EvolutionHealth.care

Home
Main Forum
Anxiety
Understanding Panic and Agoraphobia
Panic Attacks while Pregnant

Advanced Search Form

Panic Attacks while Pregnant

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 14

I have managed to get enough sleep every night, my daughter sleeps through the night being that she is 16 mnths and has a very steady sleeping schedule (thank God). I do remember how little sleep I got after my daughter was born and especially since I breastfed her. As a matter of fact i went through 16 hrs of labor with only 1hrs sleep and had to push for 4 hours! Lucky they didn't give me a c-section...I was never more tired in my life after that and for the first few weeks. I am only almost 7 weeks pregnant and have such a long way to go and feel very frustrated that the doctor has absolutly no compassion for me. I understand her concern is with the baby, but as you said my health plays a major role in the baby's health and wellness as well. I am struggling with trying to get off very tiny doses of Xanax I am taking...I have kept it at 1/4 of a .5 3xs a day, which is the same as taking 1/2 of a .25 3xs a day...very low dose but enough to keep me stable. I even take a little less than that most of the time. I was taking much higher doses when I got pregnant with my last child and it took me til' 20 weeks to be completely off of it, but it was terrible getting off. I am on such a low dose now that I am hoping it will be much easier. My doctor wanted me to just drop it cold turkey while I was still going through the worst of it and I refused because I know it would have only led to much greater problems and mental unstability. I have a child that I have to care for outside my womb too and I have to be able to be okay to take care of her properly. I am trying to do a balance that is good for both my children (born and unborn) and for myself as well.

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 27

Maggie, sleep is everything! One thing I always tell people about to be new parents is make sure to strike a deal with your husband or whoever is with you that you get 4 hours of sleep EVERY DAY, IN A ROW. My doctor insisted on it for me after I had "post-partum anxiety" (ha ha). It made all the difference. And you know... you could find a doctor who understands panic. I was told that current research points to supporting maternal health to ensure fetal health. Asking you to go it alone without med support doesn't sound like supporting maternal health. Just my two cents... :)

Laura

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 4027

Laura,

sorry for interupting

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 14

Also, I did breastfeed my baby girl until I started freaking this time and took xanax, she is 15 mnths alomost 16mnths, so I don't feel too guilty about quiting now. I totally know what you mean by it keeping your hormones going and wonder of the mix of being pregnant and breastfeeding at the same time may have made it a little worse. Oh'and I actually got good sleep last night thank God!

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 14

My doctor won't give me anything and she seems to have no compassion for what I am going through, this is my second successful pregnancy and last time was hard too, but the panic was not as extreme in most ways and worse in others...I had to wean off of Xanax last time and it was terrible. I am hoping this time will not be as bad bacuase I am taking so much lower of a dose.

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 4027

MR,

With exhaustion creeping in on your, good sleep hygiene is critical, so read about taking care of yourself.* Self-care is critical, and you’re going into a difficult stage as you begin to care for your newborn, suggests Laura.

On a spiritual note, make the most of your prayer life, for balance, since I noticed you mentioned that side of you, however you do that. A daily site I used to use, is sacredspace.ie..

*type in "insomnia medlineplus medical encyclopedia site:nih.gov" in your google/bing toolbar space for this reputable source of information from the USA national public health database

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 27

Maggie Rose, I can sympathize. I've had two pregnancies. My first one was in 1999, and my doctor had me come off my SSRIs. But he prescribed me Ativan every 4 hours to get me through. It was hard, but I made it, and had beautiful, healthy twin girls. My second pregnancy was in 2008. These days, doctors tend to believe the risks of leaving a mental illness untreated outweigh the risks to the baby. I kept taking my Zoloft and clonazepam through my whole pregnancy. And you're right - hormones take you on a total rollercoaster! But I got through it, and have a lovely, intelligent, active 2 1/2 year old son. I experienced some anxiety after the birth also - having a baby completely turns your world on its head, and things won't start to feel normal again for about 4 months. Plus breastfeeding is a hormone ride all itself.

Would your doctor be willing to prescribe something else? My doctor was of the opinion that calmness was much better for the baby than panic and anxiety.

Laura

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 14

I want to gain as much control over the situation as possible and to learn to cope with the intense feelings that come over me and hoping that maybe they will stop. I do fear that me being pregnant is inducing some or even most of these attacks and I fear the lack of control over that. I am terrified of lowering my Xanax but continue to do so at a slow pace for the sake of my baby. I am so desperate to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I feel so exhausetd and have been battling for so long. These episodes are so extreme and do leave me fearful of having more.

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11226

Hi Maggie,

It is nice to hear how hopeful you are coming into this program. I can hear that you really want relief from this. How does this hope motivate you to stick with the program?

If you are fearful of your hormones/chemicals causing panic what can you do with this fear? What can you do despite this fear? Despite everything what do you want to learn or gain from this experience?

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 14

I haven't touched caffeine in a long time...def a must to stay away from stimulates!

Reading this thread:

today's top discussions:

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Active

Most Loved

Panic Attacks while Pregnant