Hi I am 34 weeks pregnant (and only found out I was pregnant at 31 weeks) and having real problems with anxiety - it's plaguing me. I suffer with this normally but used to take medication (diazepam) but not I obviously can't. Is there anything I can do / you can recommend for me to try? I've tried all the breathing techniques and distraction techniques but things don't seem to be working at the moment, It's affecting my sleep and my concentration at work. Thanks for reading and trying to help. Skipfem
I am really sorry to hear how much this is affecting you, I can relate to this and as of yet have not found the answer.
Are you happy about the baby?
Hi jean, it was a shock!! But yes I am happy about it. I'm sorry you're still struggling too I just find it plagues me and I just worry about everything. Labour being a big thing but then everything else even stuff that's not related to the baby. I feel bad because with me not knowing for so long I did continue my medication and things and I worry I may have already damaged the baby, though signs do look good thankfully. Not sure making an appointment with GP would help or not as not sure if there's any point. I have talked to my midwife and she's done her best but it's just so consuming it's hard to focus on anything else isn't it?! x
Hi, I feel for u Hun, with being pregnant and having anxiety. Has your doc mentioned anti d medication? I know that u can take sertraline while being pregnant and breast feeding. Maybe book an appointment and speak to them. Also rescue remedy is amazing for anxiety and u can get it in any pharmacy and supermarket. It really helped me when I was crippled with anxiety. I wish u all the best in your pregnancy Hun x
Hi I am glad you are happy about the baby. I have just become a granny for the first time two weeks ago and thankfully it has turned out much better than I thought it would although I still worry about my son and his partner as she has four children already. I worry about most things and it ruins my day, all I want to do is go to bed with my dogs it is not a good feeling as soon as I get in from work I put on my nightie and hope no one comes to the door.
I am going to try meditation at the end of July to see if that works
Hiya, is there a reason you're waiting until the end of July? I know what you mean though and find that about myself too. I don;t want to socialise or anything I just want to curl up and like you say, hope nobody comes around. I have a lot of support so i cannot grumble at that but just lately I feel like nothing is working and don;t know where to take things from here. Congrats on becoming a granny again though
I have to wait until the end of July as that is when her class starts.
Think I will try and find out about reflexology.
It is great to hear from some one that feels the same as you, it makes me feel not so alone asI live in Hampshire and my family are all in Scotland
hiyam awh thanks. I am on Mirtazipine currently and also some other medication including quetiapine which is an anti psychotic but also meant to have anxiety helping effects but it doesn;t seem to with me. because I found out so laate there's no point in stopping my regular meds but I have stopped the likes of diazepam that i took as and when needed. Maybe I should just speak to my doctor to see if there's anything else they can do. Just worry about all my appointments I am taking in work time. Something else I probably shouldn't worry about but do! Thank you
PS I have heard of rescue remedy actually so I will see if I am able to take that with the medications that I am currently on x
What is an anti psychotic as I am on quetiapine also and just thought it was for anxiety?
It's used for anxiety but also people that have mental health issues such as like me, borderline personality disorder. It can be prescribed for people with schizophrenia also I think and maybe bipolar but the dosages are normally a lot higher. It can help to stop things like voices and things like that. Hope this makes sense? And don;t worry about it being classed as an anti psychotic, it doesn't matter as long as it helps. x
Hi sorry to hear your having a bad time, me also! I've had bad anxiety all my life but I'm 25 weeks pregnant and it's really bad i cant concentrate every pain and niggle I think Iit's something serious I feel detached it's just all horrible...
Been to Dr's hospital everything but they ssay it's all anxiety only thing they've told me to do really is to get a councillor or talking therapist which I did try but I can't speak to people really about my problems as I get really emotionalI ccan't wait for my pregnancy to end and have my baby hopefully then ill feel myself again everyday is a scare I suppose we just have to get by your nearly to the end of your pregnancy now think positive and think about the joy at the end meeting your baby
take care and congratulations if you need to talk pregnant woman to pregnant woman im here just a messaged away xx
Hi it's horrioble isn't it it literally plagues you! I don;t actually know what the problem is and I think that makes it worse.
I have been quite lucky really as only found out at 31 weeks I have missed all the horrible part as I had no symptoms or anything. I think I'm scared its going to happen soon and I am irrationally scared of labour I really am and i think this is adding to my anxiety.
I'm glad that yousaught help, that's really positive.
Is this your forst pregnancy? It's mine. I worry so much I have damaged my baby with not knowing and it makes me feel sick. I just hope shes OK.
