Anxiety in early pregnancy

[Lisakathryn]

Hi, I'm experiencing some pretty bad anxiety and I was just wondering if anyone had any good links or advice for what I can do?
I'm 8+2 and I have some good days and then some shocking days. I'm really scared of losing the baby but I've had an early scan which was positive. I've taken to obsessively comparing the strength of lines on pregnancy tests and I KNOW THIS IS CRAZY. can anyone help? I'm too scared to admit to my partner because I know he'll think I've cracked up 🙈

I have no tips but want to say I AM WITH YOU! I’m 4+1 today and have been terrible; Obsessively googling miscarriage and chemical pregnancy stats, taking tests (The test line was darker than the control line today and I looked at it and realised how insane I was to have tested so much to have gotten to the point of seeing that) and generally fretting far too much. I’m desperate to have an early scan to try and ease my anxieties and will look to book one as soon as I can.

From what I’ve read, it is incredibly common to feel like this so I’m not too worried. I think the best way forward is to learn what helps you control these fears. I’ve made a conscious effort to stop before I press enter before I Google anything and think “Do I REALLY need to know this?”, “How will this make me feel?” and if the answer isn’t positive or good, I don’t do it. You may find talking to your OH helps; Mine is very good at recognising when I’m worrying too much and distracts me or laughs (Kindly) at me being a bit daft. Would rub some women up the wrong way but works for me for some reason.

The fact you’ve had an early scan and it has been positive is a brilliant sign so take a lot of comfort in that. Feel your symptoms as they are a good sign too (Although I might say that with less enthusiasm if morning sickness appears for me haha!) Don’t pay too much attention to MN or any forum for that matter; People don’t generally come on to forums if everything has been all fine and they’ve sailed through pregnancy and not had any worries! Pregnancy tests are a quantitative measure too, not qualitative; They only tell you that you’re pregnant, not HOW pregnant you are. What I try and tell myself regularly is to have faith in the process - I AM pregnant today and I will take each day at a time, which I also find helpful.

I can fully sympathise though, it’s very tough and I know exactly what you’re going through in terms of anxiety xx

Thanks so much for your reply ❤ it's such a worrying time isn't it? I wasn't expecting the anxiety to hit me like a truck. It's mad what it does to you!

It's tough to relax but you just have to take each day as it comes, it does get easier as you pass milestones. Good luck

I've been very worried about current pregnancy. I had a mc at 9wk in July after seeing baby with heartbeat on a private scan the week before. It really knocked me, I've had 4 previous mc's but never after seeing a hb before. I've had much stronger symptoms this time which have me feeling awful but very thankful too. I decided against shelling out £70 for a private scan after last time. Only 6 days to my dating scan, desperate to see how things are in there.

Can totally relate. I don't have anxiety when not pregnant but I'm a complete wreck as soon as I am. Doesn't really get better for me until giving birth .

I felt like this all the way through and like a pp it was like that until I gave birth. Try mindfulness apps/hypnobirthing meditations. Trust in your body, trust that it knows what it's doing. Good luck with it all

I felt ABSOLUTELY anxious during my first trimester. I could not eat, sleep, I kept thinking and thinking and just had the worst scenarios in my head. My sister is pregnant too (just gone into her 2nd trimester) and she has gone for a reassurance scan at 5 weeks because she was going through the same feelings. J am now 38w+4days and let me tell you something, if anything, the anxiety will not do you any good, its hard but try to find ways to over come these feelings of anxiety. Talking about them everyday to my partner and my mum helped a lot. Try to eliminate negative feelings emotions, for ex. Work. Work is work, your priority is you and your growing baby. I was prepared to leave my job if it caused too much stress, however my work has been extremely supportive I must admit. However, my sister's work is mega stressful and she does not get the same amount of support, but she has learnt to take days off from work (off sick) as much as she needs if she feels that its impacting her health. You've got to try and eliminate sources of negativity. All the best xxx

Omg I can fully relate!! I feel so anxious about it I'm only 4 weeks 4 days and have a early scan booked in too early really I'll only be 6 weeks 3 days, but it's just to try and get myself a little reassurance even tho I know I won't see anything really.

I hope you ladies are all doing ok xx

@Lilbambinoplz I'm 10 weeks tomorrow. It definitely gets easier as the days go by. They feel like they absolutely drag but looking back it's actually gone quite quickly. I have my booking in appointment today, so hopefully can talk through things with a proper midwife. But it definitely eases. The reassurance scan was the best thing I could have done. I definitely felt better after it and every time I'm sick/my boobs are sore/ I'm tired I take it as the best sign ❤ I know some people feel miserable in early pregnancy but I take all those symptoms as big positives instead. I'm starting to feel excited and hopeful now, rather than constantly terrified that something will go wrong. I hope this helps x

Thank you so much!
I'm glad to hear your feeling better now and I hope ur appointment goes well today!
How early did u have your first scan? Xx

@Lilbambinoplz I was 7 weeks, but measured 6w6d. They weren't concenered and everything was as good as it could have been. So that helped a lot.
Don't worry if you don't see anything early on though, my sister in law saw nothing at hers and now has a healthy 1 year old. So try not to get stressed x

@Lisakathryn thank you for the reassurance x

This was me all first trimester, and while second was better as I knew I had less chance of miscarriage my anxious brain has managed to find new worries! I think the pandemic and working from home has made it worse as not much to distract me and not seeing friends and family is hard. I am doing a CBT course through the NHS and have free weekly sessions with a therapist. So could be worth seeing whats available in your area.
Still having bad days but it helps to have support and a plan to get better.
Do your very best to avoid googling! It made me feel so much worse and I ended up finding new problems I would convince myself I had. Its very hard to break the habit too.
Hope you feel better soon.