6 Weeks Pregnant and extremely anxious

[LynseyLou1982]

I'm 6 weeks pregnant today and since I found out (which was only last week) I've become extremely anxious about everything. Worrying the I don't 'feel' pregnant, we're both tests false positives, constant loo trips just to check my pants, Googling obsessively over every little ache and twinge. I have booked an early scan next week as I know I can't wait till 12 weeks I'll go demented. Anyway latest thought is what if I'm not really pregnant and instead I'm just suffering from a cyst or something worse? Made the mistake of Googling this and now I'm convinced this is what's happened. Am I just being stupid or is this normal?

I'll be 6 weeks pregnant on Friday and like you I don't have any symptoms others than frequent loo trips and cramping on and off. I've booked a private scan for Monday and I've got an 8 week scan also due to a previous loss. We just need to tell ourselves everything is ok and stay off google lol!

It's pretty normal not to have symptoms at 6 weeks.

Are you normally very anxious? Would it make you feel better to go to your GP

Try and relax, hard to do I know and remember your hormones are all over the place which is contributing to your feelings

And congratulations!!

With my first pregnancy I didn't really believe it until my scan, the time just dragged until my 12 week scan and even though I felt pretty rubbish, I couldn't convince myself I was actually pregnant.

Second time round is very different, much more relaxed about things, and time goes much more quickly when you already have a little one to look after!

I felt similar with my first pregnancy. Its a lot to adjust to and you don't know what your body 'should've doing.
Stay away from Google. It is not your friend here!
Yes not all pregnancies end happily but many many do. Its not within your control either way unfortunately so try not to obsess about it. (I mean that kindly). You need to work hard on redirecting your thoughts. Pregnancy can be a worrying time but it's a long road so you need to look after your mental health as well as your physical self. Focus on eating right and gentle exercise. Take each day as it comes.

It's very normal to be anxious in the first trimester. I'm not usually anxious at all...I'm 6 weeks today and have checked for blood approximately eleven billion times!

Why not head over to the ante-natal threads, we have a March 2018 thread and you can join the rest of us in our first trimester paranoia trip...

Won't make you less anxious, but you will feel less alone!

Thanks everyone. I think my partner is ready to confiscate my phone if I do anymore Googling.

I'm not normally an overly anxious person and yes I think hormones may be involved. I've got my first midwife appointment booked but not for another 2 weeks.
I think it may be a long 8 more months if I can't get this under control though.

I became very anxious during both pregnancies. Without wanting to give you more to be anxious about(!), things did not get better after the 12 week scan as I became anxious about everything and began to have panic attacks. Both times these feelings disappeared once the baby arrived. I was not taken seriously by the gp which is why the anxiety became lots worse. I sought help privately for second pregnancy. SoI would say that if it doesn't settle down and you feel it is interfering with your life then tell gp or midwife but be very insistent. Wishing you all the best.

I'm exactly the same. I already have a 2yo DS but have had two chemicals/ early miscarriages this year and am struggling to keep my anxiety under control sometimes.
I am nearly 7 weeks now and must check to see if I'm bleeding 15 times a day. I am constantly checking that my boobs are still heavy and a bit sore and panic if I get any cramping, particularly at night, as that's when the previous bleed happened.

I wish I could offer some comfort - but at least you know you aren't the only one who feels like this. Sending love and positive thoughts.

Thank you @MissMagpie. Started with the odd bout of nausea now and my sense of smell has gone mental. Still obsessively checking when I go to the loo and I'm also wondering if my boobs are as sore as they were. I think I'll relax a bit after the early scan assuming all is well.

You are not alone, I am not normally an axious person but I have really lost the plot during my pregnancy, worrying about every little thing from my lack of symptoms to my lack of bump, what the outcome of my scans and tests would be, when I should be feeling movement, how much movement I should be feeling and every possible health fear under the sun! (I should add that all of these fears have proven complete unfounded!!!) Please don't suffer alone, time seems to go even slower when you are worrying and pregnancy can feel like one never ending anxiety waiting game!

I'm slowly starting to get things under control now but wish I had taken some of this advice a bit sooner so I could have enjoyed the early part of my pregnancy a bit more:

• Don't google! Check one reliable source of info (e.g. NHS website) and/or speak to your GP/Midwife if you have any concerns, the internet is filled with a never ending supply of dubious and conflicting advice and info that will only make your head spin!
• Speak to your Midiwife/GP about your anxiety. Some anxiety is very normal in pregnancy but extreme anxiety that inteferes with your normal life is not and help is available. You may need to be insistent to get it taken further but don't let that put you off.
• Early scans/reassurance scans can be really helpful (I had one at 18 weeks and it really helped out me at ease before my 20 week scan) but don't rely on them too much, as there will always be a wait until the next scan/check during which time you will have to deal with the uncertainty and play the waiting game!
• There are useful resources online for dealing with anxiety (this is one thing I would encourage you to google!) and a great pregancy anxiety workbook that I bought on Amazon which may be helpful.
• Sometimes you have no choice but to wait and see how things pan out, so try and find ways to take your mind off things, either through planning some fun activities or taking up something like yoga/meditation/mindfullness.
• Try not to compare your pregnancy to other people's. Some ladies have lots of symptoms but there are just as many who have none, and those who find that symptoms come and go. Bumps grow at different rates, people feel movement at different stages and babies move different amounts so don't panic if you are different to other people! *Remember that the odds are in your favour of everything going well and try to focus on that.

I hope some of that is helpful, it is what I would write to my ealrier pregnant self if I could go back in time! Take care of yourself and take things a day at a time - and best of luck with your pregnancy

Thank you so much for the advice. I'll check out the anxiety workbook. I've booked an early scan for next week when I'm 7 weeks.

I worried throughout the first trimester as I had no symptoms and was terrified that something would go wrong. Anxiety only eased for about a week after a scan at 8 weeks, but gradually got easier with each subsequent scan, milestone and eventually once I was feeling kicks regularly.

I kept telling myself that a lack of symptoms was a good thing (did I really wish unending nausea on myself?!); that it was more likely that everything was fine than not; that without proof, surely it's better to go for the positive outcome rather than automatically think it's negative. Talking to people helped so they can help you keep things in perspective. But, ultimately, I had to ride it out - there isn't a 'cure' for this kind of anxiety (that I could find!)

Currently cuddling a two week old so all well in the end

I suffered from anxiety up to about week 10, when the placenta took over and I suddenly felt much calmer, more stable. Hopefully, this will happen for you, too!

I read somewhere that anxiety is even a symptom of early pregnancy. I would get up to pee in the middle of the night and be unable to go back to sleep. Now, at 12 weeks, I go back to sleep easily.

Thanks everyone for the kind words.