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Phantom Pregnancy
This is weird for me, I am usually the one answering the questions and dispensing the advice here.
Anyhow, my problem is thus. I have an IUD in place, and such, I am infertile. I already have a 21 month old son, who is a handful.
However, a few months ago, I started getting a yearning to have a child, especially when I see pregnant women. I am on a low income, so I know having another child wouldn't be a good decision at the moment.
In the last month or so, I have started experiencing a few symptoms, such as bloating, morning sickness, acute travel sickness and feeling kicks in my womb. I know I am not pregnant. There is no way I COULD be pregnant. However, these symptoms don't seem to be disappearing. I've visited my GP and my psych, and they are both completly baffled. I've had everything, including IBS problems and infections ruled out. I suffer from bi polar disorder, and I was wondering if this could affecting my thought processes regarding pregnancy.
I've had quite a few people suggest that it could be something called 'phantom pregnancy'. I've heard of this, but I'm not extensively knowledgeable on the subject. Could it possible I'm suffering from this, and if so; how do I get it to go away?
Or is there anything else it could be?
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Dear Phantom Pregnancy,
If all other more practical possibilites have been ruled out, then I'd like to suggest something to you. Your pregnancy is real, but...it's not about having a baby! Could these "phantom symptoms" be a wake up signaling that it's time to "birth" some new side of yourself? Perhaps it's time to consider doing that something you've had on the back burner of your life for a while now.
We often resist change because it requires work and emotional commitment, so when we're not moving in the direction we need to be, our soul sends us a signal...phantom symptoms! What in your life needs your attention or focus right now? Are there issues needing to be addressed that you've been avoiding? What goals or commitments have you yet to make whose time has come?
Ponder the possibilities, and you just might find that something other than a baby is waiting to be carried to full-term! Also, pay attention to your dreams as they too can point us in the direction we need to go.
I wish you well,
Earth Mother
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The thing is, you know you are not pregnant, in a phantom pregnancy the person honestly believes they are pregnant no matter what the tests prove.
Your bipolor disorder could affect your thought process, and of course medications can give you side effects, your best bet would be to see a psychotherapist. I am wondering if you might be a good candidate for hypnosis in treating this problem? It would certainly be worth a try.
Best wishes
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Clearly from what you said it could be a 'phantom pregnancy'.
A phantom, or false pregnancy, is a condition in which a non-pregnant woman exhibits all the classic symptoms of pregnancy and is firmly convinced that she is pregnant even when clear medical evidence shows that she is not. The medical term for this condition is pseudocyesis.
The treatment of a woman who is suffering from a true pseudocyesis requires very careful and sympathetic consideration, often with the help of a supportive partner or family network.
Despite the existence of positive medical proof that she is not pregnant, the woman suffering from a phantom pregnancy may remain convinced of her pregnancy for some time, which is one of the reasons why follow-up counselling may have to be arranged for her.
The phenomenon of phantom pregnancy is a perplexing one for the medical profession. Nobody has yet come up with an explanation as to why a very small percentage of women actually exhibit all the classic symptoms of pregnancy such as weight gain, breast enlargement and abdominal distension when they are not pregnant at all. The fact that a woman actually looks pregnant makes the job of her GP even more difficult when he has to try to explain to her that all her urine samples are testing negative for pregnancy.
Phantom pregnancy or pseudocyesis cannot just be dealt with from a medical or gynaecological perspective without taking due consideration of the severe underlying emotional distress and turmoil which has led to the diagnosis of such a condition in the first place.
♥ Evy
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