Anxiety

[Jess2104]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice from people experiencing this as I can't find anything online. I'm 10 weeks pregnant (or so we think) with my first child and although I'm thrilled, I can't stop this awful anxious feeling. It's not so much worries about the baby itself, but it's the fact I have a baby inside me that I can't get out (not that I want to). I almost feel claustrophobic like the baby is trapped inside me for 7 more months. I started to have panic attacks when I think about it but it's all that's on my mind. I feel sick that something is attached to me inside and I can't get it out. I can't stress enough that I'm thrilled to be a mum, my partner and I are super excited, but I'm being consumed by this at the moment
Any advice would be fab, thank you in advance

I can't offer much advice but I can tell you your not alone. I'm pregnant with my first at 14 weeks and my anxiety has got progressively worse as time has went on.

I've found that making everything as simple as possible to remain calm and reduce worry has helped. However, I do think it may just be part and parcel of the experience.

Don't ever think that anxiety in pregnancy is something to be guilty about, from what I hear it's perfectly normal.

From the moment I found out at 3 weeks (my cycles were short) my anxiety levels have been made. For the first trimester, I was filled with a weird feeling of slightly terrified that there was something growing in me and a weird responsibility that something was growing inside of me. I was honest with my midwife and she was great, told me that a lot of women have similar feelings and in fact now at 32 weeks tomorrow, everyone I've spoken to about various anxieties has been lovely. Have you had your booking appointment yet? It's a really bizarre time and the hormones do make your thoughts that bit weirder. This is our first baby too and I'm still freaked out that there is a mini human growing inside me!

Thank you! It's nice to hear this is more common that I though!

Yes I've had the booking appointment, though I'm having to go back and re-do it as the midwife butchered the documentation🤣 it's such an odd feeling, my partner doesn't understand it, but he doesn't have a baby growing inside of him!!

I haven’t been so consumed in my own emotion for ages I feel like I have this mission to protect and fend for my baby, and I can’t stop crying over the stress of the thought of doing simple things wrong. I’m so full of tears and I’m only 11 weeks, I keep thinking it’s not normal and feel guilty that I’m making my self feel like this !!!

Seems like you have really strong maternal instincts, that's a good thing! Something I struggle with not having. You're doing well, take a step back and breathe❤️