Anxiety at the end of pregnancy

[nervousmumtobe1987]

Pregnant with my first, 35 weeks. Pregnancy has been normal so far but I am now on growth scans weekly as a precaution for a somewhat small baby. I know if the baby comes now, she'll usually be alright, but in the last two years, I've had three friends have healthy pregnancy and go on to have babies that had rare disorders (extremely rare, few cases in the world, even specialism paediatricians at GOSH had to research them) that are quite severe and life limiting. And another colleague had a stillbirth, was busy at work and didn't notice baby not moving all day and went for monitoring and baby had died.

I'm finding these last weeks horrendous and am overcome with anxiety. I know there's nothing I can do to change the outcome at this point but I'm constantly on tenterhooks. Has anyone experienced this and how did you manage? I've tried to focus on all of the other healthy babies of my mates and whilst on the train, in the shops, etc but can't get the worries out of the back of my mind

I have no advice really OP. If you’re worried about movements, there’s a count the kicks wristband you can buy - basically the wristband has a slider on it and every time you feel a movement or a kick you move the slider on a notch.

Please also remember that your friends were so very unlucky, the vast majority of babies are born alive and well. Regular growth scans man that they’re keeping a good eye on you although I understand why you’d be concerned.

I’ve been taking rescue remedy this pregnancy (I’m 10 weeks after two consecutive M/C’s) and apart from the odd wobble, I’ve been so much calmer this time.

Thinking of you OP

Thank you @Iswallowtoothpaste. I've been counting kicks with an app but can't seem to get past my friends who had normal pregnancies and active babies and still were born with fatal conditions. Trying to focus on all of the healthy babies for now. Will have a look at rescue remedy, is it safe in preg?