Stress during pregnancy at 20 1/2 wks?

Question

I had a nervous breakdown tonight BIG time. My hub is overseas til the 4th of Dec. We have 6 cats. No biggie. My work has been giving me issues abt. going down to part time because I'm always tired (I've been tired before I got preggo. I think it might be, no, it's partially job burnout). One of my cats was sitting on my lap purring when she dug her claws in & I don't know why. I screamed so loud they all ran. Then one of them, Jack, came back as I was sobbing & trying to to hyperventilate. He doesn't like loud noises so he was going to try to nip at me, I know it. I flipped out on him & screamed so loud that my jaw & stomach hurt. Did it like 3 times. The claw digger I put in the basement & slammed door. I blew my nose and it was a bit bloody(kind of dry in our house). My stomach hurt for a bit after but I seem to be ok now I guess. I am 20 1/2 wks prg by the way. I do tend to get stressed out a lot. I work at a daycare (2yr olds).Did I hurt baby?I cried really hard. Any thoughts?

Thanks so far for the answers. I appreciate it. I don't always flip out like this. Tonight was the worst & then I felt worse when I thought I hurt our baby. My stomach is still sort of sore but I think I'll be ok. Thanks again!

Answer 1

I haven't been stressed to this point during my pregnancy, but have experienced this level at some points in my life. Look at what you're going through, though...you're alone for so much of the time without your husband, and I completlely understand why you're stressed.

Maybe joining a support group would help you manage a little. Did you hurt the baby by yelling at your cats and crying? No. It would take an awful lot more than that. You had a stomach ache because you were crying and stressed. Your nose may have been bleeding from hormones or high blood pressure (blood pressure tends to rise in times of high stress). If this becomes a recurring event, you should get help.

Otherwise, try to find ways to relax. Work is stressful for just about anyone who's pregnant. Find ways to offset the stress. Warm (not hot) baths, quiet meditation, low-key exercise, shopping, whatever floats your boat. Focus on the positive and try (as hard as it sounds) to put the stuff that's wrong on the back burner for right now. Baby needs to be numero uno in your life at this point!

I think you're fine and normal, given what you're going through, and that your baby will be, too. Just try to relax a bit, focus on your pregnancy, and look forward to seeing your husband next month (it's not far away). Best of luck and congrats!!

Answer 2

It's ok to cry and be stressed out when you're pregnant. It kind of comes with the territory because pregnancy puts a lot of demands on a woman's body.

My husband was deployed during two of my pregnancies so I know how you feel. Some days you just want to snap and it's normal to get aggravated with your pets - I've got a lot of cats, too. LOL

Just breathe deeply after an episode like that....or better yet try the deep breathing as SOON as you start feeling very irritated.

Say a quick prayer - "Lord help me maintain control."

If work is stressing you out too much, you might consider cutting back on hours, or possibly switching jobs.

Answer 3

A bloody nose is more common during pregnancy due to hormones. Don't worry it didn't harm the baby.

I know how you feel. I'm 26 weeks and still working 12 hour shifts as a nurse. I feel miserable and my colleagues aren't very helpful. My fiance is also overseas and I won't see him until Christmas. Talk about stress! It's OK to cry and talk to other people. It's also helpful to treat yourself once in awhile, like getting a pregnancy massage. Are you able to talk to your husband or email him? Let him know you're feeling overwhelmed and if he's a great guy he'll have you laughing and cheered up in minutes. Trust me I know how difficult this is but try to stay positive. You'll soon be meeting your little baby and your husband is home in less than a month!

Answer 4

I went through the same thing with my first child, you probably didn't hurt the baby b/c i cryed ALOT when I was prgnt with him but you can make the baby feel stressed my son was stressed when he was inside me the doc said b/c of his actions but he is fine now but just rest as much as possible if you can and if you want to cry then cry holding it in just make the build up of the stress a whole lot worse and i know that its probably hard with your husband gone but he will be home soon and hopefully he can stay awhile but GOOD LUCK and it will all be worth it in the end

Answer 5

You really need to chill out. I know you're under stress, but sometimes you really need to make an effort to focus on the positives and let the little stuff go.

If you're that emotionally unstable, you need to talk to your doctor about what you're feeling. You may have depression. Don't ignore it.