Anxiety

Anxiety is very normal in postpartum. I didn’t quite realise how bad mine was until I look back on it. I’d say it settled down around 5-6 months but I still have days where I feel more anxious. I’ve read about every coping strategy and honestly the only one that works for me is literally telling myself everyday “I feel horrible and I wish I didn’t feel like this, but it is literally just anxiety, it’s not me and it will go away eventually” Just remind yourself that any specific worry you have very likely won’t happen (I was horrific flying abroad with a 10 week old). But I get it can be so generalised, I would get so angry with my partner for leaving the toilet seat up because I had intrusive thoughts of the baby falling down the toilet. I knew she never would logically, but the thoughts were constant. I didn’t have much caffeine, but I purposely did things that I was anxious about as I didn’t want to let it affect the baby’s life experiences. It’s very hard, but it will pass❤️

I don’t know if this is your first baby because, this is exactly how I felt with my first baby!! What really helped me was the night before, just before I went to bed I would plan the next day, always try and aim to get out somewhere for the day. So when I woke the next morning I had something to motivate myself and didn’t dread it as much x

I get this too, it’s almost like I’m anxious about how he is going to be during the day and if he is going to be fussy and what I’m going to do to help it. It’s so insanely hard but as the others said I just try and plan my days, not too rigidly as things never go to plan with a new born. I’m just holding on to it passing and that it’s normal to feel this way x

Very normal, but if the thoughts get too “dark” please seek advice from HV / GP. My baby is almost 1 now and the anxiety has eased loads you’ll be pleased to hear but i don’t think it will ever go I still think “is she eating enough” “did she have enough milk”etc But the newborn phase I found particularly hard. I questioned everything and anything, “am I doing enough” “has she had enough milk” “is she too hot? is she too cold” (that’s still another of my anxieties) They’re so small, fragile and can’t tell you. You’re doing amazing. I found a “routine” (loose) helped. So now the weather is getting better (my baby was born in April) I would say to myself once day I’ll take baby out in the pram for some air, I’d make sure everyday to get up and get dressed didn’t care about makeup or hair but as long as I was dressed washed and brushed my teeth (some days were a right off). Just try to plan little things throughout the day so you can say “I’ve made it until lunch” etc x

I felt like this with my first baby, it was all so overwhelming! It's been overwhelming with my 3rd who is now 10 months, albeit definitely easier as I'm not so worried about everything!

I feel like this in relation to my work, less so in relation to my 3 year old, but still a bit, like weekends when hes not at daycare. Not sure I have any advice other than taking it one day at a time. Did you have anxiety prior to having your baby? Like general anxiety? Or is this a recent thing? 🙏

Anxiety is the worst. Sorry you’re feeling this way. I find the best way to deal with it is to split the day up into little chunks so you’re not thinking of the day as a whole. So when you get up just think “right we’ll get sorted and have breakfast and don’t think of anything after that. Once you’ve had breakfast say right we’ll go for a walk or play for an hour in the house or what ever you have planned. Then get to lunch time and so on 😊. I hope this helps a little. You’re doing an amazing job!