Anxiety in pregnancy

[Jen860]

Hi
I'm 15 weeks with a much wanted IVF baby but I feel like my anxiety is ruining the pregnancy for us.

I had my first covid jab last week, I was too nervous to have it before the scan, and now I'm worried about catching covid and something happening to the baby. I feel like I should've had the jab earlier. My husband is getting increasingly frustrated with me and I understand it must be hard to listen to me worry about every little thing.

Can anyone offer any advice or similar situations? I feel like I should be so much happier but I'm finding it hard to believe we've finally got here and it's driving me mad that I'm so nervous about it all.

It’s not long until you can have your second dose but in the mean time can you just take some extra precautions to stay safe?

After a previous loss I had such bad anxiety in my pregnancy and like you, felt like it was ruining my experience. The only thing I can say is that it does get easier. It never fully fades but as time went on I really tried to relax into it. I also did some reading into the stats of things going wrong and to get where you are now is fantastic and the odds are really in your favour! I now have a healthy 10 week old baby and wish I had relaxed more during my pregnancy and the birth(which I was sooo nervous about but loved and was the most incredible experience of my life!). Best of luck xx

I've suffered from really bad anxiety throughout my pregnancy. Everyone kept telling me 'it's usual to be scared but mine was basically crippling me and I really struggled to work etc so in the end I got referred to the mental health midwife team who have been an incredible support and have really helped manage it.

Like PP now I'm nearing the end of my pregnancy I feel sad I've spent to much of it anxious and not particularly enjoying it as a result but we can't help how we feel. Your feelings are valid- my advice would be to reach out for support if it is affecting you day to day x

I have severe anxiety, and like you said I feel that people around get tired of me and my feelings. Your feelings are valid and understandable but in my opinion, you should seek support. It helped me on understanding which thoughts come from anxiety and are reasonable and when the anxiety is taking over, as well as taking steps to reduce it. I wish you all the best of luck!

I agree with PP, it does get easier. My anxiety stopped around 24 weeks and the rest of pregnancy was a breeze. It’s understandable under the circumstances why you feel the way you do. Don’t be hard on yourself

Hi Jen,

Have you tried any mindfulness practices? The one in the link below is a good one. You can do it over a period of eight weeks and there's good evidence to show that it reduces stress and anxiety. The course is free:

palousemindfulness.com/MBSR/week1.html

I also listen to self-hypnosis videos on YouTube. In particular, I find Michael Sealey's Sleep Hypnosis Floating Relaxation quite powerful. Many of his videos have been helpful for me to help dissolve fear at it's root in the sub-conscious mind. There's a few on letting go of over-thinking as well.

Also, all UK residents are entitled to free CBT therapy on the NHS. You can ask your Dr about that. I've used it before for anxiety and found it helpful. If you're not so keen on going to a therapist, CCI have excellent resources for self-help CBT for anxiety and a number of other conditions. Here's a link to their website:

www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Anxiety

I use Bach flower remedies and practice grounding techniques every morning. The one I find most useful is feeling like I am imagining myself strongly rooted to the ground and visualizing an oak tree before me. Winds and storms may come and go but I stay firmly rooted to the Earth. I find that having small rituals that I practice regularly helps me to strengthen my conviction that I am safe, protected and that my immunity is strong enough to meet that of a virus.

Take care.