Congrats to you too hun and keep in touch xx
Hi Skipfem, Wow it must have been quite the surprise to find out you were pregnant at 31 weeks! In a way I think you are very lucky, you must have missed all that morning sickness I've been having the past few weeks ( I am only 9 weeks pregnant, but really feel it! ). I can certainly understand you'd be feeling a little anxious about things, you and your body have got a lot of catching up to do accepting lifes changes. I am on this forum because I woke up this morning with this weird kinda worry in my mind...it was just all these thoughts from the past running round in my mind, really irrelevant and time consuming stuff...so i was doing some research online to see if it was normal for pregnant women to start feeling anxious, and sure enough it is! When we are pregnant we are very vulnerable and our hormones are going like crazy, we just need to accept the fact that we are feeling like this and run with it! I have noticed a lot of people discussing all these weird meds that the doctors prescribe them, personally I would steer clear of any meds the doctors want you to take as they actually increase any anxiety and problems that you are experiencing, they may have a short term fix but they are actually very dangerous in the long run, I hope you have done all your research on the meds the doctors are prescribing you, and for anyone recommending anti depressents? They really need to be re educated. I find these things really help my anxiety, and so thought I'd share them.
Drink lots of water, cammomile tea is really great at relaxing the mind, essential oils 9 maybe go to a naturopath who can suggest certain oils that relax the mind ) rescue remedy yes this is great, nature...try and get into nature every day, walking or jogging, swimming or just sitting in a park with a book, exercise is great to settle the excess energy we have stored, trust me it works! Meditation takes some discipline, I understand it's not easy if you have not done a lot of it before, but 5 minutes first thing in the morning, make yourself do it, sit up in bed, close your eyes, breath in positive thoughts and breath out anything negative you have stored in your mind. Do the same at the end of the night before you go to sleep. And the last thing I recommend is before you go to sleep think of one thing, person, event, something that you are truly grateful for and spend a minute cherishing that, let that be what you fall asleep to...
I know I sound like the dippy hippy, but I'm not, i just really beleive in our own strengths to get us through, and our own minds power. Love yourself, believe you are worth it, smile! You are about to be given one of the best gifts in the whole world! Take care, D (:
*sorry its not essential oils 9 that was supposed to be a brackett (
Hi, awh thank you and you don;t sound like a hippy! I will definitely try what you have suggested. i think getting out in fresh air is a real benefit rather than curling up in a ball in front of the tv.
And yes it was a big shock but yes I have missed the morning sickness and things so i am lucky in that sense for sure!
Thanks again, x
Or bless you, don't worry about labour it's the best experience in the world this is my second baby, I can't wait for labour its the pregnancy I hate!
I'm sure everything with your bundle of joy will be fine, there's plenty of people I know who never knew they were pregnant, have you had scans? 20 weeks scan which you will have missed van usually detect 70% of problems with baby! But if you've had a scan they'll have checked everything
Everyone builds you up for a scary experience in labour so they scared me alot, but thankfully mine was brilliant and i loved every bit off it i had a water babe aswell i think being in the bath was a great help! Xx
Hi, awh thank you :D In a way I am looking forward to it but I just worry i won;t be able to cope. And then I worry i might like die or something like some women do! Totally irrational I know but i can;t help but think of everything bad or negative that may happen or that has ever happened.
But your message does fill me with some comfort so thank you very much.
I think the fact everything is so rushed doesn't help and there have been some other issues going on which I can't say on here.
I have spoken to my midwife and she suggested I go and see my doctor so i may do that too. Just conscious of taking more time off work for yet more appointments.
I have had scans yes and things look OK. I have Obstetric cholestasis and gestational diabetes also i have just found out so I guess I am worrying about this also. And now worrying about how they will have to induce me!
I really want to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy and as I said your message has filled me with some comfort so thank you again xx
Or hun no wonder your worrying things like Obstetric cholestasis and gestational diabetes do worry you I would he the exact same but im sure your a heslthy lady and as for worrying about dying during labour i also worried about that so did my sister who give birth three weeks ago and her labour was perfect, if we didnt worry we wouldn't be human
you'll soon have your baby, and will of had a good labour and enjoying every second of been a mammy and you'll say eee why was in worrying! It's when the baby is born the worry starts constantly concerned for them but that's mams and our job is to worry!!
I'm glad i could give some comfort, and if you have any more concerns im here xx
Thank you I kinow I worry too much and it's not good for the baby. I'm trying everything i can though so that's a positive and am seeking help so that's another one I guess.
Thanks again i really appreciate your comments and advice xx