obsessive compulsive disorder in pregnancy, any advice

[kat82]

i am 36 weeks pregnant and for the last couple of months have had ocd really bad. i am handwashing all the time as terrified of contaminating baby. My hands are now extremely sore and cracking whick makes me wash even more. am seeing a counsellor but do not feel is helping. am also stopping my partner from kissing touching me as feel he is contaminated which is causing a lot of stress. anyone suffered similarly?

Kat,

I suffer OCD which seems to get worse in pg, although it doesn't sound as bad as yours.

If it is completely unbearable, you CAN take meds (although obviously far from ideal) but maybe you could try something complimentary - homeopathy maybe, or reiki.

I had identical problems in PG. Counselling isn't really much use - the established treatment as evidenced in Nice Guidelines for OCD is CBT or meds. I ended up on meds (prozac) at 30 weeks PG. Try talking to GP and/or midwife. I ended up having to be referred to community mental health team to see a psychiatrist to get on meds.

There are some very good self help books out there - OCD Workbook by Hyman and Pedrick, OCD - the Facts by Frank Tallis. If you can - try and respect the fact that right now your DP has a better perspective on what is safe or unsafe than you do - and that although your unjustified fears make you anxious, that doesn't mean that anything he is doing is in fact remotely dangerous to the baby.

kat82 - I had this with both my pregnancys. It is horrible and I feel for you SO much. I took meds from 20wks in both mine and dss don't seem to be affected. ds2 has attachment difficulties but I think this is to do with other issues and not the paroxetine. What I would say though, is if you are 36 wks you may be best not to take SSRIs as they can have a withdrawal effect on the baby. Sorry, that doesn't sound very helpful does it, but maybe for future pregnancy(s). Be strong and hang in there.

this site has useful info:-

www.nomorepanic.co.uk/

btw how did you end up getting counselling? did GP refer you? just that I had useless counselling when I was PG and had OCD, and I am v. cross that someone else should suffer unnecessarily by getting the wrong treatment.

My gp was useless , when i went they basically said you can't have meds cos of being pg and we dont have any counselling service til october so you will just have to try not washing your hands so much! but my midwife told me about a counsellor attached to womens services so am seeing her and can do until baby is 6months. Thanks so much everyone for all your comments , will try and hang in there , am hoping once baby comes the anxiety will lift slightly. Am gonna try holding off any meds until baby's born and then if still having probs may have to sacrifice breastfeeding in order to get myself back on track , i figure it's got to be better for the little one to have a healthy happy mum than be breastfed although obv not ideal.