Anyone hated being pregnant so much that having a newborn was a relief?

[Ruibies]

And did that feeling last??

I'm so over being pregnant and at 36w time is moving in slow motion. I am desperate for the baby to be here so I can start to get my body back to myself, hopefully my pelvis will stop falling apart and my backache will ease up a bit, and heartburn won't be a regular occurrence anymore. It's lovely to feel baby moving and know they are ok, but the movements often make me feel sea sick. I would very much like to not be hosting this baby much longer.

But then everyone is like 'oh well you won't know what's hit you when they arrive!' as if pregnancy (despite being shit) is infinitely better than having the baby around. Maybe there'll be some short-lived respite at least??

Interested to hear anyone else's experiences, especially if pregnancy was tough.

DS was a truly awful sleeper and i had, what I now realise, was some mild PND..... it was STILL better than before he was born. I was uncomfortable and in pain. I didn't sleep for more than 90 minutes at a time from 14 weeks pregnant. I had SPD. I was doing 50+ hors a week in the City, commuting 2 hours a day with an unbearably unsupportive and bullying boss. It was unbearable.

But I had to politely smile and agree at all those people who told me, "just wait until the baby is here, then you'll really know tiredness."

The night after he was born, a midwife took him for a few hours so I could get some sleep. I slept for 3 hours consecutively before she came and woke me to feed him. I was so pleased to have had some sleep for the first time in more than 6 months that she wrote it in my notes!

I cried frequently when pregnant with DC2, thought if I can't even cope with pregnancy how am I going to cope with an older child and a newborn.

DC2 was an absolute dream baby. Genuinely wasn't one difficult day or night for about 4 months. I like to think he was my reward for such a shit pregnancy.

Yes. For me, a newborn is a doddle compared to any stage of pregnancy except perhaps the first two weeks (basically the bit before the sperm actually meets the egg). Pregnancy is utter hell and you get barely any help or sympathy. Doctors tell you everything is normal no matter how debilitated you are. I felt totally amazing for a couple of weeks after my births plus other people could help me! I remember my time in hospital post birth fondly as I felt euphoric.

Yep. First time wasn't tooooo bad - once the HG was gone at about 24 weeks or so, rest of the pregnancy was alright other than exhaustion and some aches and pains. DC1 was an absolute horror of a newborn so that was all v difficult.

Pregnancy no.2 was awful though, HG stuck around until about 28 weeks and PGP began before that, by the end I was in terrible permanent pain and could barely sleep with the pain. Had to look after my eldest 3 days a week for the last month of my pregnancy in that pain and exhaustion, it was just so so hard. DC2 was overdue and he was a fairly easy newborn. I felt much less tired being up loads in the night to feed him in the early weeks than I did late pregnancy not sleeping with the PGP. It was a huge relief to behave baby out that time.

Oh god yes definitely!! I had a horrific pregnancy with my eldest. Both mentally and physically. Every day was like some torturous endurance test. Difficult labour wiped me out but after that it was so much easier!! He was a dream baby. I thought I could never do pregnancy again, despite wanting a big family. My second pregnancy was much much easier though we won’t mention what a difficult baby she was though

Yes. Was so relieved when twins were born. They were very prem and I had an emergency c-section, and despite all the immediate worry about their condition I remember very clearly lying in recovery in the hospital just so relieved not to be pregnant any more - I just felt instantly well again. Having newborn twins, for me, felt better than being pregnant.

Yes. I think it's nature's way of ensuring you aren't scared of giving birth. At this point, you just any that baby OUT!

I had obstetric cholestasis in my first pregnancy. My entire body itched uncontrollably very minute of the day and night and I as existing on 3-4 hours of broken sleep per night. I had a heart issue that made me beyond exhausted too. I was DONE. I felt so much more well rested with a newborn than I did when pregnant, even though she was a terrible sleeper (fed every 1 1/2- 2hours day and night - feeds took an hour due to tongue tie! Still a breeze compared to what came before! The relief was immense. Plus you have this beautiful little baby to enjoy x

Yes!! I hated being pregnant and I’ve done it 4 times. Crippling SPD, constant pain, heartburn, give me a newborn any day.

@Alwaystired37

Yes. I think it's nature's way of ensuring you aren't scared of giving birth. At this point, you just any that baby OUT!

I had obstetric cholestasis in my first pregnancy. My entire body itched uncontrollably very minute of the day and night and I as existing on 3-4 hours of broken sleep per night. I had a heart issue that made me beyond exhausted too. I was DONE. I felt so much more well rested with a newborn than I did when pregnant, even though she was a terrible sleeper (fed every 1 1/2- 2hours day and night - feeds took an hour due to tongue tie! Still a breeze compared to what came before! The relief was immense. Plus you have this beautiful little baby to enjoy x

Oh my god, in my earlier post I FORGOT that I had this too and how much worse it made everything. I remember the hell of that pregnancy, but apparently I've managed to forget the details.

Also interesting that you also had a terrible sleeper post birth.

