Do you actually enjoy being pregnant?

[BadLad]

This question has been on my mind after reading the "Am I being unreasonable to want to be paid for being a surrogate mother" thread. In that thread the original poster said

I want to do it because I love being pregnant, and I love that i am able to help people who are not able to have a baby the traditional way.

The first part of that astounded me. I had always assumed that pregnancy actually felt like a chore, and was tiring and generally made life difficult.

Does it not? Is it actually an enjoyable experience?

We don't have any children, so I can't ask DW.

[CheshireDing]

I didn't hate it the first time and am looking forward to our baby No2 later this year. I never thought it a chore, did feel like it took a long time though!

What I DID hate was trying to find nice clothes to fit and not being able to sleep due to the weight of the baby and trying to lie on my left side and having restless leg

It was worth it though :)

[Purplecatti]

I hated being pregnant so bloody much. I had to be taken to theatre after tearing very badly and the midwife cracked up as I shouted yipeeeee I'm not pregnant anymore at full volume as I hovered in the wheelchair being taken down

[bingeddybongo]

I'm only 14 and a half weeks on my first pregnancy but I've hated every bloody second so far. Everyone keeps telling me the sickness is about to stop... except they keep moving the goalposts - first it was going to be gone by 12 weeks, then 14, then 15 and someone yesterday said five bloody months! It's going to take some serious persuading to get me to ever do this again, I can tell you ;)

[ChompieMum]

Love it! The first few weeks are a bit grotty but after the sickness passes I love it. Probably sounds stupid but growing a new life is so exciting and wonderful generally!

[MrsLHofstadter]

*parent

[MrsLHofstadter]

Had a few problems and it could have come at a much better time but I bloody loved it!

Being a patent on the hand I'm indifferent to.

I would be a surrogate over having another of my own, if only I wasn't appalling at giving birth.

[Norfolknway]

I'm about 9 weeks with dc2 and I'm
Not loving it.

I 'bloomed' with DD1 but not until 15 weeks or so!

I've got a few weeks of that early pregnancy greyness yet!

[atrcts]

I hated the first 16 weeks as I felt so so sick, morning, noon and night.
Once that was over and I began to get a bit more energy, I have really enjoyed it.

It's a bit like being a kid at Christmas - you like the build up but hate waiting at the same time!!!

I wouldn't be a surrogate though.

[Chocaholics]

Loved feeling the baby kicking and moving and thought seeing the skin on my tummy move from the outside was amazing.

But I hated feeling huge, how during the final couple of months everything was a big effort to even move, not being able to put my own shoes on, get off the sofa etc drive me mad. Plus hated needing the toilet every 5 minutes! Felt like a fat, sweaty whale.

[Octopus37]

Yes and no. Enjoyed first pregnancy because:

1. Was just so grateful, had had an early miscarriage before that.
   
2. Felt as if I was part of a special club.
   
3. Felt pampered and special, was allowed to be tired and hungry.
   
4. Everything was new and exciting
   
5. Loved feeling DS kick and didn't mind people commenting on my bump.
   Second time, was grateful to be pregnant again, but:
   
6. Found it so much harder with a toddler, hard to rest etc
   
7. Hated the fact that it slowed me down as had got quite fit after first baby, this meant that I put on a bit more weight but did loose it.
   
8. Awful piles and sciatica at the end.
   
9. Went 12 days overdue which was awful. Was scared of labour cause of first time and one midwife told me that she thought I had stopped myself going into labour.
   
10. Worried about hwo I was going to balance a toddler, a newborn, picking up my work again, keeping on top of the house etc with no real family support and no sleep.
    No way on earth I could do it again, but very much admire women who have large families or/and have babies for other people.

[Fishandjam]

I am rubbish at being pregnant (2 full term). Sick, utterly and debilitatingly exhausted, heartburn, backache, and then I get cholestasis/liver failure right at the end. Oddly, I don't mind the birth bit at all (induced both times - mobile epidurals totally rock, by the way). And - though it will out me as a needy Munchausen-ish bint - I quite liked all the attention from various medics. (Yes, I know.... pathetic.)

I'd quite like DC3 and if someone were to say to me "ok, tomorrow you'll be 37 weeks and going for induced labour" I'd say no worries, bring it on. But I absolutely cannot face the 8.5 months of misery beforehand.

[nannyl]

on my second HG pregnancy now and i can say i HATE being pregnant

i do quite like feeling baby move in my though, but thats about it.

