Battling OCD during pregnancy

Hi! This is my first post on this forum, and it is really refreshing to feel like I have company in this struggle with repetitive thinking and compulsions! I think I have had OCD since I was a a kid, and it ihas increased and decreased in severity depending on what is going on in my life. Right now it feels pretty awful at times as I am 19 + weeks pregnant with first child and we re also moving soon... A lot of transition stuff going on. Plus there is almost an industry in the U.S. system that creates OCD to a certain extent in pregnancy. So many products say on the back "Check with your doctor if you are pregnant", and I know that a lot of that is people trying to avoid a lawsuit, but it for someone struggling with OCD I feel like I have to check EVERYTHING and I have a really hard time being like "Women have been giving birth for years and didn't necessarily do things "perfectly"so just don't worry so much." (that's what my sister and my mom say--doesn't seem to do it for me!) A normal brained person could be reassured by telling themselves such a message but not me. Oi Vey. So frustrating and I so want to be a peaceful mommy. One positive thing is that I contacted an OCD therapist in our area and will see her the end of this month. I have never seen an OCD therapist and I think this will be really good... I also take Buspar (safe for pregnancy), but I really wish it was doing more for me!! I think it might take the edge off slightly so that is good. Peace be with you all:)

hi, welcome to the forum. i hope this forum can be of some help and i do understand how life issues could increase/decrease the severity of OCD. i'm glad you contacted an OCD therapist, let us know how it goes .. and i'm definitely sure you will be a great mommy

Thanks so much for your encouraging words! I think begind the obsessions and compulsions is a fear of messing up my kid, and not being a good mom. But that stems from thinking I have to be PERFECT. And nobody is... I am looking forward to therapy that is for sure. God bless.

yeah ocd is about fear,doubt and anxiety.. and no worries. i hope things get better soon.

Thank you... I hope you are doing well today too. OCD can be so tough but so nice to feel some empathy from someone else who has been there. I have been trying to do some exposure response prevention work on my own using a book from the library called "COping with OCD". That seems to have helped some so far. I got another book by the same author that is a workbook. I think I will dig into that tonight too... Waqtching "Evrybody loves Raymond " also is helpful for all ailments in my life I have found (laughter makes me feel better).

welcome. you're not alone, we're in all this things together. i'm glad it has helped you. it seems you're working on it. keep going