Does anyone experienced anxiety or panic attacks during pregnancy and had a healthy child?

[letssiq]

Since I discovered I was pregnant I have been feeling anxious over the health of the baby. I worried about what I ate, what I used for cosmetics etc. But then I had two episodes of panic attack when I was around 14 weeks. I am now 18 weeks and even though I have talked to two midwives and my doctor and all of them reassured me that my baby will be fine, I keep worrying this anxiety and panic attacks might have harmed the baby. Does anyone have experienced anything like this and had a healthy baby?

Yes, twice! They are fine. One of them is anxious at times (quite similar to me), the other not at all (like dh). I found it quite reassuring in a way-I do think some anxiety is genetic.

I've suffered from severe anxiety during two pregnancies and had two perfectly healthy babies. Please don't worry about worrying... it will only make it worse.

Talk to your midwife about any additional support that may be available. Have you considered hypobirthing? It would teach you some good techniques to help you stay calm. I used the mindfulness app, Headspace, during my second pregnancy... there are specific ones for anxiety and pregnancy and sleep. I found it incredibly helpful.

And I mean that it would be good for you to stay calm for your own sake... your baby won't be harmed by you feeling anxious!

I had panic attacks. Was on medication. Had all sorts of prwgnancy illnesses. Was a bloody state. My beautiful toddler is perfect. Your baby will be fine.

Massive anxiety in my last pregnancy, petrified of actually having the baby, ran out on the Consultant at least once (then she just used to sit between me and the door) and my df died when I was 26 weeks pregnant. Dd is absolutely fine.

I was really unwell with anxiety during my pregnancy. Baby was born 16 weeks ago, an absolutely perfect girl.

I was having panic attacks, could barely go to work some weeks, some days couldn't even leave my bedroom. Worried myself to absolute despair. I had a resting heart rate of 130 and regular palpitations of 180-190. Was admitted to hospital twice. Multiple scans of my heart, X-rays, bloods, blood thinners the lot. I was a mess.

At 30 weeks, I gave in and my Consultant convinced me to start on Fluoxetine. It's safe in small doses in late pregnancy and for breast feeding. It changed my life. I was almost happy. I hadn't been happy for months. I laughed again rather than crying all the time. I felt a little more me.

Once my gorgeous baby was born and we settled in, I am 100% well again and still taking fluoxetine. I don't ever want to stop it!! It's a miracle drug for
me.

Definitely worth speaking to an Obstetric Consultant. I was referred to the peri natal mental health team and closely monitored for post natal
Depression and anxiety by midwives and my health visitor.

Don't worry about baby. Your body is protecting that little bean more than you'll ever know. Please look after yourself. You don't have to suffer.

Your baby is not affected by your anxiety levels or panic attacks at all - the idea that maternal stress is harmful isonr that just keeps getting g pushed but there is NO clear and concrete evidence to say that maternal stress at the level you’re experiencing is harmful (believe me on this, I’ve read a lot about it for a friend.)

Only intolerable physical stress like starvation is shown to affect the baby and even then it has to be severe (famine level.)

Anxiety is unpleasant for you, so do talk to your mw because help is available. You haven’t harmed your baby at all

Oh my word I had incredibly high anxiety throughout my whole pregnancy and had a couple of really bad panic attacks... perfectly healthy 9lb 11 baby girl!

I saw a counsellor during my pregnancy and she assured me I'd not harmed the baby. Sure enough everything was fine! Please don't add to your worry by thinking you have harmed your baby, they are much tougher than that!

Thank you all for your kind words. I am looking for couseling (already scheduled a session for next week) and already started yoga classes for pregnant women and had some relaxing massage. I am doing all I can to push the stress levelsdown. But nothing has worked better than your words. It was like a balm to my soul.

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore (huge Lorelai fan here too), I did not know about hypnobirthing. Will reasearch about it.

Bowlofbabelfish, thanks for the research facts!

Thank you all for sharing your experience and helping this friend out