If so, what are some ways you stay calm, cool and collected or manage that nervousness?
-
OMG I totally do! I really dislike appointments. It is so stressful to me. I try not to think about it, I am usually happy once I get out of the appointment, so I try to remember that. It will be over soon enough!
-
@Greentea: gosh I'm glad I'm not the only one! I can't even seem to figure out what exactly I'm nervous about either... I need to remind myself doctors are not scary people lol
-
@Autumnmama79: definitely! I always have high blood pressure readings at the beginning and I'm really tense in the waiting room for sure. I don't have any great tips, but I do try to bring an easy reading book or have an episode of something on my phone...
-
I'm totally nervous that they will find something bad!! I try to breath. One time I was so nervous one time that I had a high blood pressure reading and the nurse had to talk to me for a few minutes (chit chat) and retake the reading because she felt that it was probably off.
I usually just chit chat with DH and he calms me down. Sometimes I feel bad for him... he always has to talk me down.
-
Almost always! Chatting with my husband ahead of time about my nervousness usually helps calm me down. I also usually mention it to the doctor or nurse--I find they're pretty understanding.
-
Before I could feel LO moving, I always got nervous. To calm it, I would just take a few moments to focus on mantras (woo woo) ... "My baby is growing!" ... "My body knows what to do!" ... It probably sounds silly, but it helped.
-
@littlejoy: same. It didn't help that the nurses always had a hard time finding the baby's heartbeat and the doctor would have to do it.
When it's just a regular check up I don't get too nervous. I'm more anxious that I wI'll waste what little face time I have with the doctor. I write down questions beforehand to ask.
-
Yes! Then my BP is sky high and everyone gets all excited and worked up. I try to play on my phone, read a book, totally distract myself.
-
@SweetCaroline: My poor DH totally has whiteout syndrome, which causes his blood pressure to sky-rocket. We actually have a BP cuff at home so he can take it before he goes. Then when he goes (and it usually takes a TON of persuasion from me) he tells them he has whiteout syndrome and explains that his BP will be high, but that he took it at home and it was xyz. They will usually take it again at the end of the appointment, but at least it stops people from freaking out at the beginning!
I tend to get more nervous before "real" doctor appointments than before my prenatal appointments. That said, finding a regular doctor that I like has helped in the past. Same with the dentist! Unfortunately I don't have one yet here, because we moved here 2 years ago and I have been pretty healthy.
-
@Raindrop: that happened to me once! I always have pretty normal BP, but this one time at the dentist, the assistant said, "your blood pressure is high!" And I said, "yeah, I'm at the dentist, what do you expect??"
-
Mine or LO's?
-
Prenatal appointments, or regular? Prenatals were always scary, always will be. The very first ultrasound I ever had I was nervous that they wouldn't find the heartbeat, but they did. Unfortunately that ended in miscarriage and only got worse for a long time. If we have another I'll be terrified every time.
I mostly did everything I could not to think about it. That usually meant staying up all night the night before playing video games until I couldn't keep my eyes open, then sleeping till appointment time. Can't do that with LO, so hopefully if I do have another she'll be good distraction.
-
Yes, I have really bad white coat syndrome. My blood pressure is always sky high and it freaks everyone out. I take it at home often and it's always normal. It's crazy...now I'm more freaked out about taking blood pressure at doctor than the actual appointment. I try to relax and breathe slowly and think happy thoughts but as soon as they call my name I get all anxious.
-
So yesterday before my appt I just kept reminding myself that my doctor is a normal person just like me. Plus posting here and reading fellow bees stories seemed to really help - I didn't feel nervous at all!
Thanks again for sharing!
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
14 comments