Just found out I'm pregnant. help!

[lowra]

Hi everyone

I'm new to mumsnet having just found out I am pregnant. Thought I would be over the moon but I just feel so anxious all the time and keep imagining the worst case scenario!

I'm 33 and about 5 weeks gone (since my last period). Any advice or reassurance would be much appreciated.

x x

Congratulations!

You are reacting to your news in exactly the same way I did. I worried until 12 weeks, when I had the dating scan. Had that, then worried until 20 weeks until the anomaly scan. Then worried again until the birth. Now I worry about each of my children but nothing beats the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Thanks Harregub!

I'm a worrier anyway so I guess this is normal for me. Driving myself mad searching for things online and reading about the odds of this and that happening. Hope mumsnet will give me a bit of perspective.

Same here, im 3 weeks and cant help but worry about the worst.

Ill be watching this thread with reassurance too ;-)

Worrying is normal. Then you will worry that your worry is getting you too stressed and harming the baby, so you will worry some more. Eventually you will make peace with it one way or another. Mine was helped by finding out more about stuff in an objective way, but some people would get more worked up with worst case scenarios.

I was totally shocked and worried too when I found out, even tho I suppose it was 'planned'. Plus I'm living in France at the moment, and my French is limited, so I was super worried. I have spent a long time reading the threads on mumsnet - most are brilliant, reassuring and comforting, a few make me worried, and one or two have made me laugh. I'm now in my second trimester, and while I have got over the shock, thinking about what's going to happen really worries me! The 12 week scan was amazing - it made everything much more real, and everyone at the hospital has been great. I really just try to not think about the future - it is a while away yet - and to concentrate on the here and now, and enjoy anything that I can - esp chocolate! And I keep telling myself that people have been having babies for centuries, and nature is weird and wonderful, and there's no way I can control what's happening, so I may as well just go with it.

Sorry if I sound a bit hippy-ish! It makes sense to me anyway!

I've just been to register with a new doctor as I've just moved house, and have an appointment to see the midwife on 20th August. I will be 8 weeks gone by the time I even see anyone. Is it normal to wait so long?

I had my "booking" appointment at 8 weeks - I think that is standard practice - indeed some people don't have them until 10 or 11 weeks. They don't really do any physical checks at that stage (other than weight and BP) - most if it is just about giving the midwife/GP all your details.

I found it all v worrying too- I wanted someone to check that all was ok - unfortunately they can't do that and it is just a matter of waiting to see if all is ok at the scan at 12/13 weeks - unless of course you want to pay for a private scan at your local private hospital - I think that they are anywhere between about £150 - £250.

I think that Fanny75's advice was spot on - and that was how I tried to think and it really did help. Is v hard though as it's so exciting and all consuming.

Good luck - it does get easier as you get through the pregancy as you do start to feel and look pregnant and you have various midwife/scan appointments where you can check all ok - these happen about every 4 weeks after the first scan.