Anxiety While Pregnant.... Posted: 04-19-04 23:40pm
Hi, I have had anxiety for the last 15
years. I take klonopin as needed and
that usually get's me through the day. I
have a 4 year old son and when I first got
pregnant with him, I was okay but did have
bad panic attcks when I went to the
doctor. I did not take klonopin with
that pregnancy. Then in 2002 I got
pregnant again and had the worst panic
attacks than I have ever experienced -- it
felt like I was losing my mind!! Now my
husband wants another baby, but i'm so
afraid that the "bad" panic will come back
again. I'm afraid to go the ob/gyn for
the monthly visits...Has anyone else ever
have anything like this??? I think I
just feel so out of control when I realize
that I am pregnant!!?? Don't get me
wrong , I do want another baby, but how am
I going to get through a pregnancy when I
feel so out of control???? Thank you
for listening...
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Brenna
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Florida
Posted: 04-20-04 23:12pm
I've noticed that no one has replyed to my
message. What I really need to know is
if anyone has ever experienced a "out of
control" feeling when learning they are
pregnant? If so, how did they handle it?
Does anyone think this will hurt the
baby if I am under such a negative mental
status? I need help to this
problem......Please.....
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purple333
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 1420 Location: Sydney
Posted: 04-21-04 04:09am
Women go through all sorts of emotional
traumas when they learn & during the
entire pregnancy itself - plus as you know
by now we also suffer the traumas
associated with just dealing with the
awesome responsibilities of being a
parent. These feelings & fears (up to
& including anxiety attacks!!) etc are
partly hormonal but also partly fear of
the huge unknown of having a child (&
no matter how many you have, each
pregnancy like each child - is
different).
Right now you have a 4 yr old &
another child about 2. So neither is in
school & you still have alot of
responsibility on your shoulders &
your body looking after them etc. I think
that it might be best for you & for
your children (& even long term
perhaps for your marriage) &
everyone's sanity etc to just leave things
awhile, wait until these 2 are at school
& see how you feel. But you also need
totalk to your husband, dr & a support
group (such a group would perhaps be able
to teach you some skills on how to cope
with your anxiety).
I was in hospital with my daughter (she
had severe reflux) when she was about 6-8
weeks old & she got a cold (a timy
weeeny cold) she was surrounded by
mothers, doctors & specialist nurses -
but I still had to check on her at least
every half hour all night - I wasn't going
to let anyone else be responsible for my
baby - I was the only one who could or
would care for her & keep her safe
>>>>>> this is a form of
panic.
Most mother's suffer panic concerning
their babies & the pregnancies it's
just that while some recognize it at the
time others don't see it till later if
ever.
Have you thought about trying soem of the
natural anti-depressants - like 5htp,
sam-e, dhea (can help) valerian, vitamin
b's etc etc. These take longer to get
into your blood stream but they do work if
you combine them with developing some
skills to assist them & you - eg smile
alot, put smilies up everywhere (smiling
releases chemicals that reduce
stress/depression etc & make us happy
- the same applies to the next suggestion)
take a 30-60 minute walk about 6-7am
that's when the sunsrays - even if its
overcast releases these chemicals.
Pm me if you want to.
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casper55
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Ohio
Posted: 04-27-04 00:17am
I just wanted to let you know you are not
alone in the anxiety area. I have a 10
month old and I am 19 weeks pregnant and I
think the whole world is out to get me.
Iw orry about getting listeria or toxo and
getting the baby sick. I worry about not
washing my hands enough. It's crazy.
It's good to talk to other people with the
same issues. At least you know you aren't
alone. I am trying to aviod taking meds
for it my dr prescribed zoloft but I have
yet to take it. Ijust worry about it. So
I am trying to just over come my anxiety
by talkinga bout it and realizing i'm
being irrational.
