I'm almost 37 weeks pregnant and a
first-time mom. I have a history of
anxiety & depression from way before
pregnancy. During most of my pregnancy,
my depression & anxiety had been
better than usual for me. Lately, though,
I'm getting very anxious about labor &
delivery and having some mild panic
attacks as a result. The bad thing is the
panicky feelings last most of the day.
It's terrible because I don't have any
meds to take for panic attacks any more (I
hadn't had one since before becoming
pregnant). I stopped seeing my
psychiatrist in 2005 when I was able to
wean off antidepressants, and my family
doc had been prescribing me Xanax on an
as-needed basis for panic attacks (I'd
generally have one every 3-4 weeks
pre-preg. while TTC). My OB is out of town
this week, but if it gets bad, I'll have
to call and ask if I can have something
because this really sucks! I'm going on to
my third day feeling this way.
I don't know what to do to calm myself
down, I feel so keyed up lately, and I
have been careful about having no caffeine
because that makes the panicky feelings
much worse. Someone on another board
suggested trying chamomile tea, is that
safe while pregnant? Every time I think of
labor & delivery, it really makes the
panic worse, and now I worry I'm going to
have one giant panic attack going into
actual labor, which anyone who has
experienced these knows they are horrible.
I don't know why so suddenly I'm terrified
of labor & delivery; women have been
doing this since humankind began and until
modern times without pain relief too. I
think it's scary for me when things happen
with your body that are out of your
control.
I have tried walking & exercise,
relaxing baths, listening to calming
music, nothing seems to be helping. I wish
I could just relax about it and not worry
so much.
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Hollyberries
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 1851 Location: Lead, sd usa
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 11-19-07 15:49pm
I for one am no stranger to panic attacks,
or really bad anxiety. I haven't taken
meds for it though since i met my fiance.
He seems to calm me down when i think i'm
going to have an attack. I have already
had a kid, and i too have been thinking A
LOT about labor, and having this baby. I'm
scared to death for some reason. I know
what it's like. Maybe thats why. That and
i was 18 when i had my daughter, and at 18
nothing can hurt you, and you don't think
about the things that can go wrong. Or
maybe i was just un-educated about having
a baby. I know today it's very uncommon
for women to die, or have REALLY bad
complications while in labor that can't be
treated, or taken care of. And the fact
that my baby is still breech, and having a
C-section. I'm feeling you on the panic
attacks. I have been having some
contractions, and that's when i get mine.
Like i said my fiance is able to calm me
down, but that seems to be the only thing
on my mind these days. I thought going to
those classes would calm me down, but we
didn't make it to them. Oh and the fact
that i'm scared shitless of getting the
epi. I had a really bad experience last
time, but i can't handle pain so i'm going
to get one.
I hope things calm down for you. I know
what you are going through. I was on
lexipro.. i think when i was on meds.
Another reason i quit is cause they were
getting way to spendy. If you need someone
to talk to you can pm me!
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cln1812
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 528 Location: La Porte, TX
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
Posted: 11-19-07 15:56pm
Holly,
Yes, that's especially when I start
getting panicky too--when I have stronger
or more painful BH contractions or start
feeling menstrual like cramping or
backaches.
I did take the childbirth classes, and I
think it made my anxiety much worse,
especially when they started talking about
all the complications that could happen
with an epidural, which I had been
planning to get.
Feeling this way really sucks. I just
wish I could skip over all of labor &
delivery & have my baby though I also
have some anxiety regarding how good a mom
I'll be. Panic attacks suck so bad
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Hollyberries
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 1851 Location: Lead, sd usa
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 11-19-07 16:07pm
Yes they do. Before i met my fiance i
would have them at my appartment alone,
and i would make myself so sick. It's
horrible. I just want it to happen so i
can get it done and over with lol. I go in
on Wed for my check up, and they are going
to see if she's still breech. If she is i
get to schedule my section....Makes me
wanna throw up thinking about it.
