which is worse - the first or third trimester?

[angels1]

I had a horrible horrible first trimester with terrible all the time nausea and spent weeks in bed feeling like I was on a choppy sea with exhaustion (had 3 months where I barely made it out of the front door).

I'm now getting towards the end of the second trimester but have never bloomed :( I feel more like my old self than I did in first trimester and don't feel too bad most of the time so long as I serverely limit normal activities (haven't managed trips out for longer than 3 hours and only at certain times of day since getting pg and still need to rest lots etc or everything come sback as bad as first tri), but still have the nausea and now also heartbutn, restless leg, carpol tunnel, bad sleep, tiredness, backache etc etc etc. I am very grateful to be pg btw and wouldn't want to change it, just I have days of struggling and feeling quite depressed about how I seem to be hit hard whereas others breeze through.

I've been reading up on my baby books and they all talk about tiredness returning in third trimester and how uncomfortable things get and how I should be enjoying the second trimester while I still can (enjoy it - but I still feel rubbish?!) and now I'm feeling rather depressed that I've never felt any good at all since getting pg and in a few weeks I'll be going down hill again.

So, is the tiredness etc in third trimester as bad as first?

Personally, first worse than third for me, both times. BUT both DSs were 3 weeks early

hi Angels...

Pah! Well, I coped better with everything in the second trimester, but still felt awful.. and now at 37 weeks and still feel awful. But it isn't like suddenly when you get to the third trimester the first trimester symptoms return with avengence. It is more like you gradually get more tired, heartburny, refluxy, uncomfortable as the baby is getting bigger and taking up more space!

I am having the odd day where I can't do much at all and feel really sorry for myself, but on the whole I take each day as it comes and try and do a little something - pop out to meet a friend for coffee, have someone over for a chat, pop to a couple of shops etc or do a little housework. I just can't push myself and have to take it easy.

The good thing is that you know you are getting near the end! In the first trimester I couldn't believe I would ever cope with getting through this, whereas in the third trimester it feels like you have been pregnant forever and you know you just have to hang in there for a few more weeks...

Take care

S x

You'll be more uncomfortable but it isn't overwhelming like in 1st trimester IME. I only felt OK from 35 weeks with DD (and then she arrived at 38!) and this time I would much rather be as I am now than back in the first trimester. It just doesn't affect your whole body in the same way. More like being unable to move because of a bad back, which is horrid, but not as bad as having food poisoning iygwim.

And don't underestimate what giving up work will do for you. Can you go on ML a little earlier? That's when I started to get better.

First was easy for me but I had no morning sickness or tiredness. 3rd is ok, not too bad but a tad more uncomfortable. I think now at 34 weeks I am realising that I am less mobile and more tired and still have 3 more weeks in work so everything is feeling a bit tedious. Have had increasing heartburn and slight feelings of feeling sick recently too.

I think for the most part the 3rd trimester is better than the 1st. Even though you will be a bit more uncomfortable I didn't get the overwhelming tiredness that came with the 1st trimester. Also in the 3rd trimester you are visibly pregnant so people let you get away with more :)

The only exception was the final few weeks of the 3rd trimester as I got closer to my due date. The waiting killed me and I was sick of everyone phoning every day to see if I "had any news". In the end DD was 10 days late and I was induced because I was in very uncomfortable latent labour for the whole of the last week.

needaname I've been signed off most of my pregnancy as I've been so rubbish (I teach cooking and can't deal with the smells etc). I did try going back around the 18 week mark for about a month but then was advised to give up as it was making me much worse. I feel like such a useless lump!

Sorry your having such a horrible time angels.

Wont lie, the third trimester is uncomfortable and there are lots of symptoms/ discomforts to contend with however, for me, the 1st trimester is definately worse (both times!). The debilitating tiredness/nausea/sickness. Most people dont know your pregnant, which is hard as you trying to put on a brave face and I think (in my case), because Im not big in first trimester, although dh is aware Im pregnant, it doesnt sink in as he cant visibly see bump, if that makes sense so hes not as forgiving..

I found first trimester a lot worse both times. And with DS most of my third trimester was spent in and out of hospital, or sitting around wishing the high blood pressure would go away, and also resembling an elephant.

