Hear me out on this one....

[DoubleCarrick]

Ok, so I think I have a crazy idea.

I'm currently 26 weeks pregnant and so far have hated pregnancy. I had a MMC last year which was traumatic and for the first trimester of this pregnancy was tense and nervous. I suffered awfully from sickness and nausea (although not bad enough for anyone to actually be worried), aces and pains, migraines and fatigue.

The nausea and sickness has carried on and started to subside at about 24 weeks. Lack of food has meant that I've lost weight and have generally looked like shit (face looking gaunt, dark circles around my eyes).

I suffered with some pelvic pain from about 10 weeks and by 14 weeks could hardly walk around the supermarket (my chiro has massively helped with this).

So all of these things seem to be resolving and now a couple of my ribs are almost permanently painful. I'm getting agitated and irritable and it's just making me want to cry. It's waking me up in the night and I'm just so tired and frustrated.

Ok, so I think mostly that's everything. On to my thoughts...

I've been doing some reading on hypnobirthing and the book I'm reading talks about the power of positive thinking. I spoke to DH about it last night and he said that he feels I have been focusing on the negative parts. He agreed that I've not been having a great time so I know it's not all completely in my head.

This is my plan...

Does anyone want to join me on a true positive thread? Things are shit, uncomfortable and worrying, yes. However, the idea is that the more you think of the positive things, the easier things feel and potentially the better things might go (obviously this is putting medical complications aside).

I'm going to fake it until I make it. I'm going to stop the whinging about all of the hard things and if anyone asks me how I'm feeling, I'll tell them something good. I'm going to ignore the breathlessness (tested and shown to be normal) and I'm going to go for a swim/a walk to try to strengthen my lungs. I'm going to ignore any worries and anxiety and just talk about how I'm looking forward to my baby coming and think about the preparations.

This thread is going to be my little positivity haven with not a single complaint in sight.

Maybe I'm mad? It can't hurt to try.

Would anyone like to join me with some relentless positivity?

My app told me I'm in the third trimester when I turned 27 weeks. It feels like another milestone. Have a midwife and consultant appointment in the next 10 days so hoping I can continue to have a clean bill of health. I've got three pregnancy related issues that I'm being monitored for; clotty blood (inherited- thanks mum!) Previous hypertension in pregnancy and low lying placenta. With dd I felt really well but nearly died because the hypertension was missed. I'm really grateful for the extra monitoring this time, for me it's a pregnancy positive. I felt so well last time so it was all a bit car crash at the end. Generally, I feel quite tired at the minute. During the second trimester I felt full of energy and couldn't get enough of dh. I'm having to make the effort now. I cant even blame having dd because she is brilliant generally. I think I might tske a leaf out of ypur book and treat myself to some new clothes. I'm still wearing my normal clothes for the most part, with maternity tights or leggings. Something new might perk me up a bit. My hair is so shiney and my skin is nice so that's a positive! Yesterday, dd woke up and came into bed and we had the loveliest snuggle. Then little miss started kicking at dds hand and it was just blissful. I can't wait until I have two to snuggle!

Ooh that means I'm two days from third trimester feel like I've climbed some sort of mountain this year!
I've still got some ordinary clothes I'm wearing but got maternity jeans and trousers. Got myself a really nice coat for the winter which cheered me up!

I turned 29 weeks on Saturday. Have been so tired and not wanted DH to even touch me, let alone anything else. This afternoon I've been in the garden planting bulbs and closing it all down and tidying up for the winter. Three weeks ago I wouldn't have felt well enough or would have struggled. Feels so satisfying that I'm finally able to do something!

It's the best feeling when you suddenly have the energy to do stuff again. Even something simple like cleaning the house or going to the shop feels good to be able to do again! We took our nephews to the park today which was so much fun such a nice day

It's so nice to hear about ladies who are a bit further ahead! My positive today is that I'm half way - 20 weeks!

Also we went to the Baby Show in London and managed to pick up a fair few bits I'd had my eye on with some good discounts. So felt really worthwhile

Twenty weeks!! You've made it half way charly!! For me 20-29 weeks has been just amazing watching my body change and develop.

