Anxiety 31 weeks pregnant after meeting newborn baby

[Hlister90]

Pregnant with my first baby and been so excited about my pregnancy and my second trimester has been great. I am 31 weeks and just seen my friends new baby for the first time (she gave birth 3 days ago.).

However I held her baby and was quite overwhelmed by the whole thing think it was the first time it's really hit me the reality of the situation, that I'm about to become a parent - and really soon!!

When my friend left just became really subdued and wanting space to myself and can't really speak to anyone (mum and partner included). How can I perk myself up again as I was really excited until I met my friends baby. Now just feeling quite sad and subdued and quite anxious. Please help!

I don't have any words of wisdom, other than to say you are not alone. I am 34 weeks and starting to feel a bit freaked out by the thought of becoming a parent. I also met a friend's baby recently and felt so awkward with her - makes me worried I am just no good with babies!

But I reckon that if you feel like that and I do, then lots of others will so it's probably a totally natural way to feel. I am sure when we have the baby in our arms, we will figure it out just like everybody does.

It's an amazing thing but it's also very daunting so I think it's to be expected that we have the odd can I do this wobble xx

I had regular meltdowns in the last couple of months of pregnancy with DC1. But she's amazing and is by far the best thing that ever happened to us.

Fwiw, I'm fully expecting meltdowns during this pregnancy with DC2. Having children is a huge deal and changes things a lot, it's completely natural to have varying emotions on the subject!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and birth. I'm sure you will feel differently when your LO's here. But if you feel you need any emotional support make sure you ask for it.

Don't forget that it will feel very different when you are holding your own baby as opposed to someone else's.

Sorry, to clarify:

Other people's babies are really just babies (unless close relatives, etc). It is different because you love your own child.

I think most people feel this way at some point. In my first pregnancy I don't think I ever really believed I'd have a baby at the end of it... it was just too bizarre to contemplate.

Gosh yes, I held my friend's newborn the other day and found it terrifying to think that I will have my own early next year. It's perfectly natural to feel that holding someone else's baby, and nothing like holding your own...

A statement I can confidently make because I'm actually expecting number 2! :o So have done a fair amount of newborn holding already.

I Am 33 weeks with DC3 and when I saw a friend's newborn at playgroup a few weeks back, I hate to say it but my heart suddenly felt very heavy with responsibility, just seeing a newborn at close range was enough to make me remember what it can (sometimes, not all the time!) feel like with a new baby. A flash of panic, as it were. I just walked away and had a look at her nice new pram instead . I have 2 more close friends due between now and my due date, so I am going to have to man up and face it!

So it seems it isn't unusual to feel the way you did, but that doesn't mean you will feel that way in a few weeks when you hold your own baby for the first time :) and you never know, the next time you see your friend's baby, you may come over all gooey-eyed and not want to give the baby back after a snuggle, as it sinks in that soon it will be you snuggling your dear little baby!

I still go to a bf support group with my toddler who is 18 months and every few weeks or so there are tiny newborn babies.

A friend has just returned with her newborn tiny baby and offered him froubd for cuddles on a few occasions. The two support workers were pretty much fighting over him and me and another mum both had petrified looks on our faces at the thought. I think it is quite common to be uncomfatable holding other peoples tiny babies it is different with you own.

I refused to hold any babies in my first pregnancy my nice was born right at the beginning. I will probably be the same again. I have another newborn neice whom I am yet to meet I cant wait but I probably wont have a cuddle. In my books you did extremly well to hold the baby. It is totally different to your own.

My last couple of months with dc1 were a roller coaster of elation/panic/excitement/worry/numbness etc etc and that was without the bam! effect of a new baby to bring it home, so don't worry - it isn't a bad thing you feel this way, nor does it mean you will feel like that when yours arrives.

I was worrying out loud to my DH whether or not I would love dc1 when it arrived - he arrived less than 24 hours later and I was besotted and have been ever since, so feeling the way you do, is totally natural. :)

I feel the same and posted a slightly panicked 'not mentally ready' thread a couple of weeks back. Being induced on Sunday so counting down the days - tbh more nervous about bonding and looking after LO than the birth!!

Luckily my DP has started getting really excited and is taking 6 wks off with me so I'm hoping we'll figure it out together.

GL to everyone :)

I'm only 7wks, but anytime I see someone with a baby or small child I recoil inside and think 'oh god, not one of those!'. What keeps me going though (and tipped me over towards prospective parenthood) is that I'm narcissistically fascinated to know what me + dp =. I like my own company, I like my husband's even more, so I'm optimistic I will like and be interested in my child. Fingers crossed!

I totally agree about it being different being your own child. Before having DD I couldn't care less about other people's children, I wasn't interested in them at all. But my own DD is amazing and I had all the normal loving/I can't believe I made this feelings after she was born.

Since being pg with DC2 a few friends have had babies, another is due before me and 3 within 6 weeks after me, but I haven't/won't be that interested in their babies. It rea
Lu is so totally different being your own child that you and your oh created and you carried for 9 months.

CityDweller...I am a bit like that..I actually dont really like babies, toddlers and children i am great with but babies...naaa, leave me out..I am putting huge trust in mother nature, hormones and instinct and hopes it will carry me through