Reality check

[Mrstobe90]

When I used to think about the future, I'd think about carrying my first child and could see myself with a big beautiful bump, a big smile on my face, sitting around having decaf coffee with other mums to be, talking baby things. Everything in this little fantasy seemed so perfect that I never even considered that pregnancy would be something completely different.

Never did I imagine that I'd spend half my time with my head in toilet or have entire days where I physically can't get out of bed due to feeling so crappy.
No one said that I'd constantly be worried about having an MC or that any bad pregnancy story would make my heart sink 3 feet.

I never knew it would be so gross with constant horrific gas that's gives me stomach ache and enough double chins to make the Michelin man look like kate moss.

I never knew any of this stuff and I was feeling quite alone, but reading all of your experiences and seeing that there are so many of you going through the same stuff makes me feel so comforted! I know it's stressful now but when we get our squishy little bundles of joy, it'll be so worth it!

So, sorry for the tmi but if anyone out there reading this is feeling shitty and gross and alone, just know that you're not. Xx

After having a ridiculously tough day your post has made me cry OP, tears of relief! Pregnancy has been nothing but a bag of anxiety and feeling like utter crap but it's so good to know there are other mums to be going through it as well!

This is very comforting! Although I was very lucky not to suffer with sickness, I have found the first 6 months very hard in terms of extreme anxiety and have honestly only started to feel happy and more like myself again in the last couple of weeks, perhaps the hormones are finally settling down!! This baby is what I want most in the whole world so I never considered for one moment that I wouldn't love every minute of pregnancy too, it was a big shock to the system and I couldn't have predicted how anxious (and therefore very unhappy) the start of my pregnancy would be.

I know that we each have our own struggles and every pregnancy is different - hats off to each and every one of us for battling through it, the end result will make everything worth while I am sure, even when it still feels a long way off!

I hear you OP, could have written this myself.
After years of trying and going through IVF, I thought when I eventually was lucky enough to get pregnant, my worries would go away and love every minute of it.
Only 3 month in and my anxiety is even worse, especially over MC. I'm tired constantly and cant be bothered to do the tiniest of things.
Well, We all shall get through it. I'm sure the realities of actually having a baby are a lot different from the fantasy- but it will definitely have more pros than cons and will be worth it

Hugs to you all! I'm only 3 months in and not enjoying it. I felt bad because I wasn't but I don't anymore. I'm doing the best I can and I'm sure everyone else is too! Keep going ladies! We can do this

I'm 30 weeks and was just saying to husband on our very (waddly) dog walk this morning that pregnancy hasn't been what I thought it would at all:

Whoever sold me the myth about 'the glow' should be shot, for there is none. My skin has never been worse, and although my hair has admittedly evened out it spent the first trimester mastering being both dandruffy and greasy simultaneously, who even knew that was possible?! Until week 8 I was fine, then nausea and sickness hit and at 30 weeks I'm still being sick 4 or 5 mornings when I get up (just bile these days but still not the radiant glow I was promised!!) My boobs have undergone a bizarre metamorphosis and I appear to have something akin to "burger nipples". I've accepted these are well and truly buggered. Until last week I thought I'd evaded the wickedness of stretch marks... turns out my bump was just hiding them, I've now clocked them in a mirror and they are mighty in both number and size. My back hurts if I over exert myself and also if I don't move enough, so I've resorted to doing odd shuffling moves when queuing in the supermarket to stop my back seizing up, which must look to others like I desperately need a piss... which guess what? I do. Every. Two. Minutes.

And yet despite all this, I'm still optimistic that when I meet my child in 10 weeks time, after going through labour (which I've heard less glowing reviews about) it'll all have been worth it. Well done to all of us who keep on going through this overwhelming experience! Xxx

Yes, yes, yes to everything described! 32 weeks here and this pregnancy has been nothing like my first 7 years ago!!

mummabubs I'm feeling you on the bad skin thing! I'm a blotchy, spotty mess at the moment! Lol

My DS is 13 months and whilst I would go through it all again 20 times to have him I thought pregnancy was a total pile of shit.

I was off the chart anxious, nauseous, had hideous headaches, swelled up like a balloon, cried everyday for about 3 months, was uncomfortable pretty much every minute of the day, was exhausted but unable to sleep.

I think feeling awful is really common but everyone feels like if they are negative at all it's like they're not grateful to be pregnant. I was thrilled and I adore DS but pregnancy was still rubbish!

mumma lol at 'less glowing reviews about labour'. I'm on number 2 and can honestly say my labour with DS1 was easier than this bloody pregnancy (was very fast and very straightforward). I'm sure that's prob not true but have just told my husband that when I finally go into labour with this one he is allowed to tell me 'nothing is worse than pregnancy'

I'm 38+6 and I can't take another minute! I had three mcs last year so have actually been pregnant since last January. I am sick of it. I am sick of the anxiety. I am sick of tears about nothing. I am sick of not being full throttle for my beautiful boy. I am sick of going to the loo for what I think is a quick wee (about theee million times a night!) and having the most embarrassing gas. I am sick of wondering if today is the day and do not even start me on 'false labour'. I mean really! WTAF?!

Anyway, having a little 2.5 year old, I do know it will all be worth it but this just heightens my anxiety.

Nice to know I am not alone xx

Haha m33r, well now I feel more optimistic about labour (but will be coming for you afterwards if it proves to be more challenging than this pregnancy). 😉😂😂 xx