Pregnancy & Anxiety

[Meowface]

It’s been awhile since I said hello on these forums. I’m 21 weeks pregnant now and was plodding along doing pretty well but anxiety has reared it’s head again. I stopped my meds when I got pregnant because I have had severe morning sickness and nothing stayed down.

Feeling very raw and scared now. I find it even harder to talk about my anxiety with something exciting growing inside of me - guilt really. I’m dealing with mega stress at work which has been my major trigger but feel stuck because financially we need the job until I go on mat leave.

Im crying a lot on my own and feel frozen with others. I had a panic attack yesterday at work and am scared there will be more.

I struggle to put myself first and self care has gone out the window. Combined with morning sickness I struggle to put proper meals together and am living off toast when I can be bothered.

I might not get a reply and that’s okay but just wanted to get it off my chest.

[GoodWitch]

I've not taken anxiety medication myself so can't help you with how your having stopped taking them might be contributing to your situation. Are you communicating with your doctor or psychologist about that?

I mostly wanted to jump in and lend my support. Pregnancy can be a very challenging time and especially in the lead up to birth, I think it's normal to be very anxious--even if you don't have a history of anxiety. I know I had lots of weird nightmares in the lead up to having my first child (is this your first?) and I was soooo stressed about the birth itself, how much it would hurt, not knowing if my water was going to break in KMart lol. I was crying all the time too, and falling asleep as soon as I sat down in any chair. Forgetting everything and then feeling like an idiot. I was a mess and at that time I wasn't working. So you are doing an amazing job keeping it together as well as you have been and working too.

Is your partner aware of how difficult you're finding things? about the panic attack? Can he maybe take over the cooking for a while so you can get more nutritious meals? or if not there are healthy meal plans you can have delivered if you can afford it, if your diet is worrying you (let me say though at this stage as long as you're eating something the baby will be getting fed, don't put pressure on yourself to have a salad every day if it makes you sick). Don't be afraid to lean on him, you might find he wants to help. We tend to think sometimes that pregnancy and motherhood should be easy because so many women do it every day, but it's not. It's very hard creating a new human. Ask for help wherever you can.

I hope this helps. Best of luck.

GW

[Meowface]

Thanks GW really appreciate your caring reply. I like your little icon picture too! Reminds me of bewitched.

Ive been too nervous to tell the dr that I stopped taking medication. My psychologist knows and she’s okay with me not being medicated at the moment. I’ve been on and off mild doses for years (not a great habit).

Thats the frozen feeling I couldn’t even tell the midwives that I’ve suffered anxiety in my first meeting because the words just couldn’t come out, I’m so scared that they’ll judge me or treat me differently. I am planning to tell them at my next appt.

It is my first baby. That helps to hear you were emotional and tired too. I have told my hubby that I’m struggling. He is supportive but is also very worried about money so tries to keep me working even though some days it’s just been too much. I am going to ask him for more help with meals.

Its definitely not easy to cook meals or go grocery shopping when I’m not feeling well. Just being heard really helps thank you 🙏

[GoodWitch]

So true, nothing worse when you're feeling nauseous to have to go cruising the grocery aisles! Coles & Woollies both have delivery options too, you can shop online and have it dropped at your house. They do have some decent food you can just put in the oven these days, like pre marinated chicken or lasagne or quiche. Little to do except microwave some veggies to go with them--frozen are just as nutritious as fresh according to recent studies. Just a few suggestions from a busy working mum whose had to learn she can't make it all from scratch like her grandma used to!

I know money is also a stress because you're planning for raising your baby and possibly going onto one income for a while. But your health is the most important thing. Take care of yourself.

Best

GW