The 'Worry' Hormone

[radiogirlgr]

Hey Ladies-

This happened to me the first time I was pregnant as well. It seems that the moment I found out we were expecting again, the 'worry hormone' kicks in and I go completely overboard worrying about everything from the baby, to me, to our DS, to the cats, to the state of the world today. I thought I'd start this thread so we can compare our emotional, irrational, hormonal worries.

Today I'm Worried About: a silly drug-screen at work that I have no reason to worry about, and whether or not my grandmother will like her Christmas gift. I even went so far as to check the receipt to see if I can return it-it's been wrapped for a week! Ridiculous! LOL!

[beemama]

Me, too... I've been a mess. I cry over everything-for sad, happy, upset ... I wasn't a crier for my previous 2 pg's... so this is a new one. And W-o-r-r-y, I retested today at 23dpo thinking that maybe I wasn't pregnant anymore..

I just need to remember to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving, everyone knows I'm pregnant & a little... well... more right now.

[peilover010202]

I've gotten pretty emotional - but my worrying hasn't really picked up, it started when I was pregnant with ds and never left!

I'm just down right now because it Christmastime for us, and dh's gma was admitted to the hospital. Her lung cancer has now spread to her brain, she's in a coma - it's just really sad. And, I need to be strong for dh - he doesn't cope well with death at all, and he's a wreck. And, I just feel emotionally raw right now. It's supposed to be a happy time of the year and I'm supposed to be anxiously awaiting my u/s on Friday. Right now, I'm just worried that dh won't want to leave his gma side to go with me But, they'll give me pictures at least!

[rebeccalizzie]

Aw Steph, . I'll be thinking of you tomorrow at your u/s! That will be so cool to see the little teeny heartbeat

Edited to add...ahem, I meant I'd be thinking of you on Friday I can't keep my days straight sometimes!

Maybe this is why I'm so incredibly stressed about my birth (in 8 months for heaven's sake!!!) I'm really stressing out about the idea of a super medical hospital birth, and my mom is so incredibly unsupportive about this that it isn't funny. It would be nice to blame it on my hormones...

[veganf]

holidays

It's such a bummer to have sick relatives and hospitals making this time of year so difficult. My father died of colon cancer a year and a half ago, and now my mother has to have a huge stomach tumor and half her stomach removed 3 days after xmas. Ugh. At least it's at the hospital where I used to work, but it's 3 hours away, and she has no one except us to be there for the surgery, so I have no idea how I'm going to drag my nauseus self up there without the boys (who I've never been away from for more than 12 hours, and that was only once when my father was about to die), otherwise I'll have to make my husband go instead, and I'm not sure my mother will be as comfortable about that.

But on a happier note, the kids' great grandmother and grandma (on my husband's side) are supposed to visit today. The house is a wreck, but I did manage to bake sugar cookies with the boys yesterday. Maybe they won't notice the extensive clutter.

I hope everyone has a peaceful holiday!

- Krista

[Ary99]

Anxiety, beyond just worrying, has plagued me for some time, but I feel I am doing a better job managing it than I have in the past. Some things we can control, but MOST things we can't. It's maddening, I tell you. I remind myself I wasted my entire pregnancy with DS worrying for nothing. I relaxed completely last time and lost the baby. Yes, I fell hard when we found out the baby had died, but worrying wouldn't have changed the outcome at all, and I was actually glad I had given myself the chance to enjoy the pregnancy. I am able to look back and know for the short time my baby was with me, he or she brought me joy.

Humor helps, so I try to read funny news stories, watch old Seinfeld reruns and STAY AWAY FROM THE NEWS. If you ever want to be left shaking in your shorts about the state of the world, just tune in to the evening news. It's morbid.

Support helps also, and since this is a work in progress for me, I want to thank you for coming up with this idea so we can share.

Deep breath and have a great day!

Hilary

[mimi!]

Originally Posted by Ary99

Yes, I fell hard when we found out the baby had died, but worrying wouldn't have changed the outcome at all, and I was actually glad I had given myself the chance to enjoy the pregnancy. I am able to look back and know for the short time my baby was with me, he or she brought me joy.


Hilary

Hilary: this is touching, thanks for sharing. It helps to keep this in my mind too as I was just presented with an early Christams presant of a collage of photos over the past year with ds and I. In some of the photos I was pg. and would have liked to have tucked them away, not be reminded of the loss. You have however shed a new, fresh light on the past. Thanks

[magpiedee]

Yup, i'm worried, too. Thinking about being pregnant, for me, is a lot like when I think of death and life after death. If I allow myself to meditate on the subject, I completely freak out and can't even fathom it. But if I just enjoy the everyday moments, it's completely wonderful. When I actually think of all the things that could go wrong or could currently be wrong, how difficult and painful birth and the pp period will be... well, I just can't begin to fathom it. But i'm so excited that I'm always smiling.

I had my first "worry about miscarriage" dream last night. In the dream, I wasn't worried or freaking out; it wasn't a nightmare. I just went to the bathroom, and there was blood full of plant cuttings, little vines and leaves and stalks and ferns. In the dream, there was no pain and no loss. But when I woke up, I caught my breath and was so frightened, because I don't want to go back to feeling alone. I am just so very much in love with the thought of the little person that is now with me all the time.

