Anyone else getting them during preg but never had them before? I had a pretty bad one last night - just woke up in the middle of the night with it (after tossing and turning for a while first). I think this is the 2nd one I've had recently.... Anyone else?

I've had a few instances when I've felt panic attacks coming on (never had them before pregnancy). The first time was when I was around 6 weeks along, I saw a bit of blood and I immediately thought I was miscarrying, and all of a sudden I felt myself getting shaky and weak and like I couldn't breathe. Went to the ER and all was fine, I think I just worked myself up into a frenzy.

And lately, with it being difficult to breathe I feel like I start to freak out cause I feel like I'm not getting enough air, but I have to sit back and take a deep breath and take my mind off the feeling, and usually it goes away. I also can feel my heart beating faster, or palpitations I should say which make me want to freak out even more. I'm sure if I kept thinking about it though, I'd be having a full blown panic attack.

Me hun, Iv had two in as many weeks. Scared DD as it was just her and me in the house bless her. They arent nice, couldnt get a breath and was hysterical.

I had a few during early weeks and whilst trying to concieve, my mum said was because stessing over it and worrying not had any in later on - i started having a "rescue remedy" spray next to my bed that seems to work (could be mind over matter tho tbh) xxx

Something ive battled with the past 6 years since finding my step mum dead so can wholly understand what you lot go through.

Could it be the baby compressing on you and your finding it difficult to breath hence fuelling the worry / panic which is leading to them?

Part of mine come on because my blood sugars dip really low hence making me have hypos and so on if your feeding 2 or overdoing your energy levels are going to deplete quicker.

I use Bachs Rescue Remedy and you can use it if your pregnant info on here

http://www.bachflower.com/Rescue_Remedy.htm

Never knew they had a "rescue remedy" before. Huh. Interesting.

I do have asthma - so being short of breath DOES tend to lead me to panic... but when I had mine the other night - it was NOT asthma at all. I could breathe and wasn't wheezing - but I still felt breathless - if that makes sense. It started after I had woke up feeling nervous from a bad dream.... and also - yes - I really had OVERDONE it that day...

Panic attacks are just your body releasing adrenaline but having no where to expend it. Supposedly swishing cool water in your mouth a few times helps balance the chemical reaction. I've tried it a few times and it did seem to help, though I'm not sure if it was psychological or not. Your exhaustion probably triggered it with a little help from the fear of your dream. I would take it as a sign to slow down and rest more.

Thats an interesting little tidbit!

I went through a cycle where I would have them repeatedly for days on end and the doctor couldn't fix it... read everything i could about it then.

If you keep getting them hunt down a friend that gets them that can help talk you through them until you figure out what triggers it for you. Men are useless with that part because they don't understand them at all. Most women I know have had them at some point in their life and understand the feeling a bit more. If you find yourself in the middle of one that you can't calm try regulating your breathing by counting to 8 breathing in, short pause, then counting to 4 breathing out. Keep telling yourself "it's just an adrenaline rush, it will go away soon, i'll be OK." That will stop the hyperventilation and eventually will stop that whole i'm-gonna-die feeling so you can calm down.

I use to lock myself in the closet during them because I would need to be alone to calm down. DH came in during one and wouldn't leave (he was wanting to argue at the worst time ever) and he was standing in front of the door making me feel trapped.... so i punched him square in the head. (oops) Once I had one at work and ended up in the kitchen under the counter where no one could see me until i had it under control. Not funny at the time but funny looking back on it!

Nowadays I recognize the signs that one is coming and get myself to a quiet place to talk myself through it. Once I learned to recognize what caused it and realize that I wasn't really going to die it was a lot easier to handle. It's just your body's natural fight-or-flight response triggered by something inappropriate. Same chemical reaction that allows people to lift a car to get out someone who is trapped or carry someone twice their weight from a burning building. In the right situation all that extra energy is needed and spent... in the wrong situation it makes you flip out.

Hope you feel better. And hope the info helps.