Overwhelmed!

[Ladyv1981]

Hi
At 23 wks pregnant I am feeling completely at a loss when it comes to handling my emotions at work, with family etc. I end up putting on a mask to everyone except my partner.

Work on Friday saw me completely freak out over the smallest thing that may result in a disciplinary but no one will listen when I say I can't cope. I am damn good at my job, and have exacting standards, so I am worried over what will happen whilst I'm on maternity leave. My assistant is talking back at me and I tried to tell my line mgr and hr my concerns but my high standards are always used against me! so I am then made out to be the villain :(

My sister has just had a baby, try to call her but feel like I'm intruding, my mum keeps asking if I've spoken to sister recently and tells me all of the exciting news, so I then feel like a crap sister :(

My mum doesn't ever listen to what I have to say and so it feels like I'm having to be some kind of super human with no emotions just to get through. But it hurts! I'm a shy unconfident and vulnerable person and being pregnant has just emphasised these feelings.

I just feel so so fed up and unhappy when I should be at my happiest, thank god I have a great man otherwise I think I would be at the lowest point imaginable.

Is it just me? Xx

Just wanted to give a virtual hug, and say that yes, pregnancy messes with your head!! Have you got any friends you can talk to about this? I find family can sometimes be the worst people to confide in! You're idwife might be a good source of advice too. Final though- what about listening to some hypnobirthing CDs or, going to pregnancy yoga for the relaxation bit mostly? Might help you learn some ways to keep calm and in control when you feel most emotional.

Thanks for the hug :) much better to know not just me. Only just heard about hypnobirthing so that's my next research project thx again xx

Pregnancy is overwhelming & stressful even if its a problem-free one, & the hormones don't help, so don't feel bad.

Just to say though, it might help to start winding down now & get your head around the fact that your most important job right now is 'cooking' that baby. I have a stressful job but I had to realise that I wasn't superwoman and I couldn't do everything, & nobody (except me) expected me to do it all!!

Obviously I don't know what your job is or your contractual obligations/rights are, but does it really really matter if, after you've done everything to get things set up before you leave, your cover messes up?? I mean, you'll be too busy having a baby to save their bacon & its not your job to do it. They're adults. If they don't want to do it right, let them suffer - you won't be there!!

I often have stress dreams where nobody is hearing me - I'm screaming at them to hear the truth but they just won't. What I'm trying to say is, phone your sister, chat to your mum, they will listen & understand but you have to actually tell them what's up, openly, & not just hope that they'll infer what you're implicitly saying. It is hard, especially if you feel more emotional as a result of pregnancy, but you want their support, sometimes you just have to ask...

Good luck :)