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Post by monica on Sept 1, 2019 8:37:45 GMT
Hi EC
Great to hear from you! And that life is going great! Those symptoms are a bugger and it’s incredibly annoying when they reappear but it sounds like they’ve lessened hugely and you’re managing them really well.
There’s nothing crazy about wanting another baby! It’s perfectly normal and natural though understandably it’s making you nervous given your experience.
I would make an appt with dr (if you haven't done this already). Tell dr your concerns . A plan can be put in place to manage your physical and emotional symptoms. You can also be referred for more visits to midwife and consultant. I had this - if you feel fine during pregnancy with consultant etc you can reduce appts but a plan will be in place to help you in the ante and post natal period. Perhaps look into antidepressants during pregnancy and post so you know what your options are. All this can make a huge difference.
I had more appts and found it so helpful. I went in to have another child and was Pni free both in terms of physical and emotional symptoms. I did all that I could to rest, eat well and in my case not put pressure on myself an abundance of which were probably the main triggers for Pni in my case as opposed to hormones.
Hope the weaning goes well. How are you reducing your meds?
It really is so lovely to hear from you. Glad we helped you before and here to support you again.
Monica
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ec
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Post by ec on Oct 23, 2019 18:39:07 GMT
Hi Monica, how are you? I feel like I'm very fickle as only message when I'm in a bad place and something bothering me, so I'm sorry. Thank you for your advice in the last post. I am around 5 days late with my period ( I haven't checked whether I'm pregnant yet, thought I would leave it s week) and this evening suddenly a wave of anxiety hit me. I've had a bit of anxiety about being pregnant over the last few days but tonight ha d been worse. I'didnt feel particularly anxious with my last 2 pregnancies it was only the post natal period that was awful but now I'm worried I'm going to feel horrendous in pregnancy too and catastrophising that I will damage the baby. I know this is all hypothetical and crazy as my period could just be late. Im going to look at my cbt sheets and try and remind myself of the thinking traps. I sometimes feel like maybe I should give it more time before trying to get pregnant but then I think these same feelings would come back to me whenever it happened. Did you feel anxious during your 3rd pregnancy? Not sure if I could cope with bad mental health in pregnancy as well as postnatal. X
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Post by monica on Oct 25, 2019 17:03:48 GMT
Hi
Great to hear from you! I’m sorry you’ve been hit by horrible anxiety. Given your pni experience it’s bound to make you anxious about any future pregnancy. I was really worried too. However, I do believe forewarned is forearmed - if you do get ante natal depression/anxiety there’s lots of support out there from midwife/health visitor/gp and consultant etc. Reassurance can go a long way and just not feeling alone . You could try talking therapies, cbt, mindfulness and if that doesn’t help meds are an option. There is an elevated risk to baby but it’s still very low.
With my third pregnancy I had extra midwifes appts, my hv kept in touch with me and I discussed meds .
Why don’t you make an appt with dr to discuss options even if you’re not pregnant - and if you are - hugest congrats! Let me know!
Please don’t worry about coming on here only if you’re feeling low or anxious - this is your place to do as you wish and when x
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ec
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Post by ec on Nov 8, 2019 21:28:13 GMT
Hi Monica Thank you for your advice. I started to feel better later that evening and then took a pregnancy test the following morning. It was positive! I am 7 weeks I think now. I am excited and happy but also go through periods every so often of catastrophising and feeling anxious. Then it passes and I feel better. Don't know if it's hormones and feeling nauseous but last few days been feeling a bit low. I'm trying not to worry too much as I guess it's normal for hormones to be all over place. I don't see the midwife for another few weeks but will definitely talk to her about everything. I think because I never really got any help from the perinatal team, (I was referred but they also took my physical symptoms at face value and said it wasn't the right service for me) I maybe won't be taken as seriously as someone with a history of PNI. Trying to do everything I can to help myself(exercise and meditation) but only time will tell I guess. Anyway, thanks for replying, I hope you are well? X
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Post by monica on Nov 9, 2019 19:21:30 GMT
Oh wow EC -hugest congratulations! So excited for you! Glad you’re feeling better on the whole. It sounds like you’re doing all the right things and remember most pregnant feel a bit anxious !
I’d definitely talk to midwife to access the perinatal services that are offered. Do talk about how you felt last time round . Midwives are hopefully better informed ! X
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ec
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Post by ec on Nov 11, 2019 20:47:27 GMT
Thanks Monica I'm excited but def starting to experience more intermittent anxiety. Don't know if it's hormones or a blip if PNI or just trauma from last time. Keep worrying that it will be my mental health that effects the health of the baby and I will be to blame. Didn't have much anxiety in either of my last 2 pregnancies, it all came after the birth. My midwife appointment isn't until the end of next week but think I will make docs appointment tomorrow to discuss. Earlier today I was feeling ok. Just confused that my emotions seem to be changing so much in just a few hours. I only work one day a week at the mo so don't feel like I've got many distractions and can't talk to anyone as we are waiting for scan to tell people so don't feel I can share how I'm feeling. What did you do when you were feeling anxious? Thank you for your support xx
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Post by monica on Nov 13, 2019 22:38:02 GMT
Hi
I think it’s entirely normal to worry combined with hormones which can make you feel up and down which is draining in itself. You’re doing all the right things about seeing dr for advice and they can put things in place to help you. Hopefully once the initial shock has subsided you’ll feel more comfortable and confident.
