In massive massive panic

[Vi37]

Hi, I have incredibly bad anxiety and postnatal ocd and postnatal depression. Please, please no horror stories or it might tip me over the edge. All I’d like to know is if any of you wash your babies bottles in antibacterial washing up liquid before sterilising. I’m in an absolutely massive panic about it and gone as far as to think that I’ve given my 9 month old cancer because I shouldn’t have been using it. I’ve changed to a special baby bottle cleanser now but I’ve been cleaning them with the antibacterial stuff for 8 months. Please let me know if you use or have used the same, thank you so much ladies

We used to stop sterlizing at 6 months, then it would be wash/up liquid and a bottle brush. None of my babies ever ended up with cancer. Stop panicking.

Absolutely fine to do that. Is anything else worrying you?

Sympathy. I remember having a terrible panic when i forgot to turn on the steriliser, took the baby bowls and cutlery out and used them unsterilised! Obviously everything was fine. Since then I’ve fallen over with the baby in the sling, banged her head on the car roof, and watched her fall off the bed countless times. She’s just started uni and is very bright! Honestly, they’re very tough and all will be well. Enjoy these times, they pass so quickly.

i wash the bottles in hot soapy water (washing up liquid) are we not meant to?

It’s really fine, no need to worry.

Yes I used antibacterial fairy liquid before sterilising. Your baby will be fine

It will be fine. Are you getting help for the pnd and anxiety? Don't let it steal your enjoyment of your baby, if will all be OK.

That will be fine. It’s just irrational panic. Speak to your HV for reassurance? Xx

Yes, washing up liquid, rinse, sterilise. Nothing wrong with that at all. 💐

I’ve got 3 children. I’ve never sterilised anything. If you’ve sterilised them after washing them it’s completely fine.

Yes, every day I use antibacterial Fairy liquid and stopped sterilising a few weeks ago. Your baby will be absolutely fine.

OP
Your baby will be absolutely fine.
Have you spoken to your HV or GP about your anxiety? Are you on any medication?
You have my sympathy, I had PND and anxiety and I know how hard it is to stop your mind racing to the worst possible scenario and how it's all your fault somehow.
Youre doing a good job and your baby will be fine but I think you need some help to calm your anxieties. Good luck x

OP - massive hand hold. I had severe postnatal depression and anxiety. Could you speak to your GP about getting a perinatal mental health nurse on board? I'm sure you're getting help, but my perinatal MH nurse was invaluable in those really tough days when the newborn haze had worn off and I was sleep deprived and not coping.

I used antibacterial washing up liquid to wash bottles and then sterilised and everything is fine. But I totally remember feeling irrational about all sorts of things when I had my DS so you're not alone

Thank you all so much, especially for replying so quickly too. I’m getting help from a community mental health nurse and going to a counsellor, they are great and I’m thankful for them but it’s just their job, they don’t have any idea how I feel. I think it helps me when I hear people have done the same things as me, I feel like I need constant reassurance all the time. Thank you all again. X

It was specifically the antibacterial part that was worrying me, I go on the net too much and I need to stop. Xx

And I’ve given up at the docs, antidepressants are rubbish so she’s given me diazepam and that’s such a low dose it’s not doing anything either.

Yes, I have always used antibacterial washing up liquid to wash my babies bottles/cups/equipment.

I’m sure it’ll be fine OP. When my LO was in neonatal they gave me a wee bottle of washing up liquid to clean my expressing equipment as it doesn’t need sterilised. They just said to use washing up liquid and made no specifications that any weren’t to be used when I got home so I reckon all would be fine.
Hope the help you are receiving helps x

There are lots of different antidepressants to try. It can take time to find the right one for you but they may not all be "rubbish" at alleviating your symptoms.

It was specifically the antibacterial part that was worrying me

All washing up liquid/hand soap etc is antibacterial. They just charge more for the ones that say it on the packaging. ;)

It’s fine.