So close yet so far! Almost 36w and the anxiety is back.

[HowAboutNo]

As the title says really. I'm so close but the anxiety I had in the first and some of the second trimester is back with a vengeance! I fret over everything and the idea that I'm actually going to get a healthy baby is alien to me, completely surreal.

MW is so casually dismissive so can't talk to her about it, just wanted to know if anyone else is feeling the same?

Can you be more specific about your worries? It might help to break them down a bit. I'm 34 weeks and though this will be my third child I've also had 4MC. I still don't really believe I am going to have an actual baby. The only way I've got through this at all is to take it one small step at a time.
Do you have any specific worries about the birth? The safety of you or the baby? Coping with a newborn?

Is this your first? I felt super anxious throughout, as is my general nature, but the best advice that I was given was that it's all so new and different that you just can't imagine it. Every stage is different, you can't imagine what it's going to be like to have your baby with you - and I think that's where some of the anxiety grows from.

Yoga was really helpful for me, lots of calm breathing when I felt fretful in the middle of the night (thanks insomnia!). My MW clearly thought I was a dreadful old neurotic (and I suppose I was), but I would have liked a little bit of hand-holding too. Hopefully you can get some of that here.

I hit a mental block at about 20 weeks. It was like someone had shaken a bottle of pop and took the lid off. I couldn't stop crying. But I worried about totally stupid things. I did t worry about the baby I knew she was fine. I worried about everything else in my life. I worried my husband was leaving. That I'd put the wrong colour on a client and they'd sue.
I spoke to my midwife about it. The best advice I can give is to write your worry down. Underneath write out something that will remind you that it will all be ok and keep reading it. I found it helped to se what triggered the feelings. I'm now 24 weeks and feeling much better.

Hope it helps a little bit x x x

I remember the end of pregnancy is the worst for emotions and unsettled feelings!

I had real problems rationalising anything. My brain said one thing my body was off on another train ride over the mountains of 'what if'.

Take each day as it comes. At times I was down to hour by hour. Talk to friends/family and professionals about how your feeling. Get it all out there! Anxiety breeds anxiety and it's a miserable place to be.

Think about doing nice things each day. Paint your nails, go for small walks, cook nice dinners.

Your in the final stretch now. Its natural to be concerned a lot is going on for you.

Talk to people, take care of yourself, each day at a time and enjoy the little things.

Thank you everyone, these have been really helpful to read

It's my first baby, desperately wanted and it all feels like a bit of a miracle to be honest! It's hard to rationalise my thoughts sometimes as I just feel so lucky that it's almost like I think something HAS to go wrong. I find it difficult when people talk excitedly about the baby being here, I feel like that's a massive pressure and assumption. Basically, I'm ridiculous.

I don't want to do this ever again!!

Your not ridiculous your pregnant. I was very pregnant as well!

Thanks rinky... I'm on my own for the rest of the day so will fill my time and distract myself with painting my nails and such as you suggested.

HowAboutNo I so SO understand what you're feeling - i'm at 35 weeks and am worrying about EVERY move I make possibly hurting the baby (literally - i wake up at night worried that I've twisted in my sleep and hurt the baby and other absurdities of that type) , every potential bad situation taking place etc, basically just like at the very beginning of the pregnancy....like you this is my first and very much wanted baby so we are probably both scared that our excitement is going to come crashing down in some form of disappointment even though there is NO reason whatsoever for that to happen. I think what Callamia said is very true - it's the fear of the unknown, that is all. Big hugs - we will both be FINE! :-) xxx

miki can completely relate to waking up in the night in a weird position and having a mini panic! It's really nice to see other people are in the same boat (though obviously I would rather we didn't feel like this!) as my other pregnant friends are just bobbing along nicely, completely safe in the knowledge that all will be well! I wish I could be that chilled!! Wishing you all the best for the next 5 weeks!!