Anyone have high anxiety during pregnancy and everything turn out ok?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I struggled with anxiety before, during, and after. I came off my SSRI (for anxiety) prior to conception because I did not want to be on medication. However I do acknowledge that significant anxiety might warrant pharmacotherapy during pregnancy if it is causing significant distress. I agree with PP to seek out support and resources now because the anxiety post-partum was far worse.

I think there is something they can give you that is safer than an SSRI, a beta blocker or something.

[Anonymous]

Crazy high anxiety during the first trimester. I think part of it was discovering that I have tokophobia, but there was more to it — mourning the anticipated loss of identity and a lifestyle that I love, etc.

I started therapy but what really brought peace of mind was to find an OB who agreed to an elective c-section. Also, my hormones changed and in my second trimester I was surprisingly very calm and chill and serene.

I’m in my third trimester now and I am starting to have weird dreams (in which I feel threatened/haunted), so perhaps the anxiety is subconscious; I don’t know what to make of it. I am volunteering in a John Hopkins study of women’s reproductive mental health and we’ll see what it reveals.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crazy high anxiety during the first trimester. I think part of it was discovering that I have tokophobia, but there was more to it — mourning the anticipated loss of identity and a lifestyle that I love, etc.

I started therapy but what really brought peace of mind was to find an OB who agreed to an elective c-section. Also, my hormones changed and in my second trimester I was surprisingly very calm and chill and serene.

I’m in my third trimester now and I am starting to have weird dreams (in which I feel threatened/haunted), so perhaps the anxiety is subconscious; I don’t know what to make of it. I am volunteering in a John Hopkins study of women’s reproductive mental health and we’ll see what it reveals.

Good luck!

Thanks for this note! What OB are you seeing if you dont mind me asking?

[Anonymous]

I am a genetic counselor. I was straight up terrified the entire time because I know too much. Healthy baby. You’ll fine fine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a genetic counselor. I was straight up terrified the entire time because I know too much. Healthy baby. You’ll fine fine

Thanks for your note . I have read all of this stuff about being anxious during weeks 12 - 22 is when it can cause issues for a developing brain and of course this is when I have experienced it the most. Hate reading these studies. Just hoping for the best. Did you have anxiety during second tri as well? Had a great Dr app today and feel great so am going to ride that wave

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crazy high anxiety during the first trimester. I think part of it was discovering that I have tokophobia, but there was more to it — mourning the anticipated loss of identity and a lifestyle that I love, etc.

I started therapy but what really brought peace of mind was to find an OB who agreed to an elective c-section. Also, my hormones changed and in my second trimester I was surprisingly very calm and chill and serene.

I’m in my third trimester now and I am starting to have weird dreams (in which I feel threatened/haunted), so perhaps the anxiety is subconscious; I don’t know what to make of it. I am volunteering in a John Hopkins study of women’s reproductive mental health and we’ll see what it reveals.

Good luck!

Did you have any tokophobia fears here and there after 1st tri?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I struggled with anxiety before, during, and after. I came off my SSRI (for anxiety) prior to conception because I did not want to be on medication. However I do acknowledge that significant anxiety might warrant pharmacotherapy during pregnancy if it is causing significant distress. I agree with PP to seek out support and resources now because the anxiety post-partum was far worse.

did you have any significant anxiety during second tri and all turn out with your child? I have heard this is when development for brain is most impacted. Anyway, I did talk to a good dr today who is going to help me out! Feeing good about it, just hope i dindt cause any irreversible damage by being so nervous for so many days. Thank you for your input

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dealt with a LOT of anxiety during my first pregnancy. I got pregnant via IVF, after several years of infertility treatments, and I was convinced something would go wrong, even though both the baby and I were perfectly healthy. I wish I had talked to someone about it. I feel that anxiety eventually led to a diagnosis of PPD/PPA after she was born.

Good to hear all is seemingly ok with your baby though? Im just worried if I have caused an irreversible damage during development of brain with all my heighted anxiety during first and well into second tri. Feeling much better this week with the help of a therapist and all the support I have been getting on here, plus a solid Dr app. Going to continue therapy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I struggle with intense anxiety/OCD. Are you checking, OP?