This thread is giving me so much hope! I am 31 weeks after 4 years of TTC, three first trimester miscarriages and recurrent miscarriage treatment. I am so excited to meet our baby but apart from the kicks I have spent the last 7 months knackered, queasy and in a state of total anxiety due to my history!

I had an easy pregnancy but was still delighted to reach the baby stage. At least the hardships of a newborn are balanced by all the wonderful ness of a newborn.

This has really cheered me up, thanks so much everyone for sharing! Sat here at my desk, changing position every 5 minutes because what works for my back doesn't for my lungs, and when I can breathe a little easier my hips start screaming. And just so comforted by the thought that in a few weeks this will all be behind me and I'll hopefully have a snoozy little baby to cuddle too.

I'm sorry for the people that had even rougher pregnancies than I'm having - I know it could be a lot worse but even the few symptoms I've had have been just so draining and demoralising. And 40 weeks is a long time!

@SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound thank you for the Omeprazole shout, I finally caved and called my GP at around 26 weeks and it has been a LIFESAVER! I don't know if I could have got through the last 10 weeks without it. There are still days where the reflux goes nuts but Gaviscon wasn't even touching it, at least with Omeprazole I have more good days than bad!

Yes! Not a terrible pregnancy compared to many, but my hips hurt and I couldn't sleep for my bump and I got restless legs and had an insane, utterly irresistible craving for bloody ice cubes.

I had something approaching post-natal euphoria, so pleased was I no longer to be pregnant.

Oh yes! Pregnancy was a nightmare, newborns were easy. So many people seem to get enjoyment out of scaring you about newborns and it doesn't change if you have more kids, they just keep telling you the later kids will be worse than the first.

Pregnancy was awful but I loved the newborn stage - the love, the wonder, the intense stares, the way they sleep, when they're waving their hands around and look like they don't really know how it's happening - and then they poke themselves in the face and look surprised, the first smiles and giggles. All of it.

God yes having a newborn is so much easier than being pregnant.

Yes.
I had a great first pregnancy but having a newborn was like being hit by a bus.

2nd time round, I developed epilepsy and neons severe exhaustion. I was like the walking dead and was desperate to get my baby out. I had a C section and cried for about 5 minutes after she was born because I was so relieved that she was out of me.

I felt euphoric for about 3 months after. I had so much energy. The sleepless nights etc were nothing compared to how awful I had felt. Once the euphoria wore off though I was knackered again as it was hard work 😂

*beyond, not "neons"!!

I guess it depends from person to person and your expectations etc... definitely am so glad not to be pregnant anymore, was nauseous day and night couldnt sleep etc... now waking up at night to breastfeed still feels 100 times better than that horrible pregnancy insomnia. Finally be able to actually walk etc. So yea

I'm pregnant with my third. I am really looking forward to October when the baby is due because I find having a newborn far and away easier than being pregnant.

Hang in there!

@showmethegin

This thread is giving me so much hope! I am 31 weeks after 4 years of TTC, three first trimester miscarriages and recurrent miscarriage treatment. I am so excited to meet our baby but apart from the kicks I have spent the last 7 months knackered, queasy and in a state of total anxiety due to my history!

My awful pregnancy was after years of TTC and IVF. I saw the birth as the finish line and have been relaxed and happy about parenting ever since. Nothing compares to the crippling anxiety of TTC followed by a really difficult pregnancy. I really think it's made me a more laid back parent in some ways but I'm only 11 years in so will probably change my mind once we hit the teenage years.

Yep, me! And I always give the same info to people waiting for Labour... I found newborn life so much better than the third trimester. I could lay on my front, sleep longer than 15 mins at a time (would wake every 15 mins with sore hips needing to roll over) so I genuinely felt well rested for the first time in months, wasn't in pain, wasnt trying to work when my head felt like cotton wool, wasn't feeling like I was looking down the barrel of a gun waiting to see how traumatic Labour would be, and I was in love beyond all words which made me happy!!! It gets better I promise OP. And remember every negative fucker that gives you some crap about oh wait for baby to be here you'll never sleep again/your fanny will never be the same/your life will be over etc etc ... if having a baby is so bad then WHY ARE YOU FUCKERS SO UP IN MY GRILL WITH EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE ONE IM HAVING??

Yes, particularly the second time. I found pregnancy absolutely miserable but post partum a breeze, even after an EMCS I felt so much better than while I was pregnant. I slept so much better with a newborn next to me than I did during pregnancy.

I didn't do pregnancy well, with sickness and recurrent utis and pgp and eventually kidney stones. Hated it (did it 3 times though!).

On each occasion, despite the crushing pnd, it was still 1000% better having a baby rather than a bump!

Yes. People don't believe me when I say that I was less tired with a newborn than I was pregnant. And I was more mobile hours after birth than I was before!

I had hg for 9 months and believe me, the newborn stage was so much better. After giving birth, I projectile vomited one last time in the delivery room and literally cracked on taking care of a newborn as if nothing happened. I struggled to bf with engorged boobs and even that was better. I was in a really really dark place when I was pregnant It felt like a dark blanket lifted and I was back to my old self as soon as I gave birth.