Anxiety with my new born

[Edge123]

I am new to netmums and looking for some advice. I have a 10 day old baby and I’m struggling. I’ve suffered with anxiety before and have been on medication in the past. I have however managed the whole pregnancy without medication. However now he’s been born I seem to have gone into overdrive. My anxiety is through the roof and seriously effecting me. I am constantly in panic mode and so tense my jaw is hurting. My obsessive thoughts seem to be rearing their ugly head as well. I keep imagining I will drop my baby when I am carrying him. And it’s making me nervous to be around him. I have spoken to my GP and he’s put me back on medication but I know these take a few weeks to kick in. In the meantime has anyone got any advice or experience in this that they can share? I am feeling pretty scared at the moment

Have you any help at all?

My husband is still off work at the moment but we also have a 5 year old which keeps him busy. I am also dreading it when he has to go back to work.

Just while you’re waiting for the meds to kick in could you afford a mother’s help or maternity nurse?

Is that someone you pay to help with the baby?

Yes exactly

Hey going through similar. It sucks doesn't it. Are midwives Aware? I've been put on a 28 day discharge program instead of 10days so getting a bit more support from them

Keep talking to people about how you feel and hopefully it'll start to improve. Pm me if you want too xx

Hi. Yes they are aware and are being really supportive actually. Sorry I am new to Mumsnet. How do I PM you? Be good to have a chat to someone who understands. You can feel so lonely can't you.

Hi edge,
I've pm'd you- you should get an email that you can then respond to x

Hey - i totally understand how you're feeling as I had huge anxiety after the birthday of my first child, with non stop intrusive thoughts of awful things happening to him. My GP put me in touch with perinatal mental health support services and they helped so so much. You are not alone, this is very very common. I was really concerned that the same anxieties would return after the birth of my second child however thankfully they didn't. Upon the advice of my midwife I pre registered with the support team ahead of my daughter's birth just I need case I needed them. It's a self referral system so if you contact IAPT in your area they should be able to help you. You can find contact details by entering your post code via this link www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/Psychological-therapies-(IAPT)/LocationSearch/10008 . Wishing you all the best, please remember you are NOT alone, it WILL pass and there are people out there who can help get you through this. Big hugs

Thank you so much for your message. It's very reassuring to hear I am not alone because it certainly feels that way. Do you remember how long it was before you started to feel better? x

To be honest the weight and anxieties started to lift a little as soon as I started talking to the support team however I would say that it took a number of weeks until it went fully. It happened to me just under 4 years ago so i can’t remember exactly how long it took I’m afraid. Thoughts I had were, for example, visions of the buggy falling off bridges that I crossed, or the baby falling onto train tracks. It was so so awful and i felt anxious even holding my baby at times as a result. I am not sure if there is any way of sending you a message with my contact details as I’d be more than happy to discuss over the phone if you feel this might be helpful. I SO understand how horrible those awful thoughts and feelings are and wish people would be more open about how often these anxieties arise as I felt so alone with my thoughts and felt like I I was losing my mind at the time. Big hugs x

It sounds exactly like what I have! Thanks so much for the support. I think you are able to private message via here? xx

Sent you a PM! X