Antenatal Anxiety- Please Help.

[ConfusedAndScared]

I am about 5 weeks pregnant, me and my partner were trying for a baby, and we both really wanted another one. However since finding out last week that I was pregnant I have been suffering from uncontrollable anxiety/panic attacks. I hate myself for saying it, but I feel like I just don't want this baby anymore. I can't imagine going through just one more attack, let alone a whole pregnancy. Has anyone else suffered like this and started to feel better before they had the baby. My partner doesn't think I am strong enough to go through with the pregnancy, but I just cannot imagine how I could get rid of my baby.

I had a bad birth with my first and suffered exactly the same after the birth, but this time it's starting before I've even had the baby. The doctor says he cannot put me on anti-deppresents as they will affect the baby. But i just don't know what to do. Anyone with some wise words that can help me?

It just seems like totally irrational fear of having a newborn baby.

Tinylion, i feel EXACTLY the same as you. The only thing that helps me is to think that i am not like this when not pregnant, and when i had DD1 it went away so that helps too.

I feel on the edge constantly and if i didn't have to get out and about i know i would just stay home until i have this baby! It is a real struggle and i too am quite tearful reading these replies after thinking it was just me

Thanks for sharing your experiences ladies and good luck x

Hi there. Old thread I know but I did a Google search as I'm going through this exact problem. DS is 17 months and I didn't suffer with anxiety during that pregnancy at all. I didn't even know what it was: ha ha the joy!

After the birth was a different story. First ever panic attack on day 3 after his birth and I was then was plunged into the worst kind of anixety hell you can imagine. Depersonalisation, constant panic attacks, the lot. Thought I'd lost my mind.

Things gradually - very gradually after about a year and a half - improved but I still had days of constant panic about nothing. Just that awful on edge feeling. A bit 'swirly' like I'm going to collapse and die. Fun.

I never went on ADs as was concerned they'd make me worse, couldn't cope with that thought. I'm having counselling but as I'm CONVINCED it's hormonal it's not doing the trick. Counsellor is just confused and thinks I have issues with my mum :-/ In fact whenever I mentioned the hormonal connection to any mental health professional I came into contact with I was more or less patted on the and and told that having a baby was 'a big life change' and that's what had done it. That's why I'm relieved to find this thread - makes me feel less odd and insane.

Anyway I'm pregnant again. Totally unplanned - due to what I went through first time - but thrilled as it was such a surprise! Anyhow I've had a couple of days of terrible anxiety, and lots of part days of panic. I'm just after some glimmer of hope that the really bad stuff mightn't happen again and perhaps a few positive stories that things resolved for you ladies in the end. And what helped?

I am about 10 weeks pregnant and have suffered with anxiety for a long time, which I take sertraline for. I am continuing to take it but at a lower dose. There is a slightly increased risk, however if you spend your entire pregnancy in a heightened state of anxiety that will impact on the baby for sure.
It's a risk v benefit trade off. I've been told I will be under consultant led care in the later stages of pregnancy due to taking ads...