Third trimester anxiety

[Lam8487]

Hello everyone,

I wondered whether there is anyone else out there feeling super anxious about COVID in their third trimester?

I'm 30 weeks with baby #1 and for the majority of the pregnancy I've felt fine, but I've suddenly started to feel so worried, to the point where I break down I tears. I don't feel safe going anywhere anymore or seeing anyone, which in turn makes me feel really lonely. I'm just feeling really over protective, which I'm sure is natural.

Is anyone else experiencing similar feelings?

Hello @Lam8487,

I'm 27 weeks so a little behind you but think it's starting to play on my mind a bit more too! I think it's probably the fear of the unknown, it seems like the advice is to be careful despite there not being a particularly higher risk to someone in their third trimester.

It's difficult for us to properly shield really my OH is a self employed tradesman!

Just got to do our best to remain calm and look after ourselves!

Hi @IronMummy28

I think you're right, it is the fear of the unknown. I think my feelings have increased as it's the home stretch now, and I want to keep myself and baby as safe as possible.

As you said, we just need to be calm, and do what's best for us within our individual situations.

I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well

I’m 35 weeks and very worried at how badly things are progressing. I live in tier 2 and so already can’t see many people and worry about feeling isolated when the baby is here.

Hi @peachypetite sorry to hear your stuck in tier 2. Feeling isolated is not nice for anyone, I posted this to get connect with others who feel the same and hope it creates a platform to express our feelings and know we are not alone. For me, I always feel better when I get to talk to people, so feel free to reach out to me whenever you need too.

Video calls with friends and family are good too, still keeps you somewhat connected.

Good luck in your final stretch, I bet you can't wait to meet your little one

I'm 37 weeks... Not really worried about Covid itself (no more so than all the other risks out there) but the potential for an increase in local restrictions impacting on my DH being allowed with me at the birth, help with childcare for my other DS etc, has definitely affected my anxiety as we get closer to d day.

One thing I learned, though, when I had DS was that in reality we often have very little control over anything when it comes to having a baby and parenthood. My DS was born with a very serious disease and it took almost a year to treat/stabilise. It doesn't necessarily mean the worries and anxieties go away or become easier to control, but I have to now take the view that we need to accept that we don't have any real control. We can just do the very best we can as our circumstances allow.

Good luck to all of you approaching due dates! Fingers crossed for all of us for a smooth ride ☺️🙏

Hi I'm 37 weeks and quite anxious over covid. I'm in Lancashire so we're on the highest level alert, there's been a lot of cases in our town & a few in my daughters school. I have asthma as well so am being as careful as possible but I can't completely avoid going out.

I'm more concerned about not being able to have anyone to help out when baby arrives. My husband is a carer in a nursing home and also has a bank job caring for people in their own homes. I'm always anxious he will catch it because our house is too small to be able to isolate from each other so we'd all get it. He's working long hours 6/7 days a week as well so anxious over how I will cope on my own with a newborn and my daughter & keeping on top of housework/school work. Especially if they close schools again & I have to do homeschooling. My family all live far away as well and I've no idea if they'll be able to come & visit baby which is sad.

I guess everyone is in the same boat though. We can only try our best and keep plodding on

@Jigglypuffler sorry that you had to go through that, that must of been awful. I hope all is well now.

I think you bring up a really good point that we have very little control, I need to train my mind to think like that

Good luck to you too, I hope all goes well

Hi OP, I'm 30 weeks with baby number 2, hubby is a tradesman, Dd is in nursery which has had 4 cases so far, moving house in 3 weeks & were in tier 3 😂
Just wanted to say you aren't alone in feeling anxious but the best thing to do is focus on what you can control! Easier said than done I know 😊

Thanks @Lam8487 - yes he's been stable for a while now, managed with daily medication and quarterly hospital trips and bloody tests. Not what you imagine for your baby to deal with, but at the same time incredibly thankful that he is doing so well. He is very excited about his new sibling... and I think more even more excited about me being more mobile again after the birth for nerf wars and dino fighting

We'll all find our way through the early stages of newborn parenthood in Covid world somehow

@Niffler2019 oh gosh, tier 3 must be really difficult, especially trying to juggle all different aspects in such a restricted environment. I think @Jigglypuffler hit the nail on the head with the fact that most of the time things are out of our control. This is such a unknown situation for all of us, and we each handle it in our own way.

I really hope everything works out for you, best of luck ❤️

I m a couple of days overdue in Lancashire, so finding it difficult to control my anxiety really.
I have asthma so have been shielding as much as possible since march and it's been taking its toll a bit on me, my asthmas controlled but if I get an infection it can get much worse and I really didn't want to be on steroids whilst pregnant let alone get covid and need dexamethasone and much worse drugs.