Having vomited well over 1000 times due to pregnancy i have no desire to ever put myself or my family through the living hell it is for me / us ever again.

I always wanted 4 children, and could see myself with 4, but for now i think 2 will be plenty

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

My pregnancy can be summed up by trimester:
1st: head down toilet, felt like crap
2nd: felt well, got told I was 'blooming'
3rd: ouch, baby keeps poking me in the cervix, everything hurts, can't sleep! And heart burn, heart burn, heart burn...
Only 5 weeks left to go!
Am I happy to be pregnant? Gosh yes. We tried for a long time. Will I rush into trying for DC2? Er, no. I recall at about 22 weeks DH said he couldn't wait to meet the baby and just wanted to skip the next step. I replied that I was enjoying the journey week by week. I would happily
go into early labour now!

I think it's very admirable for people to be surrogates but I don't think I could do it myself. I can't imagine going through the process of growing a person only to hand it over, especially with 'straight' surrogacy using your own eggs!

[IfAtFirstUDontSucceed]

I've loved it.
The first 12 weeks were pretty nerve wracking (2 previous early MCs) and felt slightly grim until 14 weeks.
However, I feel as though I've breezed through, have had no major complaints. In fact I'm now 39+4 and feel as though I should still be at work as I feel physically fine.

Negative points: a few aches and pains if I've been walking a bit, but nowt too much, swollen fingers and bursting in to tears at the smallest thing!

Positives: feeling DS merrily bouncing around :) shiny hair, clear skin, DH cleaning the litter tray ;) DH running around after me, feeling proud of my appearance for the first time in a long while! Giving in to cravings..... Mmmmm ice cream! Bigger boobs,

I'm in for a horrendous labour aren't I?

[Cies]

I loved it both times. But would never be a surrogate because I would want to keep the baby.

[CitizenOscar]

Love the first week after finding out.

Hate the rest of the first trimester. Am currently expecting DC2 and during first 12 weeks I was so pleased I'd never have to do this again.

Quite like the 2nd trimester. Feeling baby move & excited about the future.

Can't remember how I felt last time about the 3rd trimester. Guess I'll find out soon enough!

[Beatrixpotty]

Mixed..done it 3 times now,loved the excitement of expecting another baby and feeling them kick,but found the last 5-6 weeks quite tiring especially with other DCs to look after and felt like I was cutting corners as a mum because I was too tired to do everything I wanted to do with them.Loved having an excuse to buy more maternity clothes but bored by the end especially when they didn't fit so well.Loved the attention & everyone asking how I was!Also got a bit scared at the end that it could all go horribly wrong.3 weeks on I'm still slightly miss being pregnant though ,maybe that's why I'm still hanging around the pregnancy threads..

[MammaCici]

Morning sickness like the worst hangover ever that last 5 months...
Headaches
Backaches
Shortness of breath
Weight gain
Stuffy nose
Exhaustion and insomnia
Midnight trips to the loo
Feeling like there are lead weights on every limb
Worrying about baby
Worrying about labour

What's not to like? lol

I'm expecting DC2. I know the payoff is worth it. But no, I don't enjoy the physical woes of pregnancy. But I do love feeling the baby inside me. In that sense I love being pregnant. I'm entering the last month and I will be very glad to hold baby in my arms rather than my tummy!

[PickledInAPearTree]

No - PILES. Blooming a bit too bloody much.

[Caladria]

I hit 39 weeks on Sunday and to my astonishment have loved being pregnant. I was convinced I'd find it icky and hard work and it's been bliss. Weird. Walks off, shaking her head and hoping she didn't come across as too smug.

[cupcake78]

I hate it for the simple fact I get everything from HG to spd to thrush, piles, varicose veins, acne, heartburn, sore big painful boobs. My diet is a haywire and I'm unable to do any exercise due to spd which makes me feel like a blob.

I feel like I'm constantly being touched and just want space which is impossible when your body is occupied 24hrs a day. I get very irritable and at the moment I can't stand to be touched. I get sick of dh trying to feel bump and ds constantly wanting cuddles or being next to me.

Im 27 wks and can't wait for it to be over! I'd love to enjoy it but I don't.

[Frecklesandspecs]

If human pregnancy could be 4 months shorter that would be great !

[FrustratedSycamoresRocks]

I feel like a house, and I still have 10wks to go! Once I'd got past the morning all day sickness at about 18 weeks, I had about 3 clear weeks before the heartburn and acid reflux started. Ugh.
I'm still waiting for my bloom.