I am a mother of three. when i was pregnant with them i was not on medication. having children is always a challenge. some people have differant challenges than others. If you find your having a panic attack do what i did. i put the baby in the crib, it is ok to let the baby cry while you calm down.i have had panic attacks in front of my children, and i explained to them what happened so they were not afraid. I hope this helps feel free to write me if you want to talk.

I had all the same fears as you and I have good feed back from MY situation anyways... something happened to me physically and mentally while I was pregnant and I had never felt so good in my life. My anxiety (that I thought would go through the roof while pregnant) actually levelled itself or something and I was calm and felt more incontrol of myself then ever. *shrugs* weird... after my son was born I had so much to concentrate on that I forgot about my anxiety and something in me took over and I finally felt like I had a place and a purpose. Now that my son is 3 the only negative I can think of is that when he is sick I feel sick too and I go right 100% into mom mode and I think I get more emotional and stressed than I should but my son is going through something right now that IS a bit unnerving so maybe that's just why... go for it is my advice. Children change your life for the better and somehow you always find the strength to do what you have to do. It's hard to explain how your body changes and adapts to pregnancy AND motherhood... The one thing I can say for sure is once you have your baby you will never regret it.

i suffered from agrophobia when my 2 eldest were babies. i had terrible panic attacks and i felt so anxious all the time i thought i would die. i was lucky, my gp diagnosed me and i got help through a pschologist, he made me face my fears, i hated him for it at the time though lol, i was fine then for years but i still am prone to anxiety. non of us are perfect so dont let this ruin your desire to be a mom. you will be surprised how many people are out there in the same situation. just go for it and dont let fear stand in your way. my children love me and understand my problem, in fact i think it as made them more emphatic as a result. all the best and be happy

I have a little boy that is almost 2, and we plan on trying to conceive our 2nd next summer. My anxiety has been situational--I had it before I got pregnant, but by the time I had my son, I was in a different place, so I didn't really experience bad anxiety again until maybe 6 or 7 months ago. I've been on meds now for just over 2 months (so that I could be myself, a good mommy and a good wife), and honestly, I don't know whether I will have to take them next year. I'm not excited at the thought of maybe having to be on meds while I am pregnant, but if that's what I have to do, then I will do it.

I will tell you, though, that I have a girlfriend who was on prozac during 2 of her pregnancies, and there were no ill effects to either of her children, so either way, I fully believe that I will be fine.

I have had panic attacks with my son, but again, he's really too little to know what is happening, so he didn't really notice a difference in me. I don't really think that having kids makes the anxiety better or worse, because once you have a child, your main focus is that child, anxiety or not.

Oh, please keep the planned pregnancy and don't let your fear of anxiety keep you from it. Having children will bring you so much joy. I know plenty of people who did not stop taking their medication when they were pregnant. A few went off their anti-dep but had xanax for the panic attacks. Your hormones might change after you give birth and your anxiety might go away or it might get better but that shouldn't keep you from your plans. I have had many panic attacks with my children in the car and I usually just pull over, work through it and wait for it to go away (sometimes 20 minutes) and then I get back on the road. Always keep your (xanax,ativan,or whatever) in your purse if it should happen and you'll be fine. I, like Kelandu have found it to make my children more empathetic to my situation when they see me go through it. I wish the best for you!

my children have been such a blessing to me, and now, since my husbands death, i would be utterly lost without them. i have three sons who were very small when my attacks first started. my attacks were so severe it was hard for me to take care of them, but i had my husbands help. but so many times when i was at my worst, my childrens hugs and love kept me sane and gave me something to get well for. as my sons got older they understood about panic attacks and would always look out for me. i always made sure they understood what panic attacks were all about so they could understand without worrying. today, i don't have severe attacks anymore, and my sons, all being men now, are very loving and suportive of me. i am so glad to be a mother!!! AND a GRANDMOTHER!!!!

thank you everyone for your advice! Anyone else want to add please do...

peace!

I wasn't on meds when I was pregnant and did find it a very anxious time - BUT that was because the pregnancy came as a surprise and my husband didn't want children (which is tough).

A couple of months after I had him I went on anti-depressants which helped a lot.

My son is now 10 and although I still go through periods of anxiety/depression (as I am now) he is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me! When times are hard a cuddle from him can really lift and comfort me.

I've also found myself able to do things that I would normally have been too scared to do just because he is there. He has opened up a new world for me - and after all the anxiety and panic connected to my husbands feelings about children he has turned out to be a great dad who adores his son.

My anxiety/panic was in control and my pregnacy was easy. I did have postpartem depression which I went to the doctors immed and got on medication. I have a beautiful daugther who is now 12. She has had two panic attacks. We were not aware that that was it at the time. Friends of ours sent her to emergency. They diagnosed "panic attack". When she came home she calmly told me that was what she had. I have now explained what a panic attack is to her. Understanding panic attacks really helps.

I would never turn back. We are truly blessed with our daughter. I have enjoyed every stage of her life.

Hello, I had panic attacks for a few years, but I overcame my panic attacks by learning to trusting God and watching the 700 Club. I can't explain completely how at the moment. I still though have a problem with anxiety. I just had baby at 33 finally after having problems with infertity. You have to trust with your heart that you know that you will love your child. Don't listen to the negative thoughts that come to your head. Trust and be willing to give yourself to taking care of your child. You can be happy with children and live a happy, full and productive life. Trust with your heart not with your head. The anedote to fear is trust and will always be!

I have panic attacks with my children. They know moms sick, and she needs to be alone. They are 4 and 9. My 9 year old comes in an rubs my back, and actually it makes me feel better. I think you will be fine, but I would not take meds while I was pregnant because you really don't know the lasting affects. I was taking Paxil while pregnant with my first, and although he is fine, I have heard of birth defects from that med. Did they know that then? I don't know, so I wouldn't recommend anyone taking the chance.