Can we just talk about how hard pregnancy is?

[heartbroken22]

It's not a slap bang in the oven and out. Growing a baby takes a lot of time and patience and stress on your body/mental health. My 3rd pregnancy has made me think this is not easy. I know it's easy for some but not for me.

Sorry you're having a hard time.

Every pregnancy different though. I sailed through my first two, exercising right up to the delivery and walking around in heels kind of pregnancies, but this current one has really taken the wind out of my sails 😓

Pregnancy was ok for me (except the morning sickness and lack of sleep), it's the kids that are hard

I'm sorry you're finding it tough. It probably feels harder because you're doing more than you'd have had to in previous pregnancies as you have more responsibility. Take time to try and relax whenever you can.

I found pregnancy horrendously hard. Particularly the 3rd one actually. But on the plus side I found the post natal period (and from then on) pretty easy - it was so good to not be feeling that ill that the sleep deprivation etc was a breeze in comparison!

Totally agree. I had horrific carpal tunnel from pregnancy to the point I was in constant pain and unable to do daily tasks (like using cutlery) for months. That was in addition to morning sickness that lasted until 25 weeks and all the other aches/pains/insomnia/heartburn etc.

I've had an 'easy pregnancy' no morning sickness etc just a bit tired, knew how lucky I was. I'm now 40+11, and for the last 6 weeks or so can not get comfy to get a decent night's sleep, my hips and knees and pelvis all ache, and my hands and feet are twice their usual size. And baby showing no signs of wanting to arrive, Im sure hed happily stay in there forever if he could!! So done now!!!

It is hard, and I haven’t even got past 6 weeks yet! My body is ruined already after 12 4-5 weekers and 4 rounds of egg collections and I haven’t even got a baby to show for it. Noone tells you this stuff, it’s all bumps and glows. That’s not my experience, it’s tiredness, nausea and blood.

4-6 weekers, typo sorry.

I had an 'easy' pregnancy first time round - very little sickness, some aches and SPD but nothing compared to some women, and it was still bloody awful. I tend to sail through illness pretty easily and just get on with stuff, but pregnancy is the worst. Now pregnant with no. 2 and this one is harder - more tired, more sick, more fucked off. At least the end result is worth it. Not sure I'll have a 3rd through.

My pregnancies were not too bad. I found ways to combat the sickness at the beginning and quite enjoyed the cravings near the end!

My Labour’s were quick and easy so that made up for any horrible feelings whilst being pregnant!

I didn't find pregnancy too bad, the magic of it outweighed the misery on the whole.

But I do remember being shocked at how much is felt literally like having the life sucked out of me at some points - racing heart, shortness of breath, hauling the physical weight if the baby around. I remember saying to DH I felt like a life support machine for a parasite. I do love both of my little parasites though, so it was worth it.

How far gone are you @heartbroken22

I'm yet to conceive but I can imagine it's a bloody slog!

Depends on the person. Both of my pregnancies were fine. Tired and nauseous for the first few weeks but not unbearable. Later on, I had some heartburn and carpal tunnel tingles, but otherwise nothing major. Was working up to 37 weeks as a teacher and could have carried on until the baby was born really.

I do think it's helpful for women to know that it's not always a breeze, but it's not always terrible either.

First bit rotten, middle bit fine, end rotten. After my first I said to DH I would happily have a c section again but no pregnancy every! But of course two years on I was like 'ah I'm sure it wasn't that bad' and got pregnant again.

Yes, it was that bad. I caught norovirus in first trimester too and briefly contemplated my own mortality.

My first pregnancy was a breeze, I loved the whole experience and except for the odd leg cramp and bit of heartburn it was lovely, labour however was a different story.
This time I've had a completely different pregnancy, severe sickness and nausea from week 4-16, spd, heartburn, eczema flare ups and insomnia and I'm only half way there so far. Honestly if id had this experience coupled with my first labour first time round I wouldn't have had another, pregnancy is HARD!

I had two easy pregnancies in my 20s, no sickness, felt ok, all the way through.
Ended up Asperger’s son, hard, so long ago.
menopause far worse

Sorry you're struggling OP. Can I ask how old you are?

I found all my pregnancies easy, but I had finished with childbearing by 25. I'm sure I'd have found it harder if I was older as everything gets harder, even getting up in the morning.