had a BAD panic attack in the hospital:(

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
had a BAD panic attack in the hospital:(
5
Sat, 10-21-2006 - 6:31pm

i went to the hospital becasue i was having a lot of contractions....and they hooked me up to the monitors for an hour and decided to give me an iv for fluids and hoped that would stop the contractions, if not they were going to give me terbutiline which causes symptoms like a panic attack...shaking, nervousness, rapid heart beat etc (i didn't get any meds while there, it never got to this point)...


this whole thing scared the

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-28-2004
Sat, 10-21-2006 - 6:53pm

Dear Heather,

You are so far from a failure! It sounds like you have a lot to cope with and doing an incredible job holding it together. Every woman is anxious about labor, that is totally normal and woman without anxiety/panic issues take meds too. I don't think you should feel guilty at all about doing what it takes to get through this.

Another suggestion:I have been learning about exposure and behavioral-cognitive therapy for panic attacks. Have you considered anything like that to prepare for labor? It's mainly a series of controlled therapy sessions where you build up similar situations or thoughts about the labor and work through it to feel more in control.

((((Hugs))))
Dee

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Sat, 10-21-2006 - 7:20pm

You need to focus away from the *what ifs.* When your dr. says that they may be able to give you something, does she mean during labor? Only if you need it? She may not mean that you will need something permanently to feel normal, Heather. Firstly, I am not sure labor is the place where we can judge ourselves as normal. I never liked the part when the bearing down becomes uncontrollable. In fact, I crossed my legs & refused to push which made the nurses unhappy. I simply don't like the feeling of being out of control. I can assure you, that I did give one good push & the baby was born. Childbirth is natural with various stages you have to go through. There's little time to panic. You will be focused on the

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Sat, 10-21-2006 - 8:37pm

thank you for the support...


dee - i like that idea of doing "exposure" like therapy...i have an apt w/my therapsit next week and i will suggest it to him...thanks for the idea..at this point i'd be willing to try anything..


jan - thank you for the suppoty...sorry about the implication of a vulgar word...i didn't know it wasn't allowed...good to know for the future.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Sat, 10-21-2006 - 10:42pm
Heather, I am sure you will do fine. Just keep telling yourself that you had those 2 beautiful babies before without a problem and I am sure the third will come along just fine. You will have so much going on the day you deliver that your mind won't even be thinking of panic, I really think my panic happens to me when I work myself into it and dwell on the what-if's. I would also talk with the Doctor about it and tell them that you are afraid you might have a panic attack during delivery and maybe they can give you something like Xanax during labor or something similar maybe just knowing that you have something to help you through this and that your doctor understands your fears it might ease your mind. Best wishes to you and just keep telling yourself you are strong and can do this!!!.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Sun, 10-22-2006 - 1:53pm

Heather,


I'm sorry that I don't have more to offer you.


Just keep reminding yourself that giving birth is human nature. It is what we, as women were designed to do. Also, keep telling yourself that anxiety about giving birth is "normal" almost all people experience it. Its your disorder that makes it seem 10x worse.


My best friend also has anxiety and she is due in January. She is also scared and is having a hard time.


You are not alone!


~Heather


"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7