Fear of pregnancy

[klmb]

Hello everyone...I'm new to the site and am looking for some advice or encouraging words.

I have been married for just over a year and would love to start trying to conceive. My husband and I have been together a long time and really want a family. Because of my health anxiety, I become panic-ridden at the thought of being pregnant. I don't know if I could handle knowing that there is a life growing inside of me - I think it would spike my health anxiety and I fear I will be worried about every little change that happens to my body.

Has anyone else with health anxiety been able to get through a pregnancy and labour?

Also, I have developed a new anxiety - being conscious of my breathing.  It's tolerable, but I know some women who are pregnant notice their breathing more often because of the pregnancy and in late pregnancy, the baby may rest on the diaphragm making breathing feel forced...yikes!


I don't want to let my anxiety stop me from having babies - so frustrating! I can't even bring myself to even be able to start trying to conceive...what can I do?

Also, I worry that my worrying when I do (or if) become pregnant will have harmful effects on the baby in utero...I've heard it doesn't, but I've always wondered about that.

What makes me feel worse is that I am a social worker and part of my role where I work is I am a prenatal support worker for young mothers, so I feel like I should be fine with the whole process because I am educated in the topic.