3 pregnancies with intense anxiety, and 3 totally NT kids. In fact, the one where I was the MOST affected, the kid is as chill and relaxed as a Maui surfer. It’s like I took his ability to feel anxiety.

did you have any moments of fear/ anxiety during second tri?

This is when they say its most harmful but I have been doing better this week, fingers crossed (despite my appearance on this forum again lol). My anxiety shows up in the way of learning something that can go wrong in childbirth and then becoming obsessed with what could happen. Had a good Dr app that relived some of that though

[Anonymous]

I know this is probably obvious, but has your doctor or therapist advised you to just stop reading about pregnancy/birth? Without fail, all the "research" I did during pregnancy was useless to me and caused me a lot of stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had very high anxiety during my entire pregnancy. I think among the billion things I constantly googled during my pregnancy "affect of stress/anxiety on fetus" must have been in the top ten. My baby was born full term, healthy, and is the happiest, sweetest little girl. She does have a moderately anxious personality, but obviously so do I. It doesn't inhibit her ability to have fun or make friends, though.

I think in retrospect, a lot of my anxiety was due to isolation and not have anyone who I could usefully discuss my anxiety with. My husband's father was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer when I was pregnant, and I was afraid to burden him with anything else. My mom and sister were a source of anxiety, not people I could confide in. And I just didn't have friends at the time who would have been able to listen to me.

I saw a therapist after I gave birth for PPD and I think I would have really benefitted from seeing one while pregnant, too.

did you have any fears about something going wrong during childbirth? Thank you for sharing this with me. its really helpful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had pre-partum depression due to legitimate things going on with testing on me and my baby (none which actually materialized) and my baby was born and still is perfectly healthy, very low key/laidback, and happy. That experience actually contributed to why I think I’m so much more happy, go-with-the-flow, and an honestly better new mom than I would’ve been. Pregnancy itself completely rocked my world and having a newborn is actually nothing compared to what I went through prior to birth. When my child was born it was like a light switched and once I knew she was healthy I feel like life went back to normal (which most people with newborns don’t say!).

omg great to hear. I always tell people I'll be the same! I truly feel that way. Did you feel anxiety the whole time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is probably obvious, but has your doctor or therapist advised you to just stop reading about pregnancy/birth? Without fail, all the "research" I did during pregnancy was useless to me and caused me a lot of stress.

YES today as a matter of fact and I am beginning to believe it more and more. Had a good dr appt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dealt with a LOT of anxiety during my first pregnancy. I got pregnant via IVF, after several years of infertility treatments, and I was convinced something would go wrong, even though both the baby and I were perfectly healthy. I wish I had talked to someone about it. I feel that anxiety eventually led to a diagnosis of PPD/PPA after she was born.

Good to hear all is seemingly ok with your baby though? Im just worried if I have caused an irreversible damage during development of brain with all my heighted anxiety during first and well into second tri. Feeling much better this week with the help of a therapist and all the support I have been getting on here, plus a solid Dr app. Going to continue therapy.

Yes! She is nearly 5yo now, and she's perfectly healthy! She's very extroverted and outgoing...far more so than I am, acruslly!
Please do speak with your provider about your fears, though, and make sure that both you and your partner are well aware of the warning signs of PPD and PPA. Honestly, my anxiety only got worse after she was born. I was just so convinced that something would happen to her when she was a baby, and lack of sleep during those early months just heavily exacerbated the problems.
Your baby will be just fine, OP. Please make sure you take care of yourself, too.

[Anonymous]

I had terrible anxiety when I was pregnant - in hindsight I should have sought therapy and possibly medication. I was young, in law school, and it was hell. My son does have some issues, but I’m nearly certain that it’s genetic and not related to my pregnancy anxiety.

I’m sorry you’re feeling anxious OP. It’s really tough. And it being 2020 certainly doesn’t help because I think everyone is dealing with stress right now.