Hot water bottle panic

[Hopehope20]

Hi all,

I know this may sound silly....and I also recognise I have health anxiety which is something I am dealing with separately...but I have just found out I am 3.5 weeks pregnant (very early I know!) About 4 days ago I woke up in the night having fell asleep with a hot water bottle and I got quite hot. I have since read conflicting views about whether they are safe to use. I am worrying I raised my core temperature too high and may have caused damage. Any advice? Thank you in advance for being patient with me!

Please calm down. You and baby will be fine.

When I was pregnant with DD1 I had excruciating pelvic pains from 6-9 weeks and was advised by the consultant obstetrician to use hot water bottles and hot baths as much as needed to ease the pain. It really helped.

It will be fine, people go in hot tubs and saunas and on drinking holidays to benidorm at 3 weeks pregnant because they don't know they're pregnant. Don't worry.

A hot water bottle won't raise your core body temperature, it's nothing to worry about.

I have health anxiety, too, and it's dominated my life for years (currently resulting in extreme OCD in regards to avoid Australian flu germs because I'm terrified of catching it), but I can assure you that you have absolutely nothing to worry about in regards to the hot water bottle situation. Absolutely nothing - trust me.

Avoiding*

Is this your first pregnancy? You'll look back at this in a few weeks/months are realise you had nothing to worry about. You'll start to learn things about pregnancy - things that you don't get know, or are probably new to you right now (not meaning to sound patronising, at all - just trying to reassure you).

Yet know* (sorry, this damn phone!)

Thank you so much everyone. You are right, I will look back at this and think I was being an idiot and I should have instead enjoyed this part (like I always do!). With OCD as well it is really hard when my mind clings onto something. I am fighting it too, think I am just feeling a little overwhelmed. I have wanted to get pregnant for so long and that is all I have focused on...now that I am I guess I feel a bit different than I thought I would....fearful and only now thinking about how massive this is! I will calm down - thank you for your support

Not an 'idiot' (don't blame yourself/your character), just a worrier. As much as I hate having anxiety, a part of me can appreciate it for keeping me vigilant and alert to things, and proactive in seeking/obtaining solutions and preventative measures. Those aren't qualities of an 'idiot', at all - just someone who wants to avoid danger/unpleasant events, as we'd all like to, but unfortunately the mind of an anxiety sufferer over-anticipates these threats and sends cortisol/adrenaline pulsing through our body and catastrophic thoughts to our mind. I'm trying my best to work on my mental well-being and self-development this pregnant but, God, had it been hard. I'm currently reading a book on hypnobirthing which is surprisingly helpful (for more than just preparing for birth) - I'd recommend it! I'm reading this one:

www.amazon.co.uk/Hypnobirthing-Book-Relaxation-CD/dp/B00AWPZUVC

I wish you all the best!

X

This pregnancy*

God has* sorry!

Thank you so much @sunandfire it is so hard trying to explain these kind of worries to my friends and family who try but can't quite appreciate what I mean or how it feels. I am definitely going to get that book thank you! You sound very strong and understanding of your mental health but you have obviously had to work hard to get to that place. You give me hope though thank you x