Help me enjoy my pregnancy :-)

[Kelsey28]

I have written on here lots of times about my anxiety. At the moment it is making me quite poorly. I have not enjoyed being pregnant at all as I can't get my head round having a live baby at the end of it. Even baby kicks had turned into an obsession so I don't really enjoy them. Just wait for the next one. This will probably be my only pregnancy because of the anxiety and I realise how lucky I am to be pregnant at all. I really want to embrace it! Any tips?!

It is a very recent idea that you should "enjoy" a pregnancy. There is no obligation to enjoy it - it can be darned uncomfortable at times! If you stop feeling obliged to enjoy it then you may feel a lot happier!

Thank you :-). It isn't that I feel obliged to. I would just like to talk about the baby without the footnote in my head "If she survives". I am starting pregnancy Pilates and Yoga and I'm hoping that will chill me out a bit x

1. Get professional help for your anxiety. CBT is often available on the NHS although there can be a long wait. Either way talk to your GP and/or midwife and ask what support is available. They may be able to refer you to a specialist mental health midwife.

1. Do pregnancy yoga, it's absolutely wonderful and calming.

1. Try meditation (look up MBCT/MBSR) and/or hypnobirthing. The breathing and meditation techniques can help with your anxiety in general and not just with labour.

Cross post! Glad you're starting pregnancy yoga, that will most definitely help

I agree that "enjoying" pregnancy is a bit of a myth (well in my experience anyway!) but getting through it without feeling too anxious isn't too much to ask

I was a bit like that - a bit superstitious about it - I did not buy stuff till I was well advanced in pregnancy. I think every Mum feels a bit like that. By the way all mine were hale and hearty and yours will be too. I am sure.

Thank you for the suggestions name change. I am waiting for my first meeting with the mental health midwife and I am sure then I will feel much better. :-).

I'm not sure that you're all that different from anyone else. We all worry that our baby will be ok, and be born alive.
I made a pact with myself that if the woman on Brookside's baby was ok ((due at the same time), then mine would be too.
Stupid - she was an actress, and not even really pregnant - but it helped

Sounds as if you're doing all the right things OP