I don't know about you ladies but before/after my shower I just stand and look in the mirror and think it's so amazing that my body knows how to grow a little life. In my hypnobirthing book, apparently it used to be really common to have statues of pregnant women and they were worshipped because they were considered to be the closest to nature you can be and that it was such an incredible thing to be able to do. then apparently eve ate the apple and the punishment was painful childbirth and women were no longer revered for being able to create life. It's pretty empowering to think that what we are growing will eventually be a fully functioning human being. Our babies already have finger nails, teeth, eyebrows, eye lashes. My next thought might be weird, but even the baby I lost, between me and my baby, we knew it wouldn't be healthy so I MC. Even that is pretty incredible.

Cooper is becoming really responsive. If he kicks, I stroke him and he settles back to sleep. However, if my husband strokes him he wakes up and has a little party. DH will scratch or tickle my belly and Coop will kick the exact same place that was tickled. I love how you can play with and bond with a baby before he's even born!! Equally, he seems to be a fan of opera (trying to play him BBC radio 3) and likes the violins. He also loves it when I dish up my dinner - every time I cook he goes crazy!

Charly what did you buy from the show in London? Do you live in London?

The baby show sounds exciting! What did you get?!!!

double that is my favourite phase from my class "your body knows how to grow your baby and your body knows how to birth your baby". It makes me feel more positive anyway!

I've got a couple of vouchers to use up so just ordered some nice clothes for baby and think I've found our baby monitor for about £30 using various vouchers and codes

I got a cuddledry towel, a Morrck car seat blanket, the starter pack for cheeky wipes, a cot mobile, a hana baby wrap... and lots of dribble bibs and little bits.

I don't live in London - actually near Portsmouth but it wasn't too far to go.

It is quite exciting to be half way. Starting to feel quite pregnant now hehe

You live not far from me charly I bought some cheeky wipes, they look really good. Have you got the coloured ones or the white ones? I made this mistake - the coloured ones are microfibre and can get poo stuck in them (but ideal for hands and face) and the white ones are good for bums. I accidently bought the microfibre ones first so have about 50 for face and 50 for bum!

oh how fun that's nice that we're not far from each other.

luckily as it was the starter kit I got the white terrycloth wipes for bums. But I only have 25 so might buy some more so I can have some washing/drying while some are being used.

That's what I thought - I worried that £25 wouldn't be enough. I have millions now though! Whoops!!

25, not £25!!

Haha would you say it's worth getting another pack?

happy news for us today - we found out the sex! we've got a baby boy on the way. not that we wouldn't be chuffed either way but it's fun to know

Aw Charly congratulations on finding out it's a boy! Lovely news (and an excuse for more shopping?!)

Another boy on the thread

I'm.not sure about getting another pack. I guess it depends on how often you intend to wash them and how quick you can dry them. I figure a few bad nappies could get through about ten, plus then maybe wiping face/hands after food. I reckon you could easily get through 15 a day but tbh I don't really know. My friend said the first 24 hours they went through 10 nappies.

What a lovely thread i.e. to think positively! Finally read all four pages of this thread!

I am 2 weeks away from my 20 weeks scan and had a horrible day being all anxious yesterday. I had a MMC earlier this year and possibly a big reason why I am feeling anxious during this period between my 12-20week scan.
I also haven't been feeling well throughout my first tri (evening sickness!) and all through 16 weeks. Right now, I still have a horrible stomach and bedtime is like 8-9pm for me in order for me to not run to the bathroom to throw up.

Other than that, pregnancy yoga helps me through the week lots and I need to feel more positive and that I will be feeling better. I am a huge foodie but currently I can't eat lots of things which I would love to have!

Am starting to look at possibility of Daisy birthing and hypnobirthing and just started to meditate to try and label my thoughts.

I wish I had found this thread sooner! I'm 38 weeks now and had every intention of remaining positive throughout my pregnancy (similar situation to you, OP) but I have failed miserably - especially now I'm feel I'm ready to pop!

