Tips on how to relax during first trimester

[HannahB1993]

Hi everyone

I found out by the docs I am 6 weeks. I was hoping I was further along than I thought so I could get the dreaded 12 week period over, I’m sure everyone will understand what I mean!

I am hoping some people on here have some good wisdom on how the calm the F down? I am an anxious person as it is so being pregnant my mind is running and jumping to worse case scenarios. Does anyone have any advice or tips? What has everyone else done to keep calm during this period? I just want to feel relaxed!

Thanks!

Hi, is this your first pregnancy? I'm six weeks with my second. I was very anxious with my first pregnancy (due to previous miscarriage) but I am a bit more relaxed this time, which I am putting down mainly to being so much busier with my DC1, as this pregnancy is just as wanted, etc. If you can I try to keep your mind off it as much as possible, keep busy.

If you wanted to then you could book a private scan for 8-9 weeks. If you see a healthy baby with heartbeat at that point then there are extremely good odds of the pregnancy progressing. Arm yourself with statistics (this helped me!) - the highest rate of miscarriage is between 4 and 6 weeks, and as the weeks pass by the odds only get more in your favour.

Ah thank you so much your words have really helped me!

I didn’t know you could book an early scan, I an assuming they make you pay for this? I don’t mind paying to do that if it keeps my mind at rest.

Thank you so much, it’s very kind of you!

Hannah

Yes, there are private companies that will charge a fee for scans. I had one with my first pregnancy and it definitely helped me to relax a bit before we got to the 12 week scan. Trying to do without this time around as we are tying to save money!
I hope it helps if you decide to have one. :) Hope you have a very healthy and uneventful pregnancy.

I tried to tell myself that although (very sadly) MC rates are high early on the vast majority of pregnancies do end in a healthy baby :-)

ps, I found the first trimester incredibly difficult, don't be too hard on yourself, it's not easy :-)

I’d second booking an early scan (money well spent 100%) and reading the statistics on MC have also been reassuring. Also if you can stay away from Dr Google! It sent my anxiety through the roof reading stories that scared the shizzle out of me. Instead maybe try reading about your baby’s development each week 💗

I'm only 4+4 but I've found booking an early scan has made me feel more proactive. I have a countdown app for it on my phone! I don't mind spending the money as I'm pretty sure I've spent the same on pregnancy tests

I need to stop testing but I'm really anxious. I've also been reading stats obsessively and found a calculator thing that shows your decreasing risk with every day, which has made me feel better.

I used something similar to Celebelly: datayze.com/miscarriage-reassurer.php

I was very anxious and used it every day!

My husband was quite against having an early reassurance scan - said it would reassure me temporarily, but then I'd be worried again. So I didn't bother. Dunno whether I would have one for number 2.

My other advice would be to stay away from mumsnet... Seriously. People post about their problems, but not about their smooth pregnancies and I think it creates a misleading impression of things going wrong. Also, if you read something that someone is worried about, then you start worrying about it too. I got loads of pregnancy books out of the library - most of them concentrate on the later stages of pregnancy and birth, but at least it's something proactive to do.

I'm also 6 weeks according to the NHS calculator and really anxious about reaching the 12 week scan and getting a good happy outcome from that. It is my first after 5 years of TTC. Have to admit I am guilty of googling everything and now convinced I'll be one of the unlucky ones who has a mc. Can't stop worrying. Even hubby won't get excited until we've had a good 12 week scan. The next 6 weeks are really gonna drag.