Anxiety As Pregnancy Progresses

[Keggles36]

Has anyone else found they get more stressed the closer they get to the end? I really thought my anxiety would improve - but the nearer we get (now 35+6) the more I'm struggling not to catastrophise that it's going to be snatched away from us and something awful is going to happen.

I've spoken to my Midwife, consultant and i have a CBT therapist for something else and they are all really supportive and positive... So am not really expecting advice. Just wondering if I'm the only one who is finding it's getting worse when it should probably be getting better!!

[JA-fnuk Partner]

It is quite normal to be feeling anxious at this time and it is great that you have such a supportive team around you Take care of yourself

Thinking of you

Janet-Partner

[Keggles36 in reply to JA-fnuk]

Thank you ❤️

[Kitkat10]

I felt the same, I held off buying any baby things until the last minute in case I jinxed myself. My friends bought baby clothes and presents and I felt super stressed about it all, thinking that it could still go wrong. I think it’s natural, particularly after enduring what we have to get to that point.

I found it helpful to remind myself how low the complication rate is at the later stages compared to the earlier stages which we have already passed.

Keep going, you’re nearly there 🩷 You will feel better once your baby is here, but it took me a few weeks to actually believe he was really here 😂

Hope everything goes smoothly xx

[Keggles36 in reply to Kitkat10]

Thank you so much. Yes everytime anyone gives me something for baby I cry! And my mum is so excited and it's just really stressful. Partner is being really supportive and managing to not be as excited as he obviously wants to be bless him

[Doodlebug23]

I found trimester 1 very stressful and then in trimester 2 past 24 weeks (survival milestone) I managed to enjoy being pregnant. Trimester 3 after the stress of not feeling movement lifted I found thoughts of stillbirth creeping in, despite the low risk. I think after such a hard journey, it’s difficult to believe that it is actually happening and you will get your happy ending. My local AAU were amazing and told me not to hesitate coming in if I ever felt worried about anything. I did have reduced movements and was in for monitoring quite often towards the end. Are you able to make use of that service just to be able to hear your babies heartbeat and hopefully take away some of the worry?

[Keggles36 in reply to Doodlebug23]

Thank you ❤️ I have been in once and it was all fine, and since 35 weeks have 3 weekly scans and consultant review due to low papp-a (baby is on 85th and huge so lots of the low papp-a worry is not so bad). My MIL is a midwife and keeps commenting on my age (36) - i am also a midwife and regularly look after women over 35 who are all fine so know it's fine but it's still getting to me. I did a lot of bereavement work a few years ago and keep having nightmares about the bereavement room 😞

[Kitkat10 in reply to Keggles36]

My son was 99th percentile at 36 weeks and I was terrified but the scans must have been a bit out because he was born after IOL at 38 weeks and he was 67th percentile 😅

You are a spring chicken compared to me, I was 41 and 43 with my son and daughter. I went for a check with my son due to reduced foetal movements at about 32 weeks and I was obsessed about my age being a risk factor for everything but the midwife said to me ‘I’m not worried about your age’ which gave me great comfort.

You’re doing brilliantly, I can imagine it’s harder as you know much more than we do so for me at least, ignorance was bliss, depending on how much I googled myself crazy, but I can imagine it’s tough when you have seen and worked with ladies who have had complications. Keep going 🩷 nearly there xx

[Keggles36 in reply to Kitkat10]

Yeah i definitely don't think any of us are too old I just think they were a lot more worried about 35+ a couple of decades ago!! I've looked after women in mid 40s who laboured better than women in their 20s!

Thank you so much for your reply, it's made me feel better 😊 xx

[Doodlebug23 in reply to Keggles36]

I’ve only made it to 34+1 🙈 But baby was 1.6 centile and I have BP that seemed to get a bit out of control. Her heart rate kept dipping so they said right let’s get her out!!!!

[Keggles36 in reply to Doodlebug23]

This must have happened in the last few weeks? How are you both doing! Congratulations xx

[Doodlebug23 in reply to Keggles36]

Born yesterday! I stayed for CTG after consultant at my choice and BP was up even though ok in clinic so kept me in. Then next morning heart rate kept dipping so that was as it!! She’s doing really well 💖

[Keggles36 in reply to Doodlebug23]

I just saw your other post - congratulations! She's beautiful xxx

[StarsAllAround]

What your feeling is completely normal so take the support from around you and every time you feel anxious just put your hand on your bump and try to picture your beautiful baby. For me I was anxious from the minute I did the test. I had extra scans in the beginning as I would wake up and be convinced I was no longer pregnant we didn't public announce until after 20 weeks as I was scared it would jinx it. At around 22 weeks the anxiousness lessoned as my LG moved non-stop which made me feel better then as my due date got close the anxiety came back to the point I convinced my midwife and a consultant to book me in for an induction day before my due date as I was paranoid if I went past it baby would die. Luckily I went into labour a few days before my induction and had a natural birth as soon as I held my LG all the anxiety I had been holding onto just disappeared. Be kind to yourself ❤️

[Keggles36 in reply to StarsAllAround]

I think it doesn't help that my baby just doesn't really have a pattern so movements have never really been reassuring! Just seems to be what's normal for them but would be lovely if they would move more to get me through these last few weeks! Thank you so much for your reply ❤️

[Crie1983]

You are not alone. I am 32 weeks tomorrow and feel the same. I realise I’ve come so far but still aware that I’ve got at least 8 weeks left and relying on nothing going wrong at labour. I don’t think I’ll truly relax until it’s here. And I even feel like that despite having had growth scans every 4 weeks. I wish I could switch off and relax, but I feel like every day I’m fixated on amount of movement.

I’m glad you have support around you. Wishing you all the very best for the rest of your pregnancy. Xx

[Keggles36 in reply to Crie1983]

This is exactly how I feel. Best of luck to you and your little one too! Xx

[Crie1983 in reply to Keggles36]

Thank you. Xx