Is there such a thing as an irrational fear of SIDS?

xche · March 2011

I have to ask.. this is kindof a s/o a comment on the sad/scary news/stories thread, but I was wondering how everyone else feels about it. LO goes to bed before H and myself, so I check on her when I go to bed and every time I wake up in the middle of the night. If I don't, these images start running through my head of how I would react if (God forbid) I found DD dead in the morning and I could have prevented it by checking on her and catching her choking or something. I mentally prepare myself every time I walk in the room, just in case I find something wrong.

Also, when I'm walking around carrying DD, I picture what would happen if I tripped and she hit her head. When I take her and our dog to the dog park, I picture my reaction if one of the dogs were to attack her. We're flying to see my parents next month and I'm already worried about what would happen to her as a lap baby if the plane went down.. It's like no matter what I do, I have this series of nightmares running through my head. I love her so much, it's stressing me out day to day, even though nothing has gone wrong.

Anyone else??

SarahWaggy · March 2011

I am cautious about stuff, but I have an anxiety disorder so I try my hardest to not even READ that stuff because then for nights I will make Remy sleep next to me and never let him out of my sight. Which isn't good for me mentally.

MJHershey · March 2011

I think the picturing bad things happening to her every day is what concerns me. There is one thing to be cautious and aware of dangers, and it's so easy to worry being a mom (I'm bad at it), but it sounds as though you are dwelling on it.

Have you thought about talking to someone about PPA?

SarahWaggy · March 2011

MJLab78:
I think the picturing bad things happening to her every day is what concerns me. There is one thing to be cautious and aware of dangers, and it's so easy to worry being a mom (I'm bad at it), but it sounds as though you are dwelling on it.
Have you thought about talking to someone about PPA?

I have to agree. I had anxiety problems BEFORE pregnancy and that was difficult. Having a child has only added. If you haven't, you may really want to talk to someone about that.

QueenBee320 · March 2011

That sounds like post partum anxiety to me. All of those thoughts are common and natural to new mothers. I was struggling a lot with post partum depression and anxiety and I got help. I started seeing a therapist and I'm taking zoloft and it's really helping, I'm starting to feel better. I think you should give your doc a call and see what he/she thinks.

izzourclue · March 2011

I think its pretty normal. The key is to not let fear cripple you. Bad things can happen but you can't waste your life anticipating them.

MommaEm · March 2011

I still have a baby monitor in my 4 year olds room,and check on him at least once a night. We bedshare with DD for now and I really don't know when I'll start using her crib. I have horrible anxiety, have for over 12 years...I'm a mess with worry.

xche · March 2011

I wasn't like this before I got pregnant.. honestly, I was pretty "what happens, happens" about everything and I took some crazy risks because I didn't much care what happened to me (not in a depressed way, I didn't want to die, but I didn't want to live in fear either) now, I feel like it's all catching up to me. We have a security system and I carry the alarm button around with me if H isn't home, especially when I go to let the dog out because there is a one-minute window where someone could get in without the alarm going off, I almost had a panic attack one night when I woke up after the TV un-paused (we can only keep it paused for 2 hours before whatever show was on starts up again) because I thought someone was in my house. I don't know what to do with myself..

I'll try talking to my doc about it, though, thanks for the advice, ladies!

weberm05 · March 2011

I shouldn't have read this...............I pray to god everyday that nothing like that will happen to LO.

Like when I"m walking down steps..what if I slip etc.

Under.the.Rose · March 2011

I think becoming a mom normally increases your awareness and you worry lots... however it sounds like you're at a point where it's beyond healthy concern/care for your child... it sounds like some pretty serious anxiety. You shouldn't be feeling that kind of dread and visualizing those things multiple times a day. I think you should speak to your doctor about your feelings. Hope things improve for you soon!

aabreu32 · March 2011

x_che:

I have to ask.. this is kindof a s/o a comment on the sad/scary news/stories thread, but I was wondering how everyone else feels about it. LO goes to bed before H and myself, so I check on her when I go to bed and every time I wake up in the middle of the night. If I don't, these images start running through my head of how I would react if (God forbid) I found DD dead in the morning and I could have prevented it by checking on her and catching her choking or something. I mentally prepare myself every time I walk in the room, just in case I find something wrong.

