Wanted: stories of happy outcomes after anxiety!!!

[Sleeplessinnorthlondon]

Been here quite a bit and always found mumsnet so supportive. Allayed all fears I had about drinking before knew pregnant but keep getting anxious about impact of anxiety itself. Everything I read says needs to be chronic ie non stop and severe but not sure what that means. Would say feel jittery to butterflies most of the time and at points been much much worse, sort of more absolutely desparate despair / panic / terror really, though normally only for day at a time or so. Really really working at this but would love to hear from anyone who had similar experience and went on to have happy story with little ones that seemed pretty chilled and were healthy and happy!

Sleepless I can't offer any advice as I am still pregnant (33+4 now) but I remember your very first thread & I've seen a couple since then. I posted that I too had been drinking LOTS & smoking early pregnancy without realising & I also felt like I'd damaged my baby. Obviously he's not here yet, but I have had many scans & he's lovely & perfect. I even had a 4d scan & seen his little face & pouting lips. I'm sure your baby will be perfect too. Hope your OK & keep on going - you can do this! Anxiety is horrible but soon you will be holding your lovely little baby & it will all go away...

Thank you!! Just to clarify by healthy COURSE not excluding babies with health problems like heart issues or ds or anything like that more just worried about anything linked to anxiety itself xx

Sleepless I had severe and I mean extremely severe anxiety for most of my pregnancy. I was a complete wreck, no exaggeration. DD is 10 months now and is absolutely perfect in every way. If you want to chat further feel free to pm me, I know how awful it is.

Thank you so much!! Will inbox you x

Hi sleepless glad you're back... You seem much better already compared to how you were. Don't worry about the anxiety effecting baby.. Babies are in general very tough.

I had really bad anxiety and depression last time round and this time (15wks now) as well.

It is really hard and support can vary but I felt much better after 20wk scan last time and definitely once I had my son I was better too. My son is just fine btw :)

I'm really sorry you're going through this. How many weeks are you now?

I worry about my anxiety and panic attacks affecting my baby too. I just keep on keeping on if that makes sense xx

Thanks so so much for messages and congratulations myhands that's fantastic news!!!! You're right sg45 got to keep on keeping on :). God I can't wait to kick all these feelings forever!!!! Thanks so much for your support xxxx

I had severe anxiety, OCD, depression the works for my entire 3rd tri. I was admitted to a ward it was that bad. I was convinced he'd be autistic due to stress or exceptionally high needs

He's now nearly 3. Very chilled baby who slept through from 8 weeks and was perfectly happy and healthy.

I'm still scared to do pregnancy again though I very much want to, however I can confirm that stress in pregnancy didn't harm DS in any way whatsoever

Thanks so much for sharing that appreciate it hugely. Any idea what triggered it? Had you been stressed before and how were you after birth? Xxxx

I have health anxiety. I struggled to get pregnant then read a badly presented scientific study that turned out to be incredibly bad science and interpreted it instead of saying risk of harm from something I did in pregnancy to saying I would definitely have harmed my baby. So I thought I'd failed before Id even pushed him out, and that sent me over the edge.

Iv since learned that not all studies are as good as each other, and that I'm particularly vulnerable to scaremongering. My DH has threatened/promises to disconnect the Internet when I get pregnant again

Sorry to say after birth... I suprised myself, it was night and day. Suddenly he was there and I just "knew" he was okay, and even if he wasn't I loved him enough not to top myself over the guilt I felt but to fight on regardless for whatever he'd need. My baby made it ok. In the womb he was almost just a theory, a statistic I had harmed, but when I could see/hold him I met his personality and saw from day one it would never had been as bad as I worried about even if I had done any harm.

I spent a bit of time in a mum and baby unit which for me was awesome and I recommend anyone offered to take it up as I got to work with a baby psychologist who was SO helpful in helping me read my baby's cues. And also could officially reassure me he showed no red flags at the start of any harm.

Xxx

That is so so reassuring to hear kangaroos, thank you so much for sharing that!! Xxx