For those of you that loathed pregnancy, did you find having a small baby better?

[Gennz]

I am 28 weeks on Monday. I haven't been hospitalised or anything, but have generally found pregnancy quite unpleasant - I vomited every morning up to 23 weeks, had a 3 week pause and now it's started up again; the heartburn is started to get resally unpleasant; I'm up several times a night to wee and the vomming isn't really helping my pelvic floor control either; I'm really starting to feel sick & tired all the time; I'm struggling lumbering round with the extra weight and really miss my pre-pregnancy wine quaffing self. I feel a bit trapped in my own body to be honest.

I know I sound really whingy cos I am and the baby seems to be really healthy so I know I'm really lucky in that regard, but I keep thinking maybe having him out of me will be a relief? I know it will be full on and I won't get a lot of sleep, but at least I won't feel sick all the time and DH can help out!

Am I deluded or is this possibility?

[MumofWombat]

Pregnancy sucks. It's a hideous hideous thing and is the reason why there will not be DC3 for us. There is no way I could deal with being pregnant again (my body plays 'pregnancy complication lotto', high risk etc etc) I know it's not the same for everyone but I found having a newborn much much easier. If I could be given a newborn baby I'd have a football team of them!

[jaykay34]

It's really reassuring that there are so many others that hate pregnancy...I feel guilty about it...but I don't enjoy it at all and just want my baby out !

My first pregnancy was with twins 12 years ago...and people would say that I should make the most of it/it would be the enjoyable part as having two babies would be hell - but the minute the twins were born it was a huge relief and far more enjoyable than pregnancy. I had a pretty straightforward pregnancy with them too - I just didn't enjoy it (ungrateful, I know...and I feel guilty even now for saying it). I had wondered if being so young had jaded my opinion...but fast forward to now when I am pregnant again..and I don't enjoy it any more !

I look disgusting, stink of breast milk, am hairy, full of cellulite, sweaty and fat faced. I cannot move properly. I constantly need to wee. I am so hot that I feel like I am in a constant sauna. I feel massive and just seem to get bigger and bigger. Everything is a huge effort. I worry about everything and just want to be able to see my baby.

The minute he is born, I have no doubt that these miserable feelings will subside.

[SoggyOldBiscuit]

Yes! I cope very well with newborn babies & even with the sleep depravation. Those first few months have been my favourite times & I always feel really healthy & happy, enjoying getting out and about for walks.

I am sure it is down to the fact that I have awful pregnancies and hate every second of feeling so big, sore and ill. I looked deathly ill throughout my pregnancies, felt like the life was being sucked out of me and counted down the days until the baby/babies arrived. In comparison, having a newborn to look after is easy.

When I was pregnant with my twins, I said to my midwife "Having newborn twins will be so much easier than being pregnant with them". She smirked a bit and said "I'm not sure about that". I was right. Even recovering from a c-section was a relief compared to having a great big bump. Being able to sleep on your tummy! To eat without heartburn.

I agree with cardriver: "I felt like I'd come alive again" describes the feeling perfectly.

Good luck!

[squizita]

Reading these stories...

Guzzling raspberry leaf tea!! Bouncing on the ball!

[Missingcaffeine]

I'm loving these stories.
Currently 37 with first pregnancy and always thought I'd enjoy being pregnant, spent years looking at pregnant women wishing it was me. Now I know I am truly blessed to be pregnant and can't wait to meet my little boy, so I feel guilty for saying I've found it really awful apart from about 10 weeks in the middle. I feel like the best part of this last year, I've felt rubbish. So many people are telling me, enjoy your maternity leave, make the most of it, as you won't be able to enjoy all the usual things once baby arrives.
Well, right now, I'm on maternity leave and struggling to enjoy anything.
I can't sleep, I have constant acid indigestion, I can't enjoy food, I feel nauseous, I can't reach my toes, my ribs ache, my lower back aches, I get shooting pains into my bum, I'm exhausted, everything's an effort. I just can't do much more than potter around feeling uncomfortable. Even reading a book or watching TV is an effort as I can't get comfortable. I pee every 5 mins, I feel like I can't breathe, I'm constantly hot, I'm constantly worrying whether baby has moved enough and if he's okay in there and about birth. I feel guilty for being so pathetic as it just isn't me and I know I am really lucky. I could continue......

[Gennz]

I am sorry to say that these stories have all cheered me up immensely! Misery loves company!

Up til now, I've been feeling like there's no light at the end of the tunnel - I've never had a baby before so I don't know anything about the compensatory benefits of having a baby, I'm not a particularly clucky person so I never dreamt of being a mum (I mean, I thought I probably would have kids but it's not like I felt it was my destiny or anything) ... all I knew was that pregnancy was utterly vile and everyone kept telling me to "enjoy it, it just gets harder when the baby comes"

I feel hopeful again!! Yay