In your experience, which was harder, the first 20 weeks or the last 20 weeks of pregnancy?

[BellaBearisWideAwake]

I have a bit of time on my hands and I was thinking - I found up to 20 weeks I was very anxious of the risk of miscarriage, I had nausea, I couldn't tell people as much as I wanted to, I was exhausted, I had dreadful constipation.
Now I am 24 weeks and can feel the baby moving regularly and I'm not so anxious, I am recalling the aches and pains of later pregnancy, the inability to sit up easily or bend down, and I can't sleep for needing to wee!

On reflection for me, it's the first half because of the uncertainty (4th pg, 2nd baby)

[PaigeTurner]

The first 37 weeks has been the worst. I feel ok-ish now with a week to go.

[piprabbit]

The 20 weeks after the birth.

And I'm saying that despite having to spend loads of time in hospital at the end of both my pregnancies.

[GlitteryBalls]

Last 6 weeks! Been fecking awful!

[Pinetreeland]

I am 31+2 and so far the pregnancy has been quite smooth as I am one of those lucky ones who don't get morning sickness.

I am dreading the next 8 weeks or so though as now I feel I am bigger and more breathless and I wonder how much bigger would I get! The thought of the birth is also very scary...

[MissFit]

In order, with worst first:

1st trimester (horrid morning sickness and crippling tiredness)
3rd trimster (being big, uncomfortable, hot, achy, needing to wee every 2 minutes, tired)
2nd trimster was fine

[brihoney]

The first 20 this time round have been terrible, morning sickness that is only just going (I'm 21 weeks now) and exhaustion , hoping the next 19+ will be better. But having had a miscarriage in the summer, I guess I was a bit more anxious too.

I remembered really enjoying my first pregnancy and had been looking forward to being pregnant again but this time round so much harder. Definitely harder with a toddler and their fairly regular sleepless nights.

First childbirth was also fine (in fact never got that painful and did it all on just a tens machine) so worried I will be in agony this time round! :)

[HeftyMutha]

First 20 weeks were the worst for me - had hyperemesis and couldn't even get water down me some of the time, let alone any food. Felt weak and tearful from lack of food and water, had to have anti-emetic injections, had vomit burns on the corners of my mouth from all the puking...

Second half of pregnancy was a breeze in comparison, apart from the heartburn and insomnia (oh, and the chest infection that put me in hospital at Christmas!)

It's amazing how variable pregnancy can be for different people, and how one person can have two very different pregnancies. The same is true of how people experience childbirth pain - some people seem to be able to take it in their stride, and others feel like they're dying (like I did, but then I am a wuss!).

You just don't know how it's going to be till you get there!

[Poppet45]

I think the last three weeks are harder than the previous 37 myself.

[buttonmoon78]

Last 20 without a shadow of a doubt. SPD kills all that blooming you're meant to do stone dead...

[debka]

With DD1 the first 20 weeks were the worst, but now I have a toddler to waddle run after, the last 10 weeks are proving to be hell. SPD, heartburn, UTIs, breathlessness, insomnia.... Be so glad when I feel some contractions!!

[GroovyGretel]

I would like to posit a third option. The first 20 weeks of parenthood. Actually, 20 years.

Hope this helps!

[spilttheteaagain]

ooh DF good luck! What a lovely Christmas present!

[DuelingFanio]

I have had a very easy pregnancy but getting here was hard as I had IVF. So on reflection (I amd 40 +5 today) I think the first 20 weeks were harder because I had no idea if the baby was going to be ok and also had a bad Nuchal test followed by a wait for the Amnio results. Luckily no morning sickness and I've got this far without getting to the 'get it out of me' stage.

Worst things have been heartburn and bleeding gums but still the anxiety of the first 16 weeks was probably the worst bit.

[MrsVidic]

i am on pregnant with dc 2. I would say for me the first 20 weeks but i only did so well in the last 20 due to my determination to keep fit. I get bad nausea am the first trimester.

[systemsaddict]

First 20 weeks: anxiety, nausea, pregnancy insomnia, exhaustion.
Next 20 weeks: SPD, swelling, heartburn, bump insomnia, immobility, slowness, exhaustion.

There were about 3 weeks of 'glowing' in the middle though, that bit was nice!

[zinnia]

I'm 20 weeks tomorrow, and so far it's been a real struggle so am hoping things are set to improve for the second half (or at least for the next 10 weeks or so)

This is pg2, last time was pretty easy all round compared with this, but the 2nd trimester in particular was a joy.

God I didn't know how lucky I was!

[mammyshere]

The last ten are the hardest imo. Fed up, exhausted, uncomfortable , impatient, terrified of labour. Before 32 weeks and after 20 are the most enjoyable.

[FillMyXmasSprocking]

The first 20 weeks, no contest!

The last half was so easy for me. I felt better in the last month that i did the whole rest of my pregnancy.

The first half was a worry and i was so bloddy knackered!

[stainesmassif]

definitely split pregnancy into three trimesters and only enjoy the second one. currently 40 + 9 and utterly miserable!

[Deliaskis]

You see, I think this question depends on whether or not you 'bloom' and when this starts/finishes. I didn't (or at least haven't so far), and was still being sick up to about 24 weeks, so felt cheated to have reached halfway and still have to spend mornings with my head down the loo. Everybody had said the middle trimester would be fine, and it just wasn't, it was just more of the same.

And now I'm really looking forward to getting to know my baby, whereas early on it was all a bit abstract.

I think I just feel like now, the pressure is off, in that nobody expects me to be perfect - busy at work, volunteer job, singing in choir, domestic goddess, etc. I was really intent on not seeming 'weak' early on and taking it all in my stride, even though I felt dreadful. Now I'm learning to say no, and people don't think it odd or anti-social or needy if I would rather put my feet up on the sofa than go out somewhere or whatever. I feel relieved that I have a reprise from some of the things I do, and am being allowed to just do what I feel up to doing, rather than giving the appearance of being able to do everything.

I appreciate this is pressure I put myself under though, so others may be different.

D

[Francagoestohollywood]

My anxiety levels were at their highest when I was between about 22 to 32 weeks.

Physically the worst weeks have been the first 12/15 both times.

Basically, I really enjoyed only the last weeks of pg

[BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte]

First time around, the first 20 weeks were definately worse. Undoubtedly. Entirely.

I'm now just past 15weeks with DC2 and hoping the same will be true this time...

[BaronessBomburst]

Yet another opinion - it was all hell apart from the last 7 or 8 weeks which were bearable. DS was fully engaged at this stage (oooh, said everyone, you'll be having him soon - WRONG!), and the fact that he sat so low meant that I could eat, move, and even painted my own toenails.

[HouseOfBambooootiful]

Yes agree, the first few weeks and the last few weeks were the worst.

[MrsCratchit]

Am 30 weeks and for me the last week has been by far the hardest. Doesn't bode well for the final 10...