With my third I was very anxious. I saw an obstetrician more regularly and one in particular was brilliant and very reassuring. I saw the midwife more often . Unfortunately there wasn’t much continuity with regards to the midwives so I rarely saw the same one twice! I think keeping busy helped with the anxiety and I was determined to just try and not put myself under pressure .
Keep talking! X
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ec
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Post by ec on Nov 23, 2019 10:10:44 GMT
Thanks for replying. Felt ok last few weeks but last couple of days started to feel so much more sick and tired. Think that has affected me mentally. Got to keep remembering it's normal to feel up and down with hormones. Midwife says she will refer me to mental health midwife if I need and doctor said ok to keep taking 25mg of sertraline. Think the physical side reminds me a lot of my PNI symptoms. Hopefully will subside after first trimester x
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Post by monica on Nov 25, 2019 10:59:00 GMT
How are you doing? Nausea is not pleasant but apparently sign of baby being healthy! I completely understand the association between physical symptoms which are completely unrelated to Pni and memories of what you went through with Pni - stuff like that can get me down too. Try to remind yourself it’s pregnancy related .
Great to hear there’s plan in place should you need perinatal MH care. It can make a huge difference.
How many weeks are you? X
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Post by monica on Dec 14, 2019 23:55:36 GMT
Hi EC
I was just wondering how you were doing? X
Monica
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ec
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Post by ec on Dec 27, 2019 10:31:21 GMT
Hi Monica I hope you had a lovely Christmas and a good holiday. Thanks for asking after me, I'm around 13 and a half weeks now. Nausea has subsided a bit but still comes and goes. Generally been feeling quite well and anxiety has subsided recently. Last night had an awful nights sleep though and again all the memories of PNI and not sleeping came back. Started to feel anxious in my body so then I couldn't sleep. I know I can't control if but get frustrated with myself that my mind automatically goes back to the trauma of PNI and the worry of experiencing it again and that I'll damage the growing baby. I know it's crazy and that at certain times everyone can't sleep and there's also the hormones but I go into panic mode every time. X
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Post by monica on Dec 28, 2019 8:37:26 GMT
Hi Great to hear from you!
Wow over 13 weeks - that’s whizzing by - not sure whether it is for you too! My niece is 39 weeks and that’s gone so quickly.
Really pleased youre feeling well. Even though you’re having panicky thoughts from time to time it does sound like you can rationalise them which is really good. I suffer from those types of wobbles now and again and they’re just part of my make up! With me lack of sleep makes my mood plummet too. I think everyone does tbh. Having suffered from Pni previously it’s entirely normal to have the odd wobble when you’re faced with a reminder of your struggle. Hopefully you e caught up on your sleep and feeling better x
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ec
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Post by ec on Dec 29, 2019 21:09:31 GMT
Hi Monica thank you for your reply. It's so nice having a support I feel I can be completely honest with. I know it's completely normal to have low days but I worry about them turning into a bigger mental health problem. I feel like as awful as PNI is least the baby is out whereas in pregnancy my mental state must impact the baby. I try and remember that I'm not in this place I'm just feeling a bit of anxiety which is normal. Just feel concerned about causing a miscarriage or something. Did u ever have these anxieties? I have spent the holiday telling friends and family and I wonder whether the reality of everyone knowing has made things seem more real. Hopefully I feel a bit more positive in a few days. X
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Post by monica on Jan 1, 2020 20:47:15 GMT
Happy New Year EC! I’m sure telling your nearest and dearest makes the whole pregnancy feel far more real and with that come anxieties of Pni. Babies are pretty resilient and I imagine highly unlikely to trigger a miscarriage. It’s more about keeping you feeling happy and calm. See how you get on and if you feel the anxiety is getting overwhelming then do get additional support. The govt has spent money on improved perinatal mh services. And possibly just talking to a professional will allay any fears you have!
Glad you can share how you feel on here. You really are doing so well. Pni is a really traumatic event in most women’s lives and potentially reliving those triggers can be hard. I used to worry a lot about Pni with my third child (I had Pni after my second). I was under consultant care and discussed meds when pregnant. My health visitor was aware and would check in to see how I was and whether I needed more support. Fortunately I tried to sleep when I had my third and push no pressure on myself and I was ok - for me they were big triggers for Pni. I also got lots of reassurance from gp which helped no end! X
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Post by monica on Feb 4, 2020 20:55:31 GMT
Hi EC
I was wondering how you were doing and how the pregnancy was going? Hope all is well! X
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