Thank you, casper for replying to my
message....It is hard to find people with
this type of irrational fear. I am not
even pregnant yet and I worry about being
pregnant! (but I am trying to
countereact these thoughts with postive
images of myself being pregnant). So
since you are 19 weeks pregnant, you need
to take each day as it comes and start to
countereact the negative thoughts with
postive ones---you already have a healthy
10 mo. Old, so that is proof that this
baby will be healthly too. Start writing
down some of your negative thoughts ( in
your spare time--right!!!) but try
anyway. If you need to take zoloft--then
take it. There is clinical proof that it
will not harm your baby, plus you are
passed the developing stage of your baby
anyway so if you need it, take it with
ease. You have to weigh the consquences
of taking any medication when being
pregnant --- if you feel so bad off or if
you think that the worrrying and stress is
harming you or the baby, then definitely
take the meds. But if you feel that you
can cope and no harm is being done, then
fine, try to relax and don't take the
meds. You know, it's really up to
you--this is your body and your baby!!
No one can tell you what to do with
either. You have the power in this
situation--take advatage of it!! I hope
these words help you---take care!!
Brenna
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casper55
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Ohio
Posted: 04-27-04 02:24am
Brenna thanks for the reply. I know I
have total control and I am trying to do
this without meds. However it I have
another week like I just had I might start
taking them...It was very anxiety ridden.
I broke down and cried twice...I didn't
think I was going to be able to handle
being pregnant..It's much wosre this time.
I will try positive self talk....I have
been and sometimes it helps...I get
stressed..Then it passes then I get that
way again...It's just a cycle really..
Anyway good luck with getting
pregnant...It will happen soon...Use the
fertility kits..That's how we had our
daughter...
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myryboy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Palm Beach
Wow, There Are Others Feeling the Same As I Do Posted: 07-08-04 13:21pm
I go thru the same thing as all of you.
I started having terrible, cant leave the
house, anxiety and panic attacks 2 years
ago. Then I was put on remeron, and boy
did it help. I started doing therapy
with a great therapist, who I still see.
The anxiety has become tolerable but I can
still feel it at times. Its been a bit
on the rise the last few weeks. Probably
because I am getting ready to have another
child. I do all the what iffing that
causes it in the first place. It also
comes from feeling the need to be in
control of everything, and somewhere deep
down not feeling that I deserve to be
happy so I avoid the happiness by being
fearful and full of anxiety. Anyone else
have these similiar thoughts? Ps: when
I start thinking negative, its like, no
one needs me, I wont be a good mother,
what if I cant handle taking care of a
baby, what if I am home from work on
maternity leave and post partdum gets the
best of me, and on and on.
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HollyGoLightly
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 2 Location: San Antonio, TX
I Understand Posted: 07-11-04 22:20pm
Yes! Thanks for your post. I am
feeling very overwhelmed. I am due on
8/30/04 and as it gets closer I get more
and more panicky. I left a job, and
moved to a different state all within the
last three months. I don't want to leave
the house, and when I do, I feel people
looking at me and hate it. I know
logically that i'm overreacting but I feel
like people think i'm a bad person or
something. I don't know why I have this
shame! It's exhausting. I guess this
is how my anxiety manifests itself. I'm
totally worried about having the baby too,
and will I be a good mother, or will I
just collapse under the pressure. I live
alone, still with the father but he
doesn't live with me.
Just wanted to vent, thanks.
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vickiew
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Posts: 10
Anxiety About Getting Pregnant Posted: 07-12-04 08:55am
It is good to know that I am not alone.
I have struggled with infertility for 3
years and I finally got pregnant in april.
Unfortunatly I had a miscarriage when I
was 7 weeks along. Now I have a new set
of worries--like I really needed that!
I have suffered from anxiety for many
years and as much as I desperately want a
child, I am very scared. I am scared
about what pregnancy will be like--will I
get really sick--what if I can't handle
it. What about the delivery? I know
rationally that millions of women do it
every day and I get so frustrated with
myself and also very jealous of the women
who get pregnant and seem to float through
it without a worry. I so wish that could
be me. It really helps to know that I am
not the only one who has anxiety about
this. I agree that it has a lot to do
with the lack of control that you
experience with pregnancy. It is all
about trusting your body to do what nature
has intended. There is only one
problem--when you have anxiety you begin
to not trust your body because it has been
deceiving you with the anxiety symptoms.
At least that is how I feel. I am so
happy that I stumbled on to this website
and was able to vent. If anyone has any
input please respond.
