Anxiety disorders & Pregnancy

[Becky6X]

Hey everyone,

I have signed up in the hope that I can find other people who are just like me, as right now I feel completely alone!

I have suffered with anxiety problems for as long as I can remember. Around 7 years ago I started taking anti depressants and beta blockers which helped massively and enabled me to continue doing normal things.

I am currently 10+3 with my first and was advised a few weeks ago to stop all tablets as they can cause problems during pregnancy. I am nearly completely off, as of course I want a healthy baby but I feel like I’ve almost been told that I just need to deal with my anxiety and that’s that.

I have terrible anxiety when it comes to hospitals/doctors/dentists and I had my booking appointment yesterday with my midwife. I got to the hospital and was in the waiting room but was waiting for quite a while, which resulted in me completely freaking out and leaving :-( I am super annoyed at myself but thankfully the midwife rang me and I explained, and she couldn’t have been more lovely about the situation, which made me feel a lot better! We have rescheduled for Thursday.

I just wanted to know if there was anyone out there somewhat similar to this? I really want to enjoy my pregnancy and not be afraid of everything happening, and be able to attend all my midwife appointments properly and on time!

Thanks, Becky x

Hi Becky!

Firstly, you are not alone! More women that are pregnant are struggling with anxiety and depression than you think and I hope you can find some comfort throughout the threads on mumsnet. It was my saviour when I felt completely alone and couldn't cope with my emotions to read other women's stories and advice.

With you're history you will be referred to the perinatal team ( Like me ) Who will monitor and assess you throughout your pregnancy. They have been great for me so far, just to know that the extra help is there is a comfort.
I know it is ok to take certain anti-depressants whilst pregnant but again perinatal will discuss all your options with you.

I came off my tablets because I knew I wanted a baby and fell pregnant very quickly...
I'm 24 weeks now and really struggled for the first 14-18 weeks. The pregnancy hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn't cope with all the changes and it got me started on the wrong foot. The worse was feeling like I was failing at being this happy bouncy pregnant woman, when that just isn't realistic! It can be bloody draining and hard work mentally. When I allowed myself not to enjoy it, the pressure lifted a bit.
And now I have more good days than bad, it was like something just clicked and although it can still be tough, I can keep my negative emotions separate from the pregnancy.

It will get easier and you will have moments enjoying it.
It may be the best thing for you. Who knows! Some women thrive and some don't!
Don't write yourself off so early and set yourself up on a negative note.

The support is there and don't be afraid to reach out.
I've called my midwife endless times and gone to the hospital a couple of times because of anxiety and they have been amazing!
xx

Hey AKohler,

Thank you for replying! I didn’t know anything about the Perinatal team so it’s good to hear that there will be extra support, I just hope they don’t think I’m nuts! I guess everyone reacts differently and as I’m a natural worrier it seems only natural for me to worry some more!

I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better and wish you the best of luck in the rest of your pregnancy! Xx

I hate hate hate that so many women are told they must come off what can often be life-saving/changing drugs. The risk from most of the 'main' ADs (including sertraline and Prozac) is really minimal both during pregnancy and afterwards. I'm 18 weeks and on 200mg of sertraline for anxiety and PTSD. Nobody has ever suggested coming off it because the benefits far outweigh the minuscule (and potentially non-existent) risk. Sorry, but it makes me so angry that women's mental health is just completely ignored like this and they're just expected to get on with it. Saying that, of course it's a choice that everyone has the right to make themselves.

On a more practical note, perinatal mental health services are pretty good. In my area, they'll even come to your house (as will my specialist midwife for most of my appointments). They'll be able to support you, including with meds if you feel that will be helpful.

It’s so refreshing to hear someone that agrees with me with the anxiety tablets!!!!

I am now down to 50mg from 125mg and in all fairness I don’t feel as bad as I thought I would! However, I am not completely off yet and I know how quickly things can change. It’s so true that we are just ignored and expected to continue! I took these tablets for the past 7 years as they were the only thing that allowed me to live a somewhat normal life.. and to be told to just stop and offer me no alternative was really hard to accept. I even got multiple doctors opinions as I’ve read that some people like yourself, stayed on them. However, every doctor I spoke to was adamant that I needed to come off. It’s crazy that the one thing that ever helped me, I’m now expected to just stop and deal with the feelings that I couldn’t previously... scary too!

I guess I will find out more about my perinatal team at my booking appointment tomorrow, fingers crossed I can get there this time! X

Good luck for your appointment, I hope it goes well and you feel well supported.

