Overnight anxiety pregnancy mentioned

ajsweeton · December 2013

As I near the point in my pregnancy where I lost Elliott and Ryland I'm having so much anxiety. I can't sleep at night, or when I do I wake up heart racing after just a few hours and I'm unable to get back to sleep. I can't stop myself from going over and over what happened before and stressing over what might happen now. How do you all deal with the PGAL brain and the anxiety? Are there any good exercises that work for you? When this used to happen before I was pregnant I'd just take a Xanax, but of course now that's out of the question. I think that the lack of sleep is making me more prone to fits of anxiety as well. I just don't know what to do. I'm frustrated and scared and so sad. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

kz's_girlygirl · December 2013

I don't have any personal experience, but I can relate to anxiety at night, and not being able to sleep. I'm sorry you aren't able to get the rest you need so much! I don't know if you are able/currently do exercise at all, but maybe a slow and easy yoga sequence could help you to relax and work some tension out to hopefully help you sleep better. Sometimes keeping my earbuds nearby and listening to some music helps me relax again too- There is a Pandora station for ambient music, which is basically spa type music that I really like.

I hope you are able to get some rest, and that as you reach and pass this milestone, some of your anxiety will lessen

Heatherhah · December 2013

I tried to keep myself busy when ever the anxiety got to bad. I tried to remember that each pregnancy is different and that just because I lost Sydney didn't mean I would lose my rainbow. I went in for extra u/s checks and had a doppler at home that I used a ridiculous amount of times. Just try to relax and try to focus on the positive. I know it is hard, it was the hardest thing in the world to be pregnant after having a late loss but you can get through the rough times. We are all here for you!!

Heather

Noethola · December 2013

***Siggy warning***

I know once i hit 35 weeks, my anxiety will quadruple! But every week as we get closer, I get a bit more anxious. My dr wants to see me more often to help allay my fears, but I wont be able to live in his office with the ultrasound machine on me!

Deep breathing, listening to relaxing music or books on CD, yoga or some other slow exercising does work. Do you have a hobby that relaxes you? Painting, crochet/knitting, etc. I always try to put my energy into something productive (I know that is hard, when all you want to do is go back to sleep!!)

Your situation may be different from mine, but can you take comfort in the fact that your Dr is doing something different to help you protect these two? Something that can ease your mind a bit about your care and their care? Maybe try focusing on those?

T&Ps!

mingaling2 · December 2013

Music, keeping yourself busy with something you enjoy doing (puzzles, reading, making something), deep breathing exercises may help.

I do hope you get some sleep. I can't imagine how you are feeling but it is certainly understandable. {hugs}

bunnybun4 · December 2013

I was having really bad anxiety/flashbacks a few months ago that were keeping me up at night...for the most part they only hit when i was trying to go to sleep and it was like bad memories just played on a loop in my head. My therapist told me that i had only been dealing with my grief and now my body was trying to deal with the trauma of the event...which was in itself another monster to deal with.

She started teaching me relaxation exercises...which if you aren't already seeing a therapist you may want to see one to teach you some. basically I just visualize a really calm place in my life (could be a place could be an experience that reminds you of a peaceful time) and I kept letting calm phrases run through my head as I pictured myself in that place ("all is well", "things are good", "God is good", "everything is going to be ok".) I can't tell you how much this helped to calm me down and let me go to sleep, but like I said part of it was the therapist thoroughly teaching me how to do them. HTH!

CRUN2012 · December 2013

I can't give you any personal advice and I can only imagine how much anxiety you have. Would it be helpful if you thought to yourself that the worst possible thing ever already happened and you made it through..so you can now make it through anything? I mean it might not help too much...but maybe sometimes it might!

Dixon813 · December 2013

~~Siggy Warning~

I don't have any advise, just to say that I'm right there with you. I'm days away from my loss mark (5 to be exact...) and the past few weeks have been really difficult because I was in the hospital during this time of the pregnancy with the trips...

Can you schedule an extra appointment with your OB? Something so you can go in and check on the babies or what not?

VyD81 · December 2013

I don't have any personal experience, but my dr did say he would see me as often as I need when I get pregnant. Is this something you can request to ease your anxiety? Drinking chamomile tea relaxes me a bit, maybe decaf tea? Sending positive thoughts.

ajsweeton · December 2013

***Siggy warning**** Thank you ladies so much for your suggestions. I called the office yesterday and they recommended I try Unisom to see if that would help me stay asleep. I tried it last night and I was able to get a little more sleep. If it persists I'm going to go in to see the MFM. I'm sure they'd be happy to do whatever I need to reassure me that everything is fine. The MFM said that they'd be staring at my cervix, and if I want someone to look more they'll do that too. It's just been such a hard thing right now. I never would have realized how difficult being PGAL is. I thought that once I was Pg again everything would be ok. Thank you so much for your support.