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pretty silver
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Dec 2005 Posts: 1
Hi! I Just Read Your Messages And I Need Some Advise Posted: 12-10-05 18:22pm
:cry: hi! My name is angela and i'm
8weeks pregnant woman. I having hard
time from in the moring until the time go
to bed. I have bad anxiety through the
whole day with couple times of panic
attack for past 9 days. I have no
energy, can't sleep well, and lost
appetite. Whole day I have fear that i'm
going to have this kind of feeling
forever. I'm hopeless. But I read your
message and you said that you"re taking
medicine. Is that really help you to
through out day with out fear? , and
those kinds of medicine not going to
damage brain? I mean if i'm taking
medicine it will make me feel not to
feeling fear, anxiety, and panic attack?
I feel like i'm going to die. Whould you
please give me some advise so that can
help me get a correct knowledge about cure
medicine, and also, I can have hope
through your experience...
Please! Help me
thank you
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cow
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 2 Location: toronto
Pregnacy And Anxiety Posted: 04-07-07 15:20pm
To Brenna
I'm soo sorry to hear you have anxiety for
15 yrs.
I also suffer with it Really Bad...
If the wind blows a different direction I
get one.
I had a baby 2 yrs ago and it was hard I
fought not being on meds and I got throw
it but it was Hard.....
I 'm now 7 months pregnant and this time
around I couldn't do it with out some
help... I take clorazapam 0.5 does and
half that witch is 0.2 only when I can't
Breath my way out of an Anxiety and it
works it has No harm on the baby.
I have checked with my Nurse and OB.
It is not recommended the 1st trimester
but the 2nd is ok.
I hope this Info helps you and wish you
all the BEST for you and your family!!!
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cow
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 2 Location: toronto
Pregnacy And Anxiety Posted: 04-07-07 15:20pm
To Brenna
I'm soo sorry to hear you have anxiety for
15 yrs.
I also suffer with it Really Bad...
If the wind blows a different direction I
get one.
I had a baby 2 yrs ago and it was hard I
fought not being on meds and I got throw
it but it was Hard.....
I 'm now 7 months pregnant and this time
around I couldn't do it with out some
help... I take clorazapam 0.5 does and
half that witch is 0.2 only when I can't
Breath my way out of an Anxiety and it
works it has No harm on the baby.
I have checked with my Nurse and OB.
It is not recommended the 1st trimester
but the 2nd is ok.
I hope this Info helps you and wish you
all the BEST for you and your family!!!
|
ladylee70
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 1912 Location: Boise, Idaho,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Re: Pregnacy And Anxiety Posted: 04-07-07 15:59pm
cow
wrote:
To Brenna
I'm soo sorry to hear you have anxiety for
15 yrs.
I also suffer with it Really Bad...
If the wind blows a different direction I
get one.
I had a baby 2 yrs ago and it was hard I
fought not being on meds and I got throw
it but it was Hard.....
I 'm now 7 months pregnant and this time
around I couldn't do it with out some
help... I take clorazapam 0.5 does and
half that witch is 0.2 only when I can't
Breath my way out of an Anxiety and it
works it has No harm on the baby.
I have checked with my Nurse and OB.
It is not recommended the 1st trimester
but the 2nd is ok.
I hope this Info helps you and wish you
all the BEST for you and your family!!!
I wish you luck with everything. As for
meds, I wouldn't say that clorazapam
causes no harm to the baby. Actually, most
doctors do advise against it throughout
the entire pregnancy not just the first
trimester. Klonopin (clonazepam) is in the
FDA pregnancy category D. This means that
it is known to be harmful to an unborn
baby. The fact is that it is labeled
category D. However, I have also read that
in low doses there may not be sufficient
evidence to cause birth defects. It is
always up to the doctor and patient. If
any doctor says that Klonopin DOES NOT
cause birth defects after the first
trimester, I highly question that doctor.
Research literature states otherwise.
Perhaps the doctor meant that on your low
dose there isn't sufficient evidence to
completely prove birth defects. That would
be a more correct statement.
Cow, I am not trying to be mean but I just
don't want incorrect information passed on
the forums. Good luck to you as well.
I do suffer from a pretty severe anxiety
disorder myself and was on Klonopin for a
very long time before pregnancy. I was on
several other meds that are category C and
D. It is hard to not be on any meds. The
doctor did state that Buspar is a category
B, which is better but I just don't want
to risk it at the moment.
