Obsessed with SIDS

[jjbump]

Hi everyone.

I'm not sure if I'm starting to suffer from depression, but I've started to become obsessed with my baby dying of SIDS (or anything else, but mainly SIDS).

I'm filled with anxiety all the time and I can't stop reading about other women's experiences, particularly on this forum. Every day I wake up I am thankful my baby is still alive, but become very nervous around bed time as I'm convinced it'll be the last time I see her alive. This is ridiculous and I know the stats are in my favour, but I just feel so sad about all of this.

Is anyone else feeling like this?

Thanks.

xx

 

[Mustang_Love]

I'm sorry to hear this is such a stressful thing for you. I don't have a whole lot of advice other than I would definitely check with your doctor about this. From what I have been told, extreme anxiety can be a symptom of PPD. Good luck hun.

 

[Mrs Doddy]

Do you have an angelcare sensor monitor ? I find it helps me , if you are following the SIDS guidelines you are doing everything you can xx

 

[a_missy]

its obviously something all of us worry about, i'm constantly checking on LO when shes gone to bed and if i look in on her and dont hear her breathing (she snores haha) i have a little pang in my gut and i have to go in and lay my hand on her to make sure shes ok its horrible but perfectly normal.

however if you think you're becoming obsessed rather than just a bit anxious about it then maybe you should mention it to your HV or Dr and talk it over with them. i would recommend you stop reading posts about other women's experiences, you're just filling your head with horrible possibilities and theres no need, its no wonder you're freaked out!

 

[jbt]

my baby is nearly 3 weeks and i feel this way also i bought a nanny moniter sensor pad to help ease my worries

 

[summer rain]

A lot of what is diagnosed is PND is actually post natal anxiety, and it is very common. If its constantly intruding your thoughts then I would seek help; to be worried and a bit anxious about SIDs is natural and normal; if its overtaking your every waking thought; this is not xx

 

[qpaulina42]

I've been worrying about SIDS too, though I haven't reached the obsession stage yet. I've been thinking of getting one of those monitors that goes off if they stop breathing but I don't know what they are called/where to find them. Do you think having one of those would ease your worries a bit?

 

[Al Syr]

I worry about that too but I try and try and TRY my hardest to block it out of my mind on a daily basis.

 

[Al Syr]

I've been worrying about SIDS too, though I haven't reached the obsession stage yet. I've been thinking of getting one of those monitors that goes off if they stop breathing but I don't know what they are called/where to find them. Do you think having one of those would ease your worries a bit?

They are called Angel Sounds

 

[Amzily]

I feel completely the same. I am obsessed and it gets to the stage where my husband sends me to bed at 10 and looks after LO until midnight ish so I can sleep because I get so anxious I am constantly checking her and asking him if she is okay. It is not just SIDS but also choking on my milk because it comes out too fast and someone posted a bit of a horror story about it on the breastfeeding forum the other day, she does cough whilst drinking because it comes out too fast. Anyway we have a monitor pad and I find I sleep much better since we started using it but I still check her obsessively and worry so much all the time!

I don't deliberately look up stories though because that would make me ten times worse!

 

[lovealittle1]

I was the same way for the first 5 months. I would read all the stories and stats etc etc. The more i read the worse I became. I was constantly worried and definatley obsessed about it. I would play out the scenario in my head over and over. In the past month I stopped reading the stories and have been feeling a lot better about it. I also now see how strong my LO is so I think that helps. I hope that you feel better soon Hun and you really hav to stop reading he stories.

 

[tristansmum]

i worry about LO constantly and even now if i wake in the night i have to check on him and make sure he is breathing. i'm not obsessive and it doesn't fill all my thoughts but that worry is always there...
as the other ladies said if you think its taking over your life rather than a 'normal' worry then talk to your gp. xxxxx

 

[jjbump]

Thanks all.

You're right, reading other people's stories definitely made it worse for me. I've since stopped this and have felt much better over the last few days. It also dawned on me that I've stopped taking my LO one out of the house for fear of car crashes, picking up bugs from others etc. Doesn't sound healthy, but I'm going to make an effort to let go a little!

 

[JasperJoe]

I can understand anyone being worried about SIDS. It is hard not too worry but don't let it take over you. I have lost a baby to SIDS and have had another baby since. Some people think i'm very brave, I think it's my natural instinct to want another baby.

We did everything by the guidelines and we still lost our sweet baby, so it does make me even more paranoid. The only thing we did not use was the monitor and I swear if we did he would still be here today? who knows.

I could go on questioning things forever.

If I can go on to have another one and i'm currently pregnant that should give you hope to not worry too much and have more faith in your self! Try not to be a worrier xxxxx

 

[SabrinaKat]

I have the same anxiety myself -- we did buy a monitor and am hopefully that when baby comes home (he's in NICU as was premature, but hopefully home tomorrow or Tuesday!), I won't obsess!

I would chat with your GP/doctor just in case.

best wishes

 

[bump#1]

I feel the same chick only my anxiety is Autism

If it is taking over like others of mentioned a trip to the doctors to express your feelings/concerns can surely do no harm. Do you have a local Sure Start? If so get in touch with them and ask if they have any services available that could help. I go to a group every Wed. LO goes in a creche and I spend 90mins with other parents and we share our thoughts, anxieties, problems and try and help each other out. It's fantastic and has truly stopped me from leaving LO in a basket on someones doorstep.

I hope you get some answers and feel better soon