Now, my hospital kicks birth partners out for inductions after visiting hours if you aren't 4 cm and some of the stories of poor women not being checked and ending up much further than that alone because the staff are too busy are terrifying.

In all honesty, I think the stress has been stopping me going into labour and it feels inevitable I m going to need an induction at the end of next week so I m just trying to get through the time till then as best as I can and make peace with the fact I m not going to be able to control much of the situation at all really.

I was feeling completely fine until last week at 36 weeks when I came down with a cough . I took a COVID test which came back negative ( I have a cold ) but I was crying none stop over it .

My hospital is allowing birth partners however my midwife told me to keep an eye on their updates as that could change . That had me in tears too . I don’t think they will exclude partners as they never did in the Spring but you never know. And if anyone has to self isolate in my family I’m basically going into labour alone anyway .

It’s a lot of extra anxiety I don’t need right now 😔

I am 31 weeks tomorrow. I am not anxious about Covid for some reason but I am generally worried about everything else. For example the delivery, recovery, how to care for the baby, how I am supposed to know everything as I am the mother etc etc.

@violetclouds blimey you have it all going on 😂 we are due to move house soon too, so stressful. Absolutely, I need to learn to focus on the aspects I can control and not worry about the rest. Good luck to you

@1990shopefulftm I really feel for you, you seem to have done everything you can to stay safe, in this strange world. Try not to stress yourself out too much, we need to focus on the positives and look forward to our bringing our beautiful babies into the world. I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well and your partner can be there for the duration as best as possible, big hugs 🤗

@MichelleOR84 I'm glad your cough was just a cold, I caught a cold a few weeks back and it really knocked me, felt really rough for a few days. I don't think they will exclude birth partners, when we were in lockdown before they were still allowed in once in established labour. Fingers crossed this remains the same. I think it's quite normal to be anxious in pregnancy anyway, without throwing COVID on top. As it's my first it's the unknown for me of not really knowing what to expect, plus all these hormones playing havoc with my emotions. Keep your chin up, it may all just work out the way you hope. Best of luck, sending you a big hug too 🤗

@MnM156 have you done an antenatal class yet? I'm doing one this Saturday online, hoping it covers all my unanswered questions

@Lam8487 I did one from The Baby Academy back in September. It was quite good, answered all my questions and was full of information but I still feel that the reality is always different and everyone experiences child birth differently. The emotional aspect differs for all as well. Theoretically I know everything; maybe more than some as I have a childcare diploma myself, yet I still feel very anxious about my first born. I am worried about breastfeeding as I want to breastfeed exclusively but scared about latching, supply, how quickly it can be established etc etc etc! The list is never-ending. Hope it all goes well.

I’m 36 weeks now and having a section in 4 weeks (3rd baby). I’ve been super anxious the last month or so, like how I was when I was initially pregnant back at the start of the pandemic. It feels like we are back in the same situation but now it’s so close to the hospital stay, I feel so out of control. Our trust has just banned all visitors to hospital in the last 36 h so husband just allowed in for the section and an hour after. It’s upsetting and won’t be physically easy coping in my own, but I’m also less anxious because I feel like they are recognising the risks of having crowded post natal wards, which was a big fear of mine. I should add that no testing of mums or partners on admission is being done here. Plus they were allowing one additional visitor to the post natal wards too. I just wasn’t comfortable with that much exposure to others in the confined space of a ward. It’s not my first baby though, I do feel so awful for those who are doing this first time. It’s so hard. I’m hoping to start sleeping a little better now there’s some limitations coming in, I was worrying about it constantly before, every moment really 😢😢

I fully expect us to be back in a national lockdown within the next few weeks

@Kodiak83 I'm also booked in for a section and that's what I'm worried about. We (DH and I) are being tested the week before, we go into semi isolation next week then total shielding for 3 days. We are going to follow that but obviously there will be people on the ward who don't have a set date so can't. I just want (need) DH to be allowed with me to give me the physical help I'll need before I get discharged, as it stands he can be there 8-8 so fingers crossed that doesn't change in the next 2-3 weeks!

@Jigglypuffler that’s great they are being so good with testing and that partners are still permitted postnatally. Hopefully they triage everyone they know is safe into one ward so you’ll be ok. Best of luck ❤️

Thanks @Kodiak83 - and to you too ❤️

Hope everyone is feeling OK after the announcement tonight ❤️

Thanks @Jigglypuffler I hope everyone is ok too