34 weeks and night time anxiety attacks over premature labour

[ToTryOrNotToTry]

I'm 39 YO and expecting baby nr 2 (oldest is 5 in August). Have had 3 failed pregnancies in between.

For the last 10 days I have had sleeplessness because I'm terrified of going into premature labour. We have been through so much to get this far, I just want my baby to be safe. When I am anxious at night, I just want to run to the Maternity Daycare Unit, but then I worry about what to do with our daughter: shoudl my husband stay at home with her? Should we all go in at 3 am?

I have now twice in a week been to the MDCU to be checked, and everything is fine. Went today after a whole night of Braxton Hicks and they checked my cervix was closed, which it is. But now i have slight spotting and tiny bit of mucus and am worrying afresh.

The plan is to go by train to my home country in 10 days to give birth there in August, as my family can help with childcare.

I just want to be able to sleep at night!!! Anyone else has had these panic attacks?

At 34 weeks, even if you did go into labour your baby should be just fine. The earliest surviour was born at 20 weeks! Does that put it into perspective? DS was born at 36 weeks with no health issues at all, went home 2 days later.

You can''t control it and no amount of worrying will change when your baby arrives.

TMI but I have had LOADS of mucus throughout my pregnancy, I think this is normal, rather than a sign of labour?

I think it is really normal to have increased anxiety during pregnancy, have you talked to anyone in RL about your panic attacks? Are they out and out, can't breathe, think I'm going to die panic attacks or do you just wake up very worried?

Thank you your reassuring words.

No, panic attacks is probably too strong a word, but i just can't fall asleep before 4 am because of the worry.

Ok that's good (kind of). Could you talk to your GP or midwife about the insomia? I'm 26 weeks pg and get terrible insomia, I think its a fairly common pregnancy symptom but I also find I lay there and worry if I'm awake.

My dS was born at 36 weeks and was absolutely fine (although small - 4lbs 12oz) with no breathig problems and went home after the usual 48 hours. Is now a strapping 4 yr old. Good luck, I'm sure it'll all be fine. xx

You have very little to worry about. As others have said if you went into labour this very minute, it is highly unlikely that your baby would be adversely affected.

Maybe she will need to be in the incubator for a few days, possibly a week or two, but usually that's the worst that could happen. a LOT of 34-weekers have near-normal birth weights (say 5-6 lbs), and leave the hospital with their mothers 2-3 days after birth.

If you were pre-28 weeks, I would tell you to worry a lot more. But 28 weeks onwards, risks start to decline dramatically. (I say this as someone who is at risk of preterm labour/birth and who Googled prodigiously and shat herself until 28 weeks -- I know how it feels)

I hope you feel better soon x

My first baby was born at 34 weeks - a bit sleepy for a couple of weeks and in Special Care to get feeding established, but she has never had the slightest disadvantage as a result of being premature. With this pregnancy I have worried about the little tinker coming early as soon as I got to about 24 weeks, and sighed a big sigh of relief at 34 weeks, feeling confident that all would be well even if I went into labour at any moment. Honestly, though not ideal, a baby coming at 34 weeks is not a disaster, and from what you have said you have no reason to believe that you won't make it to full term anyway. Try not to worry - easier said than done!

Thanks all, it really helps to read your kind words!

I have been walking alot for my daughter's school run (30 mins each way, so times 4) thinking it was good and free exercise, but I had to admit defeat this week and accept help :-)

So have been taking it veery easy for 2 days and it seems to have helped on the anxiety too.

My little boy was born at just under 32 weeks and is absolutely fine after a few uneventful weeks on nicu. He's currently driving me mad with lack of sleep just like any normal baby! You probably won't have yours prematurely but even if you did, at 34 weeks, they would be fine. Good luck x

Thirty years ago my daughter arrived 6 weeks early - and she is the most beautiful perfect intelligent person in the world! I expressed milk at home and produced enough milk to feed the whole baby unit for a couple of weeks... your baby will be fine whenever they choose to arrive.