Stressed when comparing to other pregnant women

[AnnaD123]

Is anyone else struggling with their pregnancy, with the sickness and back pains and feels stressed when they look at how well other women are coping with their pregnancies? I'm constantly judging myself and getting angry with myself because I can't cope as well as other women who seem to be normal throughout their pregnancy. Does anyone else feel like this?

I used to....

But the more you really talk to other women (especially here on this wonderful forum!) the more you realise just how tough so many women find pregnancy (including me)

Unfortunately we only seem to see the irritating Instagram posts of a pregnant woman deadlifting 100kg or running a bloody marathon - these unicorns are in the minority I assure you!

I was so fit before pregnancy, but my burden has been severe SPD - it leaves many of us in terrible pain and barely able to walk. I guess nobody is putting that on Instagram, maybe we should...!

I really feel for the girls with hyperemesis- I'm so grateful not to have suffered from it myself.

It’s also completely normal to encounter mental health struggles.

So go easy on yourself xx

How far along are you OP? In my first pregnancy, there were times I could happily run 5 miles, and other times I could barely get out of bed. I once had to call DH for a lift home from about quarter of a mile from the house my back hurt so much. Every pregnancy is different and within each pregnancy you'll have peaks and troughs. Pregnancy can be brutal and however you are coping all that matters is you are keeping going!

Everyone's pregnancies are different. I had terrible sickness with my daughter (she was sadly born sleeping) but with my son no sickness and didn't feel pregnant until I was about 32 weeks but I was horrendously anxious and my mental health suffered greatly for obvious reasons and I would just wish so much that I could enjoy my pregnancy and my bump like 'normal' women. Who knows you may have an easy labour! Fingers crossed!

Thank you for your message,

Its really reassuring to know I'm not the only one. It doesn't help when my husband's sisters blessed through their pregnancies and hardly put any weight on. I'm 20 weeks, already nearly 2stone heavier and I've been really sick since week 6 and now the back pain and hip pains have kicked in. I feel my husband looks at me as if I'm a whale that is lazy cos, I used to work out all the time too but since the sickness I haven't been able to. I'm glad I've found this forum cos it can be very lonely can't it. I'm sorry to hear that you suffered severe SPD that must be awful. You are right, more needs to be done about talking about the real struggles instead of portraying a Euphoria on social media xx

Before I was pregnant, I could only sympathise when people spoke about the tiredness, nausea etc but now I can empathise! You need to do what's right for you and your body. I am 32 weeks now and do exercise but that works for me, if it didn't then I wouldn't. I must admit I did find in the earlier days when I felt sick all the time that going for a walk or doing a small workout was the last thing I wanted to do but most of the time I found it helped me - I do however know people who could not manage it even if they wanted to. Don't compare yourself to others, you need to listen to your body and not feel guilty about it!

Mrs Marrio, I'm so sorry to hear about your baby daughter, no words can be sufficient enough to express my sympathy. I can completely understand your anxiety throughout your pregnancy with your son. Women go through so much, and yet I don't think the partner completely understands to what extent xx

Thank you penguin423. I've tried a few times to take my dog for a walk but I get so out of breath I panic and need to get home straight away xx