I can't wait till my first exam at 10 weeks so that I can see the heartbeat and know that all is well. These days are the slowest i've every known because I spend so much time just feeling out my body and being introspective. The clock has practically stopped. I think my biggest worry is just that even if I do everything in my power, there are some things I just can't control.

[SlingWearin'Mama]

Well, I had a touch of brown spotting so of course I am now in the worry mode. I had my second Beta yesterday but am waiting for them to call...

Steph-I am sorry to hear about your Dh's gma, big hugs. Oh and I am so excited to hear how your u/s goes!!! please let us know!

Hilary-I *love* seinfeld, I used to be a trivia buff but haven't watched in a while, but if you ever need some distraction we can quiz each other ha

[wanderlost]

Hi ladies! I just joined today. Reading this thread is helping me relax and remember that worry is normal but not to go overboard. I have been worrying since I tested - 3 weeks ago! I don't remember worrying this much with my son (almost 7 years ago!) - every twinge freaks me out - and not to be too crass, but I've had a lot of discharge and I must 'check' down there ten times a day to make sure its still normal..

[surf mama]

wanderlost- Welcome! I'm glad you mentioned discharge...I've been having a lot too and it freaks me out. I run to the bathroom to make sure but it's always clear. I didn't know if it's normal but I'm guessing it is.

[Ary99]

Hey, what IS goin' on down there? I keep doing panty checks, but it is just weird whatever stuff. I don't know. I've decided to try not to worry until they tell me too which is impossible. I have another u/s on Friday and the worries are starting to kick in again. I'm distracting myself with a roadtrip tomorrow with my Dad and DS to see some old high school buddies. This sounds so shallow but I'd almost rather tell (we haven't told) my girlfriends I'm pg so they won't just think I'm chubby.

[beemama]

Hey, lots of extra stuff to check here, too...
I keep hoping I'm working on a really good mucus plug!

I'm just trying to think of everything else besides my pregnancy, at least until our u/s on Friday. I'm so afraid it's a blighted ovum, I had one 10 years ago. In fact, I had the d & c 10 years ago yesterday. My symptoms still come & go & I've actually lost a little weight around the middle so my pants are fitting better

[surf mama]

beemama- I can't wait to hear about your ultrasound. That will be so reassuring to see your little one!

My morning sickness is so mild but makes me feel better each time I feel it. I just want to know this little one will stick.

I need to call and set up an appt with a midwife-I've been dragging my feet about calling...it makes me so nervous for some reason.

I'm not sure if they will want to do an early ultrasound or not. Last time I got one because I had a molar pg before that pg. I remember how comforting it was to know that the baby was there and healthy.

[Vick]

So add me to the list of worriers! I have been spotting daily since the week after I found out I was pregnant. Our midwife said that spotting occurs in 30% of pregnancies but sheesh. I wish it wasn't happening in mine. I am under strict orders to take it easy--no exercise and pelvic rest. Both of which are a total bummer but worth it if it means this wee one stays healthy. I am 8 1/2 weeks now and at 7 weeks we had an ultrasound that showed a little heartbeat. Now i am worried because I haven't thrown up in about a week. I am still nauseous occasionally but everything is staying down.

I worry about my son and just want to hold on to each moment with him because soon everything will be different. I have a hard time with change and I am sure I don't even know how much our lives will change with two. This babe is quite wanted and we tried for a while to get pregnant but I still am in shock! One thing that is decreasing the worry and increasing my excitement is unpacking my son's baby things. My next task is to sort through my maternity clothes because my belly is pooching out a little already! And, all of the maternity & consignment stores have marked their things way down right now so it is a great time to shop!

I second not watching the news. I am a closet on-line news reader. It doesn't help me keep a positive frame of mind, that's for sure!

[surf mama]

I am getting just a tad worried because I'm not really having morning sickness. I do feel super hungry and thirsty and I feel grouchy and yucky if I don't eat but not really nauseous. I am just a little over 5 weeks so maybe it just hasn't hit yet? When should it start? I have my nurse appt at the midwives office next Thursday so maybe they'll do a beta to reassure me. I'm just ready to know that this is for real. It just took so long to get pg that it's hard to believe.

[gumby74]

surf mama: Congrats! I remember you from the One Thread. I didn't start feeling "yucky" until about 6.5 weeks. And even then I never threw up during my first trimester, just felt like I would if I didn't eat ALL the time. I was feeling the same as you at 5 weeks and no matter how anyone tried to reassure me I would be ok......I didn't believe it until I had my first US and saw that indeed a baby did exist! Best of Luck!

[surf mama]

Tricia-thanks so much for that reply. I will still worry but that makes me feel a little better. (And I remember you too. )

[Ary99]

Surf, I feel very much like you do and I'm 8 weeks today. I just had a doctor's appointment, so it looks like there really is a wide range of what is normal as far as symptoms go. It's hard not to worry.

Geez, I'm exhausted today.

[Vick]

I am 9 weeks tomorrow. Still spotting, nauseous, tired and still worrying over here! I am trying to hold on to what the midwife said; 30% of pregnancies bleed in the first tri. I am just holding on to every symptom for reassurance. In a book last night I read that once you see the heartbeat on an ultrasound, the risk of miscarrying drops to 10%. I saw the hb two weeks ago so that is something good to hold on to as well.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and worryfree day!