn’t being judgmental, I just had extreme anxiety. For example I’ll say ‘don’t trip!’ when he’s holding the baby. Rationally I know I say unhelpful things but the panic bubbles up and I can’t help it. Communicating this with my husband means he knows in these moments I just really need his support.

Sending all my best wishes x

New posts on this thread. Refresh page