And if it makes you feel any more reassured, I've been told it's safe to stay on sertraline by 3 midwives, two consultant psychs, one psych nurse, two GPs and a consultant at a fertility clinic when we had a round of IVF...

Take care of yourself and don't be afraid to do what's right for you. Your physical and mental well-being is so important.

Hey op, have you definitely been referred to the perinatal mental health team? They will help you get access to a psychiatrist who specialises in medications during pregnancy. My GP didn't have a clue, but the psychiatrist I saw was amazing and told me I was perfectly safe to stay on my AD's and also take a very low dose of my beta blockers should I feel I needed to.

GP's will always err on the side of caution, it's much better to see a specialist.

Like a pp said, I have someone come to my house to see me every couple of weeks to support me and she's amazing 👍🏻

The first appointments are the scariest, by 9mths you become more immune to them. My first ones at the hospital I was in tears, shaking violently and nearly passing out, by 9mths I still wasn’t great but they didn’t need to offer me my own room to wait in anymore and I could get through them. It’ll be ok, I had an amazing perinatal team who supported me through, like your midwife, they’re there to help.

Have you had any CBT for your fear of hospitals? I was the same, terrified of dentists, could never have managed a hospital visit and CBT helped.

I just had my second DS and managed to stay overnight in hospital and had to go to theatre with a minor complication and I was ok. I am still anxious, today is crazy hormone day after giving birth on Monday so I’ve diagnosed myself with 5 different illnesses and am unable to sleep but I know in a day or 2 it lifts as it was the same with my first DC.

Talk to your GP about alternatives to the medication. And I know it’s hard to believe, but when the time comes to labour etc you will manage whatever comes because your body is amazing and will just take over and do it.

Hi! You're not alone! Was on anti depressants (sertraline and mertazipine) before finding out I'm pregnant. Doctors advice was stop taking everything and see how I cope. Been off them for a month now and mostly ok but still have bad days. Little bean keeps my mood up a lot! But it's quite a lonely feeling as people can't understand why I'm not on cloud 9 24/7. Hope you're doing ok coming off them ❤️

Hey everyone!

So I attended my midwife appointment yesterday and I can't believe I did it! I was so happy afterwards and felt soooo relieved like a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders! I know I still have hundreds to get through... but I am so proud of myself for finally doing the 1st!

We spoke about my anti depressants which just like you all said, they're safe to take!!! So I'm annoyed at my GP for telling me otherwise however, they're only GP's after all!!

We spoke about the perinatal mental health team which she said is entirely up to me but she thinks it would be beneficial to me. Her words were 'not to be patronising but I've never had someone who hasn't been able to attend their booking appointment before' which made me feel a bit poop!! But hey ho! I would like to ask you ladies exactly what the perinatal mental health team involves... will I be moved to another midwife with them instead, how does it work? I just don't want to be deemed as nuts!!

Thank you for all of your help and support I really appreciate it x

I'm so glad that you went, that's brilliant of you. A huge well done! It sounds like she was very sympathetic too which is great. In my trust, the perinatal team is separate to the midwives. I was referred to them at 14 weeks and had an assessment with a psych nurse two weeks later. He would then liaise with my midwife and also plan any follow up care (eg therapy, onward referrals, appointment with the psych consultant). Wishing you all the best

Thank you really pleased!!

I think I will go ahead with the perinatal team, I think it's best I get as much help as I'm offered after all!

I know these feelings well. was pregnant 9 years ago and so anxious i had a break down and sat trembling in the waiting room at my booking appointment....roll on 9 years and i am 10 weeks pregnant again andd feeling the same. I left it that long because of the anxiety last time and really feel like ive done it because i at last chance salloon being 38 years old now (i had a missed miscarriage at 11 weeks so this is my first all over again)...booking appointment is on thursday and quite late because ive been avoiding it. I dont know what my problem is!! Scared of change? Scared of committment who knows! But i am still taking ny fluoxetine.

Hey Doop! Oh bless you :-( I'm so sorry to hear about your missed miscarriage previously. After 9 years this is massive for you, but if I can do it you certainly can too!

I wish you all the luck in the world for Thursday, please let us know how you get on xx

@Becky6X i will thank you!
I have severe back pain going into the back of my thigh and knee right now... four days of not being able to walk or sit or sleep is making me miserable...so at the moment i am thinking of the booking appointment as a way to maybe get referred to a physio. So its sort of made me look forward to it. Anything to stop this!