27 weeks pregnant and very anxious

[honeyharris]

I'm looking for some advice - basically i'm 27 weeks pregnant and very anxious about everything I've done or failed to do before and during pregnancy and convinced my baby has been harmed in some way. Part of this is based on reality due to a health problem that I have but it is reaching irrational levels and I'm dwelling on it constantly to the point where it's making me feel ill. Has anyone experienced anything like this and has anything helped? I've sought some reassurance from the consultant but it hasn't helped, and was wondering about trying hypnotherapy or a complementary therapy. Also due to see counsellor through work. I've asked if I can have another scan to double check on baby but been refused .

Hi

Long term veteran of this stuff, 32 weeks on pg 3.

Don't seek reassurance. Weird as it sounds, it makes it worse as the worry is the real prob, not the baby being harmed.

There's a Pregnancy and PostPartum Anxiety Workbook on amazon, can't link from phone but it's v helpful.

Also try 'Mindful Motherhood' by Cassandra Vieten, a programme of mindfulness which is great for all sorts of anxiety adapted for pregnancy and helps you tolerate the discomfort of not knowing and having no way of getting certainty while pregnant.

It's hard work being pregnant and anxious, hope these things help x

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your advice and that might explain why the reassurance I've had from the consultant, midwife and others doesn't seem to have helped at all. I'll check those resources out. x

Honey why don't you treat yourself to a private 4d or normal scan? See baby again if it'll out your mind at risk?? I'm a worrier and it's awful!!!

Huge sympathies for you. I have got exactly the same thing and it is horrible. right from the start of the pregnancy I have been convinced everything I'm doing has hurt the baby and would google everything and make myself feel more anxious. It got to the point for me around 31 weeks where it turned into asevere depression and now at 37 weeks I am still struggling to get through every day.I have not found anything has helped.so far,but I have had counselling and reflexology to help me relax. Just dont google anything and keep telling yourself all will be fine. Is the consultant concerned in anyway? If you would like to private message me, feel free it would be good to speak to someone whose anxieties are similar!

Hi have similar worry due to the drugs I am on and having several seizures in my pregnancy. Is there a support network for your medical issue? I'm sure there will be lots of women who have a similar condition who will tell you about their happy healthy babies. This is the case for me and I am reassured about the drugs as my daughter is beautiful and bright. However I had no seizures with her pregnancy.

I am having a scan on Monday to check whether or not the seizures have affected the growth of the baby so I've planned a nice weekend to get me through the wait. It is difficult and a worrying time but talk to friends and families and try to stay positive.

Bx

Thanks so much everyone, I feel a bit less alone already. Owlysims, do you think anything would be picked up on a scan that was missed on a 20 week scan? It might help if I could see he was growing normally? Julu283 thank you, I will pm you. BB14, I haven't looked at anything specific to my medical issue but that could perhaps be helpful too, I'll have a look

Thanks again xx

Not in the same situation but when I was pregnant I had 10 episodes of reduced movement so I understand the anxiety. I ended up getting induced because of it but it really was awful so be so anxious all the time. No advice but you're totally not alone.

2 month old DS is perfectly healthy and sleeping next to me fwiw.

Also bit concerned about number of scans - I've had 4 already (two 12 week as they couldn't get NT measurement on the first one due to how he was lying so I was in for a while for both of these), 20 week anomaly scan and gender scan as we don't get told gender in my area. Can too many scans be dangerous?(unsurprisingly am worried about causing harm with too many scans!)

Which is what is putting me off getting another scan, I meant! x

They are not dangerous. There is slight evidence that scans can influence which hand is dominant but nothing further. I had 14 (I think) scans and DS is perfectly healthy.

Scans aren't dangerous at all so no worries there!

That's reassuring DaleyBump, I didn't want to risk doing something else that I'd then worry about!

Do you know if there'a anything a scan would pick up at this stage that the 20 week scan wouldn't have?

Bb14, good luck with your scan tomorrow xx