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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Insomnia and severe anxiety

3 replies

magentadaisies · 12/08/2026 16:59

Hi all,
27 weeks pregnant and I am currently dealing with a terrible panic/insomnia flare. Had general anxiety disorder pre pregnancy but the past few weeks this is manifested into physical panic attacks. This included waking up in the middle of the night having panic attacks and heart palpitations which after a few nights of very broken sleep I guess made my brain associate bedtime with having these panic attacks. On Sunday night I literally had zero sleep at all. Went to gp on Monday who noted my high heart rate and said if this continues to go to a&e. She gave me a short term prescription for promethazine which worked and knocked me out on Monday night however didn’t work last night. I ended up in a&e with again terrible racing heart and another night of zero sleep at all. Doctors in a&e just advised breathing exercises which I feel I’m way beyond the point of. I’m now an anxious mess as I’m worried I don’t sleep and how dangerous this must be for me and baby’s development. I’m so desperate for some sleep! My brain won’t even let me nap, it’s like it’s stuck in fight or flight. Any ideas would be very welcome as im just knackered and very tearful at this stage and feel totally in despair .

OP posts:
Sunshineclouds11 · 12/08/2026 17:01

i would ring MAU

magentadaisies · 12/08/2026 17:03

Sunshineclouds11 · 12/08/2026 17:01

i would ring MAU

Have done this - they just advise going back to gp which I will do tomorrow. I just feel I get nowhere!

OP posts:
Peonies12 · 13/08/2026 09:44

Go back to the GP. And try maternity triage again if it continues. Temporarily not sleeping will not affect the baby's development, lots of women have rubbish sleep in pregnancy or do night shifts.
Are you doing some exercise? Swimming always makes me so tired could be worth a try.
i find magnesium supplements have helped my sleep, I've struggled with sleep since my daughter was born, even when she's been sleeping longer stretches, and magnesium has helped a lot. I took it in pregnancy as well.

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