Panic at scans and appointments

[Spottydog444]

Hi everyone,

Just wondered if anyone else is the same when going to appointments and scans.

All I feel is absolute panic and I get to so worked up laid there while they scanning that I feel like I can’t breathe and I go so light headed. I just hope and pray it is over with as soon as possible and I have to fight the urge to get up half way through and walk out. I don’t even enjoy them at all which is sad really as I’m so desperate for this baby to be here safe and sound.

I’ve just been told I will also need growth scans later on and it has made me feel sick that my 20 week scan next week won’t be the last one.

Has anyone else had this and know of anyway to deal with it?

Thanks so much x

[JA-fnuk Partner]

Explain how you feel to your midwife and other people while you are at the clinic . Just take each visit as a step forward - maybe try some yoga breathing technique It will get easierTake care

Janet

[Spottydog444 in reply to JA-fnuk]

Thank you, will deffo look into the breathing techniques x

[Hidden]

Hi there, I’m sorry you feel this way at scan. It is a nerve wracking time.x perhaps phone ahead and let the sonographer know of your concerns in advance so that they can reassure you as soon as they can.x You could try some relaxing music for the waiting room & maybe a stress ball to focus on during the scan.xx

[Spottydog444 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, will deffo phone through. I’ve got the first appointment of the day at 8.30am so I shouldn’t be waiting too long I hope x

[Hidden]

Sound ideal, hope it goes well for you.x

[Bozo_the_pumpkin]

Like you I used to get super stressed before each scan. I used to lie awake for a week before each scan .. in panic over ‘what if’ … what if my baby has died and I am walking around happy and smiling whilst in reality the worst has happened. The night before each scan was the worst. At each visit I told the sonographer that I am stressed and concerned. They were very good with confirming the heartbeat as soon as possible and then talking me through every bit of the scan, confirming that everything g was going well step by step. This helped me immensely and perhaps this could give you some reassurance too?.

My last panic was the 20 week scan …my partner had covid and I had to go alone. … but again the sonographer mumbled to herself throughout and I could hear things were going well. From then on things are better.. I still have some panics and I speak with the hospital weekly about worries but the fear of scans or midwife appointments is all gone since I can feel her move.

I was actually excited for my 28 week scan.. it was so nice to see my baby and how much she had grown.

I will also have growth scans going forward because I am and older mom and this is an IVF pregnancy, but I have explored the worst case scenarios so I’m no longer panicking .. My obstetrician said that If baby is big there is an issue for mom as they might be too big to go through natural child birth which increases the chances of needing a c-section. The issue for baby as soon as they are born, they could have loads of sugar in their blood but are cut off from the insulin mom produces so their body cannot deal with the sugar. They would need to go on a drip asap to deal with this. I worried about stillbirth or disabilities but she said those were not risks so all in all that made me feel a bit better.

Have a chat with your maternity team and ask questions… we can sometimes imagine the worst and reality can present a much better view. Maybe this could help you? Good luck… I did find that the panic got better after 20 weeks xx