Over caution is making me over anxious!

[MissTwister]

I’ve really tried not to fall into the trap of being over cautious. This is my first pregnancy and being a highly anxious person at times I knew it was a danger so was determined to resist! However, over time I have found myself slipping into worry and ‘being on the safe side’ and I have to say that in many instances it’s actually been medical /authority figures that have pushed me this way. A couple of instances:

• A doctor telling me I ‘probably shouldn’t, as it’s a risk’ go on an already booked holiday to Cornwall at 26 weeks because I have a low lying placenta (not praevia, never had bleeding, no other issues) and it’s an hour from the hospital. She said ‘Nothing is likely to happen. But it could.’ My husband pointed out to me that plenty of people actually LIVE in Cornwall so what do they do? Decamp to the hospital for the last 4 months? So I changed my holiday……

• I’ve had a dry mouth at night and bought some dry mouth spray. It says nothing about using or not using during pregnancy but it’s an innocuous looking minty spray so figured it was alright however just thought I would check with the pharmacist. Her advice ‘as it doesn’t say you can use it and hasn’t been specifically tested on pregnant women I have to advise you don’t use it.’ Her advice was to go to the doctor and get something prescribed……cue being awake all night with a dry mouth.

All this ‘risk adverseness’ has led me to slowly slip into the trap of panicking about everything. I’m currently convinced everything is going to give me toxoplasmosis and refused to eat a lovely dinner my husband cooked last night in case the meat wasn’t well cooked enough……

Anyone got any tips to get over this so I don’t drive myself mad over the next 16 weeks?

I know it's hard, but just try to relax, don't go googling everything in a panic. The NHS guidelines (remember, just guidelines, not rules) are good, and worth looking at, if it's not mentioned there, I wouldn't worry. As for medications, I personally think it's best not to use them unless approved for pregnant women, which is a PITA sometimes, but then I'm not a huge one for taking medicines all the time.

As for meat, just cut the piece in half before dishing up, if it looks a bit pink, cook it for another minute or two. I had to throw some pork chops back in the frying pan the other day, 'just to be on the safe side'.

You need to be sensible, but not so over-cautious that you spend your entire pregnancy living in a hermetically sealed box. Just try to chill and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

I agree with PP that the NHS website is the best place for guidelines. I decided that I would use that and that only to gauge what I would and wouldn't do in my first pregnancy. The reason being that all my antenatal care and labour would be based on NHS guidance also so if I have faith in them enough for that then I should trust their judgement on guidance.

Dr Google is evil!

It's so difficult to not be over cautious, and it's easy for me to say to try and calm down, but its such a nerve wracking time.

Remember that most of the advice is being over cautious in itself. The likelihood of toxoplasmosis, or listeria, or an od of Vitamin A is sooooo low, that even if you did go against some of the advice (by choice or by mistake) then you and your baby are likely to be absolutely hunky dory!

Thanks both, you're totally right....

Read the book 'Expecting Better' which is fab at cutting through the crap and detailing the genuine risks you need to be aware of (rather than all the made up stuff!)

Aaaaarggh, the whole thing is a nightmare, isn't it? The worse thing is trying to research the safety of things- you can read study after study and realise that there is NO DEFINITIVE ANSWER on whether something is safe or not- and by that, I even include things like coffee and alcohol .

I occasionally take Valium for insomnia- the GP said it was fine in pregnancy, the consultant OB said it was fine- the midwife said it wasn't- again, the more you research, the less clear the answers are....and sometimes avoiding everything "just in case" leaves you suffering.

By the way, I live in Cornwall, and think your GP was being ridiculously over cautious. I know someone who did start haemorrhaging due to PP, and does live an hour away from the hospital. They got her there in time....

Novia - I have read the book!! Maybe I need to again

Stubborn - I agree she was being stupid, but by then it was in my head as a risk.....I love a Valium for flying but it seems even a mouth spray is now potentially deadly!!