Also, when I'm walking around carrying DD, I picture what would happen if I tripped and she hit her head. When I take her and our dog to the dog park, I picture my reaction if one of the dogs were to attack her. We're flying to see my parents next month and I'm already worried about what would happen to her as a lap baby if the plane went down.. It's like no matter what I do, I have this series of nightmares running through my head. I love her so much, it's stressing me out day to day, even though nothing has gone wrong.

Anyone else??

If so - I have it, plus most of the other fears in your post (minus the dogs and the plane only because I have no plans of going on a plane) - my DH is in awe of how I constantly stare at the baby monitor after DD goes to sleep.

xche · March 2011

It makes me feel a little better knowing I'm not the only one.. I don't let it stop me from doing things, but I do have to push past my fears frequently. I recognize that they're ridiculous, but I can't help that they pop into my head..... UGH.

xche · March 2011

Aabreu, your DD looks so gansta in her Bumpo! Haha! Nice pic..

mishu917 · March 2011

x_che:
I have to ask.. this is kindof a s/o a comment on the sad/scary news/stories thread, but I was wondering how everyone else feels about it. LO goes to bed before H and myself, so I check on her when I go to bed and every time I wake up in the middle of the night. If I don't, these images start running through my head of how I would react if (God forbid) I found DD dead in the morning and I could have prevented it by checking on her and catching her choking or something. I mentally prepare myself every time I walk in the room, just in case I find something wrong.

Also, when I'm walking around carrying DD, I picture what would happen if I tripped and she hit her head. When I take her and our dog to the dog park, I picture my reaction if one of the dogs were to attack her. We're flying to see my parents next month and I'm already worried about what would happen to her as a lap baby if the plane went down.. It's like no matter what I do, I have this series of nightmares running through my head. I love her so much, it's stressing me out day to day, even though nothing has gone wrong.

Anyone else??

I am extremely paranoid about her too, to the point where I couldn't sleep or get anything done bc she sleeps all the time and all I wanted to do was sit there and watch her in case she stopped breathing. I had to talk to a therapist but I still think I am pretty paranoid. I check on her every 10 mins during the day when she's sleeping and every half an hour at nights. It's terrible and I always imagine the what if something bad happens situations every time I can. To make things worse, I am subscribed to all these random blogs where the baby choked in their sleep and died or they died from SIDS or something out of the normal happened... I don't know why I am subscribed to that stuff but my therapist said it's no good to read so much into things.

aabreu32 · March 2011

x_che:
Aabreu, your DD looks so gansta in her Bumpo! Haha! Nice pic..

Thanks - this her pic has been cracking me up all day so I put it in my sig

xche · March 2011

mishu917:
x_che:

I have to ask.. this is kindof a s/o a comment on the sad/scary news/stories thread, but I was wondering how everyone else feels about it. LO goes to bed before H and myself, so I check on her when I go to bed and every time I wake up in the middle of the night. If I don't, these images start running through my head of how I would react if (God forbid) I found DD dead in the morning and I could have prevented it by checking on her and catching her choking or something. I mentally prepare myself every time I walk in the room, just in case I find something wrong.

Also, when I'm walking around carrying DD, I picture what would happen if I tripped and she hit her head. When I take her and our dog to the dog park, I picture my reaction if one of the dogs were to attack her. We're flying to see my parents next month and I'm already worried about what would happen to her as a lap baby if the plane went down.. It's like no matter what I do, I have this series of nightmares running through my head. I love her so much, it's stressing me out day to day, even though nothing has gone wrong.

Anyone else??

I am extremely paranoid about her too, to the point where I couldn't sleep or get anything done bc she sleeps all the time and all I wanted to do was sit there and watch her in case she stopped breathing. I had to talk to a therapist but I still think I am pretty paranoid. I check on her every 10 mins during the day when she's sleeping and every half an hour at nights. It's terrible and I always imagine the what if something bad happens situations every time I can. To make things worse, I am subscribed to all these random blogs where the baby choked in their sleep and died or they died from SIDS or something out of the normal happened... I don't know why I am subscribed to that stuff but my therapist said it's no good to read so much into things.

I try to avoid those blogs.. it's terrifying. Lily got sick right after baby Adam died and I slept on the couch holding her because I didn't want to leave her alone for one second.. =(

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