What changed most about you?

[SunnyMami]

Physically and psychologically, what do you think changed the most about you during pregnancy?

I'm only 15 weeks pregnant but find myself extremely guarded and avoiding all situations that could be even remotely dangerous. Physically, my boobs are unbelievably lopsided (I did post a thread about this as I am suffering with quite low self esteem re my rapidly changing body) and my bump is quite large even for 15 weeks.

I just wondered what you noticed changing about yourselves at different points in your pregnancy and how pregnancy changed you? It's an amazing process and would love to hear other people's experiences.

Sorry that my post is a little vague, please feel free to interpret the question as you wish!

I'm 33 weeks and I didn't really have many symptoms or suffer from anything for most of pregnancy so am lucky. Physically my feet and hands get swollen easily now when it's hot which annoys me, and I'm extra tired from waking a lot in the night.
Mentally I am a LOT less tolerant of things or people who annoy me, I really have no patience. I do a job that I love but I have no patience at all for people wasting my time now, I also am not nearly as committed to work now I'm in my third trimester. I think mentally I've already started to adjust and I don't find work important anymore, I just want to be at home getting things ready/exercising/looking after myself. I think I almost resent being here now, whereas I've never felt that before pregnancy.
After going to our NCT classes I really just feel ready for baby to arrive and I'm tired of waiting for her which I think is the main issue!
I'm sorry you're feeling down about your body changing, I don't feel happy about the extra weight but am trying to see it as a temporary thing that won't last forever xx

@Eggoispreggo thank you for such an honest answer! I feel the same about work and I'm only 15 weeks so can only imagine how you must feel! Baby will be here in no time. Best of luck with everything!

I've been looking at NCT and am very excited to start going! I'm hoping there will be lots of women there who can give me tips and share their experiences experiences also. It's all quite scary for a first timer!

I haven’t had too many physical changes, I’ve put a fair bit of weight on (darent weigh myself) and my boobs are ridiculously big.
However mentally, I am completely riddled with anxiety. This is really out of character as normally I’m a realist, I’m usually a “it is what it is” type person but I’m so anxious and scared of anything bad happening to the baby. I realise this is probably normal and that all women will have anxiety and concerns but it’s really hard for me to totally enjoy the pregnancy.
Example - I have a friend who is about 5 weeks behind me, she’s always posting pics and updates on Facebook and doesn’t seem to have worry in the world (I realise she most likely does but just manages it better). I’m scared to jinx myself and put photos and things online. Since getting past the 20 week scan I’ve got better but I’m literally counting down the days until I reach a ‘viable’ point in the pregnancy.
Every single morning my first waking thought is “is the baby moving”....he always has a little wriggle in the morning so that helps but I still wake up full of anxiety that something has happened in the night - not sure why I think night time is any more significant than day time?!
I think pregnancy is time where everything is both normal and not normal at the same time! If that makes sense!

Just to throw in a positive one - I actually think I've become calmer and more level about everything apart from the pregnancy. I've suffered from anxiety for years, almost all work-centred although when we had problems TTCing (multiple miscarriages) some of that switched to that. Although I've, perhaps unsurprisingly, had a lot of anxiety in this pregnancy (I'm 30 weeks today) it's actually not prompted the crisis I might have anticipated, and I've found myself being so much more 'don't sweat the small stuff' about everything else in life. In the last month I've finished writing my first book (I'm an academic), something which anxiety had stopped me doing for literally years. I think it's partly feeling like I've had bigger fish to fry, but also also that I've been really lucky and my hormones haven't created anxiety as everyone, including my midwife, had more or less expected. I'm sorry if this sounds smug - it really isn't meant to - and I'm sorry for those who are having bad general anxiety, I know how awful it is.

I was far less hairy!

I was also much calmer and happier throughout pregnancy than I had been at any other point in my life. I had suffered years of infertility, a really tough relationship breakdown, and a mmc before I successfully had my dd at the grand old age of 40. It was just a very lovely optimistic time (particularly once we'd got the Harmony test & anomaly scan out of the way).

I used to suffer from regular migraines pre- pregnancy. Not only have I never had another migraine but I rarely have headaches. I’d never heard of it but apparently reduction of migraines can be associated with breastfeeding.

Psychologically I’m much tougher post children. If I won’t put up with tantrums and bad behaviour from my children I’m certainly not going to put up with it from full grown adults. This came as rather a shock to certain family members and colleagues.

Currently 20 weeks with 2nd.

Physically - a lot more weight gain that I'm comfortable with (I just seem to balloon during pregnancy no matter what I do!) and migraines (never suffered with these before)

Psychologically - anxiety + ocd (less so now than the early stages), and more self conscious/lacking confidence due to weight

Mentally some days I feel like my whole personality has gone, I used to love walking the dog... now its a chore. I used to love my job, now it's just a way to earn money, I used to be interested in current affairs, now I couldn't care less. I just work, sleep, eat, wash and go to health checks. Counting down the days until the pregnancy is over!!!

Morning all.

I am 14+3 with my first and physicially I feel huge. At the point of telling people, but it’s pretty obvious anyway. In maternity trousers and I think today at work is when I can’t hide it anymore (I’ve been wearing big scarves to cover, but it’s a bit warm for that now).

I had v little in the way of symptoms until yesterday when I nearly fainted. On my birthday too, so a lovely dinner out turned into a takeaway in front of the telly and an early night. The other main symptom had included constant uncomfortable bloating!

I wake up between 4 and 5 every morning, which is annoying.

Mentally, I feel odd. I don’t feel emotional as I would expect. I feel a bit detatched. I didn’t cry at the scan - I didn’t feel like the baby on the screen belonged to me....and looking at the scan pictures doesn’t make me feel like it’s real either. I feel like I’m coasting a bit and I’m worried that a connection with the baby will never come. Having suffered with depression previously - it feels a bit like that. No enjoyment in anything, just meh.

I’ve so desperately wanted this baby, so I thought all those feelings everyone talks about would come.

At work I am a bit meh. My job has been stressful over the years, and I have consciously taken a step back from the stress side as it was an unhealthy stress previously. I have been told my priorities will change (by my boss), but I almost feel like I am being wrapped in cotton wool.

Sorry...a bit of a brain dump there. It was good to get it out of my system though.

Thanks everyone. It's amazing how differently pregnancy affects us all.

@FutureFairyCrayon less hairy? I feel like a mammoth! I have pubic hair growing up to my belly button and I'm covered in fluff all over my belly that I've never had before!

Thanks again everyone x

Not to much really, I'm 18+4.

Physically, the bump obviously, boobs slightly bigger and one nipple has gone brown, other nipple still pink. I have a lot more energy in the second trimester, in fact probably more than I did before I was pregnant, but that could be the floridex I've been taking for iron.

Psychologically, nothing I can put my finger on. Much wanted baby after trying for over two years, plus pregnancy has been very smooth, so I'm just happy.

Physically: I'm 19 weeks with twins and bump has really popped. I hate it. It's tight, painful and I'm in mourning for my little waist which was one of my best features.

Boobs are huge and my nipples look like dinner plates. I've always been slim, and I hate how fat and bloated I feel

Emotionally: I've had to go on ADs as my depression got too much to handle. These are IVF babies after years of infertility. It all just got too much I think.

So yeah, all in all pregnancy is rubbish. I can't wait for it to be over!