Pregnant Mother with Anxiety and Panic Disorder

I totally understand how you feel. While I have no problem with doctors or needles, hospitals are a huge source of anxiety for me. When it came time to go into the hospital to be induced, my husband had to talk me into the hospital. I was more than happy to have my son in my car or at home in my tub! LOL! I would suggest that you do everything you can to make sure you get the same doctor all the time (they usually have the same 1 or 2 nurses), take advantage of any classes you can take about childbirth and see if your hospital does tours of the labor and maternity ward (I haven't heard of any that don't do tours). What helped me out is knowing that at the end of it I would have my beautiful son. Don't forget any relaxation techniques you may use (I just plain forget to breathe) and use those before your appointments and before and during labor. Good luck!

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Boy do I hear ya there chicky! I can't even go into Wal-Mart without freakin out about all the people... it was worse once my belly started showing because everybody thought it was public property, and they were always asking when I was due, boy or girl, etc... yes to a certain extent, all first-time mothers are anxious, but take it from somebody that has been in your shoes, it'll all be okay! Just remember that everything you have to go through is so that you can have a healthy little one, and you'll never feel more shock, joy, and happiness than when they lay your baby on your chest for the first time. Hope this helps, feel free to hit me up anytime even if its just to vent! :)

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Well, I don't suffer from anxiety or panic disorders, and I still prefer a home birth to a hospital birth because they take complete control over your experience. Even if they are a "progressive" hospital, they can ruin your birth experience. Get a midwife you are comfortable with to deliver you at home, get a really great doula (I recommend Sarah Wallbaum, mamasara.com), and plan to stay home to relax. Good luck!

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Hi, M., I am a birth doula and massage therapist and have worked with clients who have similar issues as you mentioned. Here are some things that have been helpful to them, prenatal massage with essential oils that are good for anxiety, such as, Jasmine, Neroli(orange blossom), Geranium or Lavender. Massage can help bring a feeling of well-being and balance the subtle energies of your body, mind and spirit. Also, there is a technique you might learn called EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique, that can be a tool to help yourself when you are feeling anxious. It is a simple technique that involves tapping certain acupressure points and saying affirmations about the issue at hand. There is info on line about it. Others have mentioned homebirth which is certainly a valid option. Educating yourself on what all your options are can give you a feeling of having more to say in the matter of how your birth will be. There are herbs and homeopathic remedies such as Bach Flower Rescue Remedy that can also be helpful. These are just a few of the things that I know can help. The point is that there are tools available if you want to use them. Being empowered in your own process does alot to lessen anxiety and strengthen your confidence in your ability to give birth, however you decide to do it. N.

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If your pregnancy is healthy, then you might try a home birth. Most cities have home birth clinics, check your directory. I've had several friends who have given birth at home with wonderful results. Water births are really neat also. Just a thought you might look into.

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Congratulations. I too, suffer from panic/anxiety, maybe not as severe as yours. I have had meds before, off and on when it gets bad. I also had anxiety towards needles and hospitals, due to lots of blood tests as a kid, then my mom having and dying from cancer when I was 19. Hospitals freaked me out. Couldn't stand the smell of them even, thought I'd pass out. I think that's why I waited 'til I was 27 to be pregnant the first time. Those motherly urges finally got so strong, I couldn't suppress them. I told myself, there are teenagers who do this every day (along with thousands of other women), surely I can! I wanted a baby so badly. I ended up having an emergency c-section. I wasn't nervous for the surgery. I was so ready to get him out. My son had problems and was in NICU for two weeks after birth. (He's 100% healthy ever since.) I don't tell you that to scare you, but to let you know, it all actually helped me. (I'm also the type that my pulse and blood pressure used to go up every time I went to the dr's office no matter why I was there.) Once you get used to having to go there so much and be around the medical stuff, the more comfortable I was w/it and now it doesn't bother me near as much. I also felt like God just carried me through it all. Through all I went through, the anxiety really stayed in control (w/o meds). I never panicked. I look back and can't believe how well I handled it all. For someone who has as much anxiety as I do, it was a miracle. I was so proud of myself for getting through it all. Like, "Wow, I can do this. I'm stronger than I ever thought." It was like the Footprints poem. I feel like God just carried us through it all. Pray for calming, courage, etc. Find out what you can do to relax: yoga (exercise helps w/anxious feelings), deep breathing, whatever works for you and do it often. I hope this helps you. Phil. 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength."
PS - I don't know about you, but sometimes me reading everything I can tends to make me a little more nervous. It just depends on how you handle that kind of thing. If something I was reading made me feel nervous, I just stopped. Focus on what you'll have at the end of this journey. As for those baby shows, I enjoy them a lot more now that I've been through it twice, than I did before. I think, "Wow, I've been there done that and have two GORGEOUS boys. b/c of what I went through."

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Find a caregiver who respects your real feelings and problems. Switch as many times as you can.

If you hate hospitals, you may want to consider a home birth. If you have severe anxiety about what could go wrong during the birth, though, I don't recommend it. Plus even with a home birth you must deal with the possibility of going to the hospital if it becomes necessary.

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Dear M., I have not been clinically diagnosed with panic disorder/anxiety, but I have had panic attacks in the past, especially when my stress level gets really high. I am a mom of three, and the only thing I can tell you is this: pray to God for strength and to get you through, and focus, focus, focus on what will be the end result-a beautiful, healthy precious baby. Even go as far as to find a picture of a beautiful baby and focus on it any time you have to go into the hospital for tests, or when you go into labor. I wish you well and really hope this works for you!

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I have also had problems with anxiety and I was worried I might freak out during labor and delivery. Instead, I did great. I had read every book I could get my hands on and I watched a lot of those labor and delivery shows on cable. It all really helped me! Anyway, be open with your doctor and prepare as much as you can. Part of preparing is realizing you don't have complete control over the birth.

Also, keep in mind that everyone in the labor and delivery room has dealt with a lot of birthing mothers. The nurse I had with my first baby was so great. She even stayed past her shift so she could stay with me until my son was born. It was a rough and long labor and delivery, but I did great and never freaked out. There were a few times that I said I couldn't take it any longer, but the staff helped coach me through it.

Good luck.

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