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)

[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.

[spilttheteaagain]

ooh DF good luck! What a lovely Christmas present!

[GroovyGretel]

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

Hope this helps!

[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!!

[buttonmoon78]

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

[Poppet45]

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

[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!

[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! :)

[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

[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...

[GlitteryBalls]

Last 6 weeks! Been fecking awful!

[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.

[PaigeTurner]

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