Perhaps this thread will help me to keep the next few days or weeks (hopefully it's days!) positive

Lithica I'm with you on the evening sickness! Fortunately mornings are now better but I find evenings the hardest to be positive because I just feel sick and tired. However it does mean DH is cooking (well often just putting something in the oven as can mainly only manage plain stuff). Missing lots of food too! I'm going to be that annoying woman in the corner of a restaurant with the screaming baby so I can order all the things I've missed

Congratulations on your baby boy charly

lithica you will feel more positive after 20 week scan and when you feel the kicks. I highly recommend the daisy birth class it's the highlight of my week and I feel amazing once I come out of class!

muffy not long for you to go now!

lithica the sickness sucks. Things I found helped which didn't really help because I was sick as a dog for about 24 weeks!!
travel sickness bands
cut out as much fat and sugar as humanely possible
lie down after eating
work out your triggers - I couldn't drink anything until about 10am each morning and only ate something tiny until then. Tea and coffee at that time would make me so ill. I did puke up all over the living room floor at one point!
The hypnobirthing will be really good. I've found the mechanics of childbirth fascinating and looking into the history of childbirth. Bland food is the way to go salted, I can't wait to have a nice curry once this pregnancy is over. I'm loving everything plain too and anything with too much flavour gets rejected!

muffy your wait for your baby is nearly over! How exciting! Will you come back with a picture to keep our spirits up? I'm going to be 30 weeks on Saturday and the countdown has very much begun!!

I'm still trying to stay positive!! Only 7 weeks to go until I'm on maternity leave. I'm so tired but really determined to keep going. I'm like a mentalist with the housework and on top of everything! I should take it easy but am just going with my instinct. I did tell DH to "go away" this morning when he snoozed the alarm for the third time. I felt very mean but was really annoyed at the alarm! I then cried and said I didn't want to go to work. Being self employed, I decided not to take the week off but have moved all clients this week into thurs and fri so it's going to be a full on couple of days and I feel like I've not slept in a week.

All sounding very negative. I guess I could take a positive that I've just had three days off to chill and rest and that I'm lucky I can do that without losing any money.

Congrats on the little boy bump Charly!
I have a proper pregnancy positive today - I bought some maternity clothes and I feel lovely in them! Of all the places I've searched, I ended up buying them from George at Asda! I desperately needed some trousers I could wear to work (im usually a tights and fit and flare dress kinda girl - I have a small waist and I like dresses that come in at the waist and flow over my hips which I can wear with boots. I love my boots). In pregnancy, I have struggled to find any kind of dresses I can wear that arent either bodycon style or have flowers, butterflys or polka dots on. Ive been wearing my old dresses with maternity tights or leggings and feeling crap because they are all getting tight However, I found some skinny black trousers for £16 on the Asda website and decided that was so cheap I had nothing to lose. I bought them along with a couple of blouse type tops in the sale - both plain - grey and navy blue and they look great! I feel like my old self again. From the front I dont even look pregnant (obvious when I turn to the side though!!) and I can still wear my boots! Im going to order another pair of the trousers because I feel so much better in them than leggings and shapeless dresses!

I will do DoubleCarrick! I'm with you on the housework front. I'm sure the entire third trimester has been spent "nesting". I'm usually really lazy when not pregnant so I feel like a new person keeping everything so in order . I've found a new me!

Whatser awesome that you've found some clothes to wear! I've bought a couple of long sleeve tops so am just wearing a cardigan and jeans/leggings. I don't look pregnant from the back at all!

Hi everyone, could do with a bit of positivity! I'm 26+3wks with a surprise baby, another boy! Very grateful for not having any health issues so far (but god the rib aches!), I'm consultant led care because of previous small babies and emcs so no home birth for me. Can't help but feel a bit anxious though! Thought I was finished having babies, night feeds, nappies etc. Been feeling a bit down about weight gain and changing figure although I found some lovely underbump skinny jeans in ASOS sale and been wearing them since 12 weeks, I've got no baby stuff left (divorce, house move etc) so had a mild wobbly about that yesterday. On the positive, sprog is extremely active, he seems to never stop moving! And bought loads of things yesterday all reduced. Hope everyone is doing well

27+3wks even! Baby brain!