Brenna, you do seem to be going through a
lot already and if the thought of
pregnancy causes you to go through anxiety
attacks, perhaps Purples suggestion was a
good one. Good luck to you and your
decision.
I began getting panic type symptoms around
age 32 including racing heart, irregular
heartbeat, shotness of breath, could not
sleep at all.
I was afraid to lift anything exercise,
take a walk or do anything that would set
off my symptoms. I was 32- I thought I was
dying! While I was diagnosed with Mitral
Valve Prolapse (supposedly) and put on
medication to control heart rhythm, I
continued to have episodes almost daily! I
was in an out of emergency rooms at least
once a week.
Finally my wife mentioned cutting out
caffeine completely from my diet which I
thought I had done already. She reminded
me that I drink quite a bit of decaf
coffee and Iced tea and I replied but
it’s decaf? Come to learn all decaf is
not the same. After cutting out the decaf
stuff for only a day or two I began
sleeping like a baby and feeling like I
was 15 years younger!
I'd also read that taking a Calcium
Magnesium Zinc plus a Vitamin B complex
supplement once a day helps keep teh
nervous system in balance. With the
combination of the supplements and zero
caffeine I have gotten rid of 99% of my
symptoms.
I fgured, cutting out the caffeine and the
decaf will never hurt you anyway and a
supplement- ask your doctor but I don’t
think a moderate amount of a vitamin
supplement can hurt you either…. Best of
Luck. I’d love to hear back and see if
it helped you….
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ladylee70
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 1912 Location: Boise, Idaho,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 04-16-07 17:20pm
Interesting info on the supplemental! I
should try that once I have my baby.
Thanks.
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m_sweetgurl
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 1
Re: Anxiety While Pregnant.... Posted: 10-07-07 23:08pm
Brenna
wrote:
Hi, I have had anxiety for
the last 15 years. I take klonopin as
needed and that usually get's me through
the day. I have a 4 year old son and
when I first got pregnant with him, I was
okay but did have bad panic attcks when I
went to the doctor. I did not take
klonopin with that pregnancy. Then in
2002 I got pregnant again and had the
worst panic attacks than I have ever
experienced -- it felt like I was losing
my mind!! Now my husband wants another
baby, but i'm so afraid that the "bad"
panic will come back again. I'm afraid
to go the ob/gyn for the monthly
visits...Has anyone else ever have
anything like this??? I think I just
feel so out of control when I realize that
I am pregnant!!?? Don't get me wrong , I
do want another baby, but how am I going
to get through a pregnancy when I feel so
out of control???? Thank you for
listening...
I am on the same medication too and I just
found out im pregnant and I cant cope with
this anxiety that I have...its soo bad I
feel like I wanna go to the hospital every
day
I just dont know what to do....I feel like
im going crazy too.
I want to not take the med but I dont
think I would honestly make it through a
day with out it. If anyone has any advice
at all please let me know...I want to be a
healthy mom and have a healthy baby.
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merjalaginven
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2
M_sweetgurl... Posted: 11-24-07 00:36am
I have suffered from panic attacks for the
past three years and I am now 22 weeks
pregnant. I Used to be on xanax and paxil
everyday for a year. I Quit cold turkey-
which is not recomended and IS HARD about
six months bf i got pregnant. I can
relate to you- I feel like I cannot leave
the house without a PA. I feel like i am
going to go crazy and "loose it"
sometimes- but - I then i see all that we
as women are capable of doing and going
through and it gets me through the day.
Every visit to the dr is nerve racking for
me but i am so happy afterwards bc i know
that I did this for my baby and that he is
happy and healthy.
I thought too that i wouldn't be able to
LIVE
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merjalaginven
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2
Wasn't Done- Oops Lol Posted: 11-24-07 00:40am
I thought at one point that i would not be
able to get throughthe day w/o the meds-
but months later i see that i can- and
when the baby gets here he will be alll
worth it. I do not plan on getting on
meds again- I feel if I can get through
this point in my life and go through labor
going crazy with panic attack then i can
do anything!! hang in there- it is HARD
getting off those meds- just remember that
you have a little one now who loves you NO
MATTER WHAT!
ginny