Being sick a lot of the time and feeling rubbish all the time was definitely worse.

Different sort of tiredness in the first trimster and as barbie said people are so much more forgiving of you in the third trimester. I was expected to do the late night driving in the first two trimesters whenever we went out and I probably more able to do it now but it isnt expected in the same way. The worst thing for me in the last trimester is the spd(pelvic pain) but it has made me slow down, oh and the insomnia. Your last chance to sleep but your brain doesnt switch off.

3rd is definately worse for me, not the beginging of it i'd say from around 34 weeks. Its like the 1st trimester but like someone has already said all the symptoms come back with avengence except now its also painful to walk/move as you have a heavy baby inside you. Kicks now hurt (baby is gonna be a football i think) Sickness isnto as bad imo but the heartburn is a million times worse in my case.....

BUT! at least in the 3rd trimester theres light at the end of the tunnel, in the 1st you still had ages to go.

I think the first trimester is the worst, because you're not showing properly and may not have told people so you're trying to act "normal". Whereas in the 3rd trimester, you have to take things easier and people are more accomodating.

I didnt have sickness in 1st trimester, however, im now 36 weeks and I am exhausted and feel terrible :(

first is worse for the reasons japh says. And also if you've had a mc you spent so long thinking 'what if' and thinking the worse. I was absolutely knackered and had horrible sickness in the evening yet was trying to be as normal as I could. (So far) in the 3rd, it is very obvious I am pregnant and although my SPD is very uncomfortable and I am exhausted at least I have something to show! And I am reassured that baby and me are fine by more regular midwife appointments and some hefty kicks and rolls!

I think first is the worse. Third is no picnic if you have crippling back and rib pain like I had first time and so far this pregnancy is identical.

Sickness didn't return which was my worse thing, wasn't sick but felt it all the time. I did find that I struggled to really go out and about much in the 3rd trimester. I just didn't have the energy at all.

I'd say first was much worse, feeling sick constantly. Second was lovely, just enjoyed seeing the bump grow.

I'm now 39 weeks. Third trimester I've had lots of sleepless nights due to sore hips, cramps and not being able to switch off, as Cluelessnchaos said above. No energy at all in the daytime which is very frustrating when you have a massive list of things still to do. And the stretch marks are pretty depressing!

What are your stretchmarks like? Do they look like a cat has scratched your belly overnight? Gave me a shock when I saw the lines...

I feel third is worst. I hardly had any early symptoms, I had a few sicky days and was tired but nothing much. Now I am HUGE, my back hurts, I have carpal tunnel so my hands go numb, I need to wee all the time and I get out of breath quickly.

Not long to go!

Both are hard in their own ways. You are faced with different challenges or different challenges plus the challenges you faced in the 1st trimester together.

First was much worse as I had hyperemesis. Didn't stop being sick til I gave birth but it had eased off.
I loved being all big and waddly as people were generally nice to me and I felt really bonded with DD.

I'm 40+1 with my second pregnancy, and the first trimester has been by FAR the worst both times.

I think if you have a really terrible first trimester, everything else pales into insignificance. (I was hyperemetic).

I'm huge and unwieldy with dreadful heartburn and went two weeks overdue last time, but nothing touched the first trimester for rottenness.

Don't take those articles to heart. They just deal with average pregnancies.

First. Though i had flu in my third trimester 2nd time and was terrible. But the sickness and tiredness of first trimester generally the worst both times.

First.

I was a bit uncomfortable by about week 39, but that was nothing compared to the 24 hour nauseau of the first 18 weeks.

The first twelve weeks (pre-scan AND horrific nausea, and keeping it secret) are definitely the worst.

first - defo. was sick as a dog (so the saying goes) for the best part of seven weeks - lost a load of weight, exhaustion was almost as crippling as the nausea and i was guaranteed several episodes of vomiting every evening. only started to feel 'human' again at about week 14. am now 34wks, feeling pretty tired at the end of the day, and certainly heavy and aching, but its still easier to cope with than the sickness. ugh.

northlondonchoclover, sounds like the same kind of thing. Not just the little squiggles you get when you gain weight gradually, but half inch thick welts under the skin. They itch but it hurts to scratch. Small price to pay though!