18 weeks pregnant am i going crazy?

Question

Hello, i am 18 weeks 4 days pregnant with a little boy, since 12 weeks i have developed a lot of worryies and anxiety and irrational thoughts about me dying of cancer related illnesses etc. I finally plucked up the courage to go to the doctor today for 2 reasons 1 i have a pressure in my chest that wont go away and me being me convinced myself it was lung cancer and also to talk about the anxiety. I explained that i have been very scared about dying and not getting to see the baby etc and luckily he wasnt looking at me like i needed to be put away. He said this is the way i am venting any negative isues etc and my way of dealing with everything that is going on etc. Now i can't wait to be a mum literally counting down the days, i just really wondered if anyone else feels or felt like this? the doctor has said i have to do things to take my mind off the negative thoughts, can anyone suggest anything?

Its annoying cos i just want to enjoy this magical time

Thnks

Natasha

Answer 1

I suffer from anxiety and it really hit me badly at about 24 weeks of pregnancy. I get into cycles of worrying about my health, too, and it's even scarier now there's a baby to give birth to and take care of.

The key is to remember that what you're feeling is only anxiety, and that alone can't hurt you. If you manage to distract yourself, do you still feel anxious? The answer should be no- if you're not thinking about the possibility of dying, then it won't worry you. That's what you need to aim for. Tell yourself that worrying about it won't fix it, so you give yourself permission to think about something else. Then read a book (I find travel books help- a counsellor recommended them to me for anxiety), watch TV (something like the Simpsons always works), talk to your partner, bake something- any hobby you have can take your mind off worry.

Also try thinking past the time that makes you anxious and visualise positive outcomes- for example, if you find yourself thinking about dying from lung cancer and leaving your baby motherless, think instead about your child's first day at school in five years time and how proud you'll be watching him/ her go in the gate. Let yourself believe it'll all work out great, because odds are good it will.

Don't get angry at yourself for feeling anxious, or you'll feel worse. Remember, you're only anxious because you care so much for your baby and for your own health, which makes you a very responsible person. It's very normal to feel anxious while you're pregnant, especially because your hormones are at very high levels, too.

Finally, it might help you to go to a counsellor or psychologist to talk through some of the underlying things that are making you anxious. I'm doing that myself, because I recognise that I have a high chance of getting post-natal depression, and I want to cut it off before it can start.

Answer 2

Everybody deals with anxiety in different ways.  In my case, I'm always scared to death that something is going to happen to the baby.  It hard for me to believe that this is really happening, I think because it took me 3 years to conceive and I had all sorts of fertility issues.  In the beginning of my pregnancy, I would go to the bathroom every half hour to check for blood.  I was scared to death of having a miscarriage!  I am now 19 weeks and everything is going ok so far, but when a few weeks go by and I haven't had a doctors appt in a while, I start to worry that something is wrong!  Its natural to feel stressed and worried during this time!  Some ppl like you and me are just like that!  I am learning to relax a little more now.  You should try to do the same!  I always try to just put the bad thoughts out of my head and tell myself...almost all pregnancies turn out ok!  The odds are in my favor!  We will probably be ok!  

Good luck and take it easy!

The person above me has some great advice!

Answer 3

Hi Natasha,

It's quite normal while pregnant to get an overwhelming sence of something being wrong with you or the baby.

Try to relax and enjoy being pregnant as the more you stress yourself out the more pressure you will feel in your chest.

Good Luck and if your still concerned go back to your Dr.

Em