Health
Fear of germs/Anxiety...
anoniemGuest ·
Who else relates to this...? (I'm 27 weeks pregnant with my first baby)
It's getting worse and worse for me... my boyfriend isn't allowed to cook for me anymore, I want to do the dishes, do the laundry, change the sheets and whatever else... I'm afraid of EVERYTHING that it might harm my baby... I've completely ruined my hands washing them... I don't dare pet my cats anymore and now there's this... my boyfriend put kitchen roll in the kitchen cupboard with cleaning products. I use kitchen roll for everything, including things that come into contact with my mouth like cutlery or other things that go in my mouth, but I didn't know he had put it next to cleaning products and now I'm worried... and this is example 1 (can this be harmful? Or is there no chance that the cleaning product got onto the kitchen roll since the caps are just closed?) But I'm busy with this kind of thing all day long. I also panic if my boyfriend puts the tea towel on the counter where the cats walk over... for example, I don't dare touch a plant anymore... or my boyfriend has been drilling holes in the walls for a few days and I'm so afraid of coming into contact with that dust (which did happen and I got really panicked...). Before going to sleep, I MUST shower before I get into bed because of dirty feet etc... I also don't dare eat outside the house... I'm going crazy with myself... I really needed to share this... it affects my days a lot.... Can someone reassure me that all this won't do any harm...? There are more things like this where I spend whole days worrying that it might harm my baby...
I know I might be exaggerating a bit but still I find it nice to get some reassurance from other mums. (I also have an anxiety/panic disorder) and my baby has a heart defect and growth restriction... so I'm extra scared...
I would really like to be able to talk to someone about it and if there are other mums who recognize this?
Greetings from a very anxious future mum....
It's getting worse and worse for me... my boyfriend isn't allowed to cook for me anymore, I want to do the dishes, do the laundry, change the sheets and whatever else... I'm afraid of EVERYTHING that it might harm my baby... I've completely ruined my hands washing them... I don't dare pet my cats anymore and now there's this... my boyfriend put kitchen roll in the kitchen cupboard with cleaning products. I use kitchen roll for everything, including things that come into contact with my mouth like cutlery or other things that go in my mouth, but I didn't know he had put it next to cleaning products and now I'm worried... and this is example 1 (can this be harmful? Or is there no chance that the cleaning product got onto the kitchen roll since the caps are just closed?) But I'm busy with this kind of thing all day long. I also panic if my boyfriend puts the tea towel on the counter where the cats walk over... for example, I don't dare touch a plant anymore... or my boyfriend has been drilling holes in the walls for a few days and I'm so afraid of coming into contact with that dust (which did happen and I got really panicked...). Before going to sleep, I MUST shower before I get into bed because of dirty feet etc... I also don't dare eat outside the house... I'm going crazy with myself... I really needed to share this... it affects my days a lot.... Can someone reassure me that all this won't do any harm...? There are more things like this where I spend whole days worrying that it might harm my baby...
I know I might be exaggerating a bit but still I find it nice to get some reassurance from other mums. (I also have an anxiety/panic disorder) and my baby has a heart defect and growth restriction... so I'm extra scared...
I would really like to be able to talk to someone about it and if there are other mums who recognize this?
Greetings from a very anxious future mum....
Replies
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Veraaa #2
Oh, that sucks. It sounds like your panic and anxiety disorders are giving you a hard time.
I don't relate to that. I actually just wanted to share the opposite with you. I'm almost 27 weeks pregnant now. And I have a toddler, 2 labradors, and a man who's doing renovations. There's plenty of mess here and I'm not worried. My little girl is safe in my belly. She naturally gets my nutrients and my blood, but she doesn't get any of my dirty feet... she's not bothered by the fact that I was just painting my nails with my daughter... she doesn't mind that I'm happily petting the dogs.
If you keep worrying so much, maybe it's good to share it with your midwife, obstetrician, or a doctor you might know from your panic disorder treatment.
Lots of strength... I can well imagine that this dominates your day... that doesn't make it any more enjoyable. Big hugs. -
anoniem started this #3
Thank you for your message. I do get some support, which is a relief, but in the evenings I often find myself overthinking and really need someone to give me a bit of reassurance... I'm really stressed about everything... just like when I got glass in my face... and you name it, and I'm already stressing again... I didn't have this much stress before the pregnancy. -
Anonymous Guest #4
If you're afraid of coming into contact with things, that's exactly what happens, like with glass cleaners and kitchen paper on detergents. It can't do any harm. As long as you don't eat toxic mushrooms, drink chlorine, or smell gasoline for an hour, I wouldn't worry too much.
Think about people in Africa who live in that filth and can never shower, etc., and still have healthy kids.
I understand, I had a bit of this during my first pregnancy, just not as bad as you, but it's frustrating.
Wish you lots of success, enjoy your pregnancy. -
Veraaa #5
I really think it's great that you're getting support. And also that you're sharing it here on the forum.
I'm dealing with all sorts of other things in my pregnancy again. We all have something, after all.
I can only say that I don't read anything that's dangerous. You're doing all normal things... they're just ordinary little accidents... they can't do any harm. Really not.
Sounds silly... but living too clean can make you more likely to get sick. I see it with my 2-year-old daughter; she really hardly gets sick at all. Yeah, once in a while a runny nose. But she hasn't had a cold yet. We go outside a lot, walk every day with our dogs. Plus, the back door is often open, she walks barefoot through the garden, once drank a sip of rainwater, sometimes eats dog hair (yes, really dirty, we say she shouldn't, but she's sometimes too fast for us), she falls in the mud sometimes... it's all part of it. And I, as a pregnant mom, help her then, pick her up, clean her up and get her ready.
But I also sometimes wear pants with mud puddles from the dogs after a walk, which I don't take off right away. I do live hygienically, just not too clean.
I hope this puts your mind at ease a bit. It'll be fine with the little one in your belly.
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Jo Guest #6
Get a life -
Evi Guest #7
Hey girl, I just want to let you know that you're not alone in this. I have exactly the same fears. I don't dare pet the cat anymore, I want to do everything myself, wash everything at 100 degrees and rinse it under boiling water before I eat it. Something always happens that makes me panic or get anxious again. It's just in my head and everything is way too exaggerated, but I still can't help but worry. I've started reading books to see if that can help suppress the anxiety a bit. Maybe it'll help you too.
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