Is anyone else struggling with past trauma and pregnancy? I was abused as a child and suffered abuse as I’ve got older, I’ve been having really vivid flashbacks and overwhelming emotions about not loving my baby and not bonding
Because of my own personal experiences and lack of ability to bond with others, I won’t discuss this with my midwife as she was really condescending about my mental health and suggested that social services may be necessary (all I’ve done is ask for help as I know there is something wrong mentally, however I’ve been let down and ignored by the NHS) I would love to know if anyone else has or is feeling this way and how you’ve dealt with it.
Sorry you’re dealing with this, lovely. I have a lot of stuff to unpack with my pregnancy and relationship boundaries that I’ve been working through with my therapist - everything from emotional neglect, eating disorder and parental loss. I don’t think I’d be able to cope with all the things that pregnancy was bringing up for me if I wasn’t in regular contact with her, especially as my GP isn’t prescribing me any new medications while I’m pregnant. If you’re in a position to do so, I’d really recommend finding someone you can trust to process your feelings in a safe and productive way. But, at the end of the day, remember that your relationship with your baby is yours and yours alone and it’s an ongoing development, not something that snaps into place and stays the same. The fact that you’re worried about it now is a good indicator that you will do everything in your power to bond with your baby and make sure they never have to live the way you did. You’ve got this.