Anxiety Attacks While Pregnant

Caffeine causes heart palpitations which can lead to panic/anxiety attacks. So if you are having caffeine-chocolate, tea, etc make sure you don't a few hours before bedtime. This can help as well. I hope this goes away soon-they are not fun!!!

M.,
I am 34 weeks and have experienced some anxiety and it was partly brought on by high and labile Blood Pressure. You should talk to your docs. I just got out of the hospital because I was jsut not feelign right and BP was crazy. I also had started effacing and dilating too much. I don't mean to scare you more about the hospital. What I am saying is you may be able to prevent it is your doc can see you have high BP. You may have not began your weekly appointments. I would suggest calling your doc.

ON another note, I am expecting my fourth after almost 10 years. I'm due June 15th. There is so much more to that is known and I think it scares us more. I also had my last 2 with no epidural. I too am blessed with rapid delivery. THe docs are telling me that if you have it the more births you have the more rapid it can be. I guess we are lucky. I am already dilated to a 3+! I am on bedrest with the hopes of holding my baby Abby in for another 2 weeks! I can tell you that with the BP med I am on I feel much more relaxed. The doc thought I was going to have a panic attack with my high BP. This is not like me. So, I guess what I am saying is look into your BP. I think you can go to Jewel/Osco, Walgreens, or CVS and get your BP checked too>

Hope this helps!
Take Care,
M.

You might want to consider doing some deep-breathing, relaxation exercises. There are great audio versions to listen that will have you slow down your breathing and relax. You can probably buy them or get them from the library. Look up relaxation techniques or deep-breathing exercises. Hope that helps. Good luck.

Have you looked into the Bradley birthing method? There are classes that are 12 weeks long, which may be too late for you to begin, but I am in the process of reading a book on it, and I think it is going to be so helpful!
It emphasizes relaxation during labor, and a completely drug-free process. If that is of interest to you, I highly recommend a Bradley book to read during the remainder of your pregnancy!

Good luck!

Prenatal yoga can help you to develop and practice positive breathing patterns. Your local park district and yoga studios provide this special class. Classes are available in the evening and on the weekend so that you can arrange for someone to take care of the children you already do have and just take this time for you with the prenatal yoga class.
There is also a focus of being in the present moment while you are having yoga with the community of pregnant women that most students find to be a very positive experience.
Prenatal yoga can also provide you with the skill of chanting to give you something to do during labor and delivery.
Talk therapy can also help you.
I am submitting this feedback to you as someone who has been through labor and delivery 3 times. I have been teaching prenatal yoga for the past 18 months at a local fitness center and also at a local yoga studio.
I have been teaching adult yoga for more than 4 years.

M.:

I had similar problems. My gyne suggested that I see a therapist and it worked wonders.

T.

I also hate needles. I've had two natural, non-medicated births at local hospitals without so much as an IV or pic line. This won't be acceptable to all doctors, or appropriate for all circumstances, but it may be worth talking to your care provider about if you are not having any complications. If it's important to you, it may be worth finding a doctor who will allow this approach. There are at least two locally, as I used a different practice for each birth.

There are alternatives to delivering your baby in a medicalized setting with "needles all around." Many providers will allow you to labor without an iv or any other needles. You should talk to your doctor about this or look for another provider. A nurse-midwife would probably be a better bet, but many doctors practice this way too. Of course if you have an epidural needles are required. There is also the option of homebirth. I work in L & D and the main two reasons for an iv are for the epidural and in case of hemorrhage. Hemorrhage is fairly unlikely. If you do not want an iv you are the patient and nothing can be done to your without your consent. You can refuse. Although it is a good idea to continue working through your fears like you do, there is nothing unreasonable about not wanting to be poked and prodded while you are in labor. They will probably want to draw blood as well, you could talk with your doctor about having this done a few days before you due date so they do not have to do it while you are in labor. Good luck.

Hi there! I just wanted to reassure you that you can have a birthing experience without needles! I had my third with no needles at all and everything was great. I was very clear that I did not want an iv or anything unless there was an emergency and everything went really well. I had three daughters naturally, mostly because I was so afraid of having an epidural (and I didn't want my babies to be drugged in the process). I also began experiencing some anxiety at around age 34 (now I'm 38) and I think it's an unfortunate side effect of getting a little older. Deep breathing and yoga have really helped me relax! Good luck, you can do it!

Okay, if you are delivering normally and not being induced, then why the needles? Ask if you can just go al' natural until necessary and by then your contractions will be the distraction you need.?????

You can learn to quiet your mind & focus your thoughts by controlling your breathing. Take a confortable position or recline like you are about to go to sleep then take in a nice full breath hold a moment & slowly exhale as you allow the tension to move down & out of your body. Do this several times as often as you would like. This is the first step to practicing self-hypnosis which has become a way to experience empowered & peaceful birthing. As you aloow your body 7 mind to relax imagine the peaceful birthing process you desire. This is especially powerful as you go off to sleep. If you need more help consider consulting with a certified hypnotist. I discovered hypnosis when I was pregnant with my second child 18 years ago. I used a relaxing recording to guide me into a profoundly calm state. When my Dr came into the birthing room I was so relaxed she thought I had been given medication. I am currently seeing a pregnant client who was fearful of childbirth. 3 sessions in as many weeks & she is confident & expecting a peaceful birthing process.

Congrats on your #3 coming. I'm sorry you're anxious. Homeopathy can help with that. There's a little spray bottle called Rescue Remedy. It's helpful in stressful/anxious situations. I gave it to my baby when she had a crying fit and she calmed down in seconds after I gave it to her. It's natural and has no side effect, so perfect to take while pregnant or nursing. I even give it to my dog when we take her in the car; she stands the whole time and if I give her the remedy, she will relax and lay down. It's not "drugs," but it is medicine. It just inspires the body to heal it's imbalance, whether it's mental or physical or emotional.

here's a link and you can buy this at fruitful yield or whole foods:
http://www.bachflower.com/Rescue_Remedy.htm

if this doesn't help, you can see a professional homeopath. We see Dr. Polich for our issues (www.dupagehomeopathic.com).

This happened to me when low on progesterone. However, I'm not sure your doctor would recognize that ~ especially while pregnant. It was a holistic doc that recognized it in me and put me on a "natural" progesterone cream. It took care of the problem immediately.