Tension in my belly

[Focusfocus]

Hi all

I'm in my 9th week and since the end of last week I've succumbed to a constant feeling of tension/anxiety in my legs, thighs and belly. It's almost a sensation like I used to get as a child if waiting for exam results or waiting in hide and seek to be found. My sleep is disturbed, but it's not there when I do sleep. The moment I wake up the tight knotty sensation and sense of awaiting doom comes back.

I have a wonderful DH who is doing his very best, including learning aromatherapy to give me rubs and massages, doing all the housework after we both finish work, helping me wash, dry and de knot my hair for it relaxes me.

My work has presented some stresses lately but nothing I haven't handled before. I do know my parents, as lovely as they are, parented,rather mothered awfully when they broke up during my adolescence and I've got baggage there that may subconsciously be returning. But I'm not consciously sad or upset or worried if you see what I mean, it's this consistent sense of tightness anxious psychosomatic tension around my back, belly, thighs. I can't seem to settle even with candle lit music filled dark room with DH massaging my legs and back with some lovely oils.

I can't spare money for counselling at the moment, and really not sure what to do. I feel okay emotionally usually except this very physical, bodily sense of anxious tightness.

I am worried it's harming baby as it's all around that region and the babe doesn't need all these stress hormones. If stress is what it is.

I fall asleep doing the Natal Hypnotheraoy cd, and the moment I awaken, voila, back where I was.

Any thoughts?

Speak to your gp. You know what this is and why and the fact you have thought about counselling suggests you know you need a bit of extra help right now. Believe it or not, all of that is the hardest bit. You can access psychological support through your gp and your local antenatal mental health team for free and the sooner you do it the sooner you can start to feel in control. The massages, doing household chores and everything else your DP is doing for you are lovely but aren't addressing the underlying feeling of anxiety which is why they on their own won't help (and be careful with the aromatherapy as some oils are contraindicated in pregnancy which as he's only just learning he may not yet be aware of). Pregnancy and all the hormonal changes causes an increase in anxiety for a lot of ladies which is why the support is out there-get on the phone and make that important next step to access them x

Thanks very much! I'm an aromatherapy expert so he's learning from me the guru so there's no worries there :) and yes, we hardly use essential oils except a drop or two of neroli which is safe in pregnancy.

Yes will call gp. Thanks much :)

Wow. so conversation with GP went as below -

GP calls: Hellp this is Dr Lady from the GP Surgery how may I help.
Me: All of my OP above.
Gp: Well. We cant just refer you for counselling like that. You need to make a GP appointment.
Me: Ok, can you please give me an appointment?
GP: There is nothing available for 3 weeks now. Ok? ring then, Bye.
me: Please wait. Is there any advice in the meantime for me? I feel really anxious.
Gp: Fine. So you are tired.
Me: No - not tired. (repeats OP above)
Gp: I can give you a Pregnancy counseling number - call them.
Me: thank (CLICK phone hung up)

Pregnancy counselling number turns out to be the number of our local Abortion Counselling Clinic.

Wow.

My family is....lets see... 1, 2...3 continents away! oh god.

That is appalling. Is there another gp you could try in the practice or can you get an appointment on the day if you call first thing and say it is an emergency (which whilst not life or death this is important enough to take an earlier appointment as the risk of developing something like antenatal or postnatal depression should be investigated). The other option is to calls he local midwife if you don't have one yet and explain it all t them. They may be more sympathetic.

Sorry you are having to work hard to get the support you need but honestly recognising you need a helping hand this early will really benefit you in the long run.

Stupid GP

Xx