Anxiety to go out with baby

Hi all,

I have not gone out with my baby by myself. I have with others but I just feel so anxious going by myself. I live in an apartment building with no lift so I also feel anxious about that. I want to be able to go into town by bus or walking with my baby and sit at a cafe etc but I feel I can't do it. I feel like such a bad mum.

I also get worried about my baby catching viruses etc. u know I can't continue like this. Has anyone else experienced this?

I feel if the apartment building had a lift I would feel better instead of having this extra thing to worry about.

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You’re not a bad mum. Do you have a carrier? That’s how I used to go out and it made me feel much more in control - also meant people couldn’t reach out and touch or have a peek into the pram etc x

I will repeat that you’re not a bad mom.

I found when I got in these moods I almost had to rip the bandaid off and just do it. It showed me that it wasn’t as bad as I thought and that I could do it. I always felt better afterwards.

I also like Jess’s comment about a carrier. I don’t know how old your baby is but start small with walks and leaning them in the stroller and work your way up to more things. You got this.

It’s really important for your mental health to get outside and will be so good for the baby! The body massively ramps up your anxiety and intrusive thoughts after birth, to help keep the baby safe. Everything feels more scary, but it’s important to remember that your brain is not giving you a accurate information about how risky things are.
Pop the baby in a carrier and wear them round the house for an hour or two to get used to the weight and balance. I find putting the nappy/stuff in a backpack the best way to carry easily. Wear some nice grippy trainers and you will be all set. Don’t aim for anything big just go for a little 5 min walk outside.
Once you have done it a few times it will all be ok again. It’s like you have to prove to your new mum brain that something is safe before it calms down.
To grow a nice strong immune system it needs to be exposed to low level bugs, so it can build its white blood cell library. Being out and about will help with this!

Not a bad mum I'm the same please don't ever say you are a bad mum

You care and you are a passionate mum doing your best x

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Hey guys ,
To give a little context I have an 8 month old and live with my in laws . They are middle eastern while I am British . Every time I give my daughter a bath I wrap her in a hooded towel and then a fluffy blanket around the towel and bring her downstairs to lotion her and change her as I don’t want to in the bathroom floor as it’s tiled and not comfortable in general . Its to a point I just avoid giving her baths when my mother in law is in the house as she has a major issue with me bringing my daughter downstairs to change her and thinks I’m making her sick and she’s too cold and that it should be done in the bathroom . I try rush down before she sees 🙂‍↕️ She always comments and tuts and keeps muttering in her own language hurrying me to go down quickly and then gives out to my husband about it . I’m like so confused I’ve always grown up doing this in my family . I’ve researched and babies don’t get sick from being a little chilly which I don’t think she even is . They get sick from viruses . It just is so frustrating . I’d rather do our wind down routine in the bedroom on the comfy bed and I take my time with her and give her a breastfeed than do it quickly in the bathroom while she’s on a hard surface . Am I making sense or am I being cruel and I should change her upstairs ? This is genuinely a major issue since birth .