Nearly 26weeks pregnant and anxiety is brutal

[Claire2225]

Any advice my heads up my backside my anxiety is at an all time high to the point I feel that I can’t breathe I haven’t been on any medication since finding out I was expecting again I’m constantly living in fear that something bad is going to happen I just can’t control my feelings my gp is ringing me Monday but I just don’t know what to do!!!

[Lizabelle1985]

The Midwife is a good port of call as there are specialist mental health ones within the teams. But glad to hear the GP is ringing you.

Not sure if you already experience anxiety based on your post but if you do can you use any of the coping strategies to support you?

[Claire2225 in reply to Lizabelle1985]

I have a 7.5month old too so it’s hard trying to use the coping strategies I have suffered with mental health problems for years then it changed into anxiety when we started Ivf treatment haven’t been able to shake it off since then xxx

[Shem008]

Were you on medication previously? If so it is best to talk things through with the doctor about what you can do in terms of the right medication during pregnancy and what the right dosage should be for you (they will probably start low and see how you go).

Having said that, have you tried mindfulness techniques and pregnancy yoga? I suffer from anxiety myself but have always refused medication (personal preference) so had to find another way. I am loving pregnancy yoga once a week and have also started looking into hypnobirthing which is based on mindfulness and relaxation techniques. I have also tried counselling in the past to deal with some things which helped me enormously (I was receiving counselling just before I became pregnant and up until about 14 weeks).

Is there a particular reason you are convinced something bad is going to happen? I know up until my 20 weeks scan I was terrified as I’d had a miscarriage previously (the reason for my counselling). If you can pin point reasons for the anxiety (keep asking yourself ‘why?’ to get to the root of the issue) it can sometimes help and gives you a focus to be able to start dealing with it.

Whilst you are waiting to speak to your doctor, try some breathing techniques throughout the day. This one works for me, especially if I feel my anxiety rising: sit comfortably, close your eyes and try to cancel out anything else going on around you, just focus on your breath and don’t think of anything else, deep breath for a slow count of 4 through your nose, slowly breathe out through your mouth for a slow count of 7. Do this for about two minutes or until you start to feel less tense.

Even if your GP gives you medication or something I would still ask for a referral to mental health services as you don’t have to tackle this alone! There are specific services available to pregnant women to deal with things like this to prevent it developing into a more serious issue as you get further along (I was offered it myself so I know it exists).

Good luck xx

[Claire2225 in reply to Shem008]

Thanks for your reply it’s just so hard sometimes but I’m hoping not to go on meds but go back to Cbt xxx

[Ribena1987]

Hi Claire

I too have anxiety. I don’t take medication either but I found that exercise really helped me during pregnancy particularly pregnancy yoga. I did it when I got up and before going to bed. It’s relaxing, helps with breathing and also helps with pregnancy pains. Yoga breathing also helps during labour too. You could also try swimming, walking or even cycling to get the endorphins going. As Shem said, try and work out what is causing your anxiety. I know it’s easier said than done.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy. Feel free to message me if you want to talk x

[Claire2225 in reply to Ribena1987]

Thanks for your reply now the weather is getting better I’m

Going to get myself out more see if that helps xxx