In your experience which was worse the first 20 weeks or the last 20 weeks of pregnancy?

[LittleTiger007]

Just that! I’m at 20 weeks now and interested to know!

For me, the last 20 were worst. The heartburn, the swollen ankles, the weird dreams, the sparkly vision (turns out sparkly vision is a bad thing). Just being so ungainly and unable to run around.

The first 20 weeks were a breeze in comparison

The last. I was fine until the last 2 months or so. I got the early signs of preaclampsia and swelled like a balloon. My ankles were so big I could only wear flip flops and my stomach was ENORMOUS. I waddled about like a ball with feet.

Fat feet.

The first 20 by far. Not because of the symptoms as such, but the fact no one knew for a long period of time so you have to suffer in silence with the tiredness, sickness, sore boobs etc.

Last 6 weeks = worse
First 12 weeks = close second worse
13 - 34 weeks = meh

The first 20 was worse for me. I was exhausted and nauseous, and I hated not being open about pregnancy (I didn't want to share news until 12 weeks).

I loved knowing my baby's sex after 20 weeks as it helped me bond with her. And I felt totally fine until literally the last week.

First 14 ( though have never made it to the full 40). At least at the end you’re huge and people make allowances - at the start you feel like total shit, and people don’t know (or if they do know they don’t understand - here’s looking at you, DH!)

The 20 weeks after pregnancy are definitely the hardest

With my first it was the last 20 weeks, heartburn, morning sickness came back with a vengeance, sore hips, backache and he used to body surf from one side of my bump to the other which hurt.

With my second the first 20 was worse because i had really bad morning sickness and was absolutely exhausted all the time, the last 20 weeks i felt more energetic and she did smaller kicks than her brother had, i also didnt ache as much or have heartburn.

3rd baby id have to say last 20 were worse purely because i was 14 weeks when i found out i was pregnant and didnt feel pregnant at all until gone 24 weeks

The first. I felt horrendous and I was highly anxious about something going wrong. The last 20 are physically difficult because you’re big but for me, that’s kind of been it. The excitement of the impending arrival makes the end bit easier for me as well. I’ve been lucky enough to so far have non-complicated pregnancies at the end though (not so lucky with a couple of miscarriages early on which is maybe partly why the first 20 have been harder for me).

@PeggyMoo

Last 6 weeks = worse First 12 weeks = close second worse 13 - 34 weeks = meh

This

The first 20 weeks were the hardest for me! This was largely due to anxiety due to previous losses, all the scans and appointments for tests and screening, etc would give me anxiety esp as my partner couldn't come too due to covid. I also had horrendous sickness which subsided around 16 weeks.

The weeks beyond week 20 (currently 38 + 4) have been amazing since I started feeling my baby move about and also seeing my body change to accommodate him growing. I'm actually a little sad now that I'm nearly at the end of my pregnancy as I've loved the last 18 weeks!

First 20 are way worse for me

Sickness, less sympathy from people, and for me, the risk of miscarriage/early birth. I’ve had 5 pregnancies and only 2 went full term. I loved feeling big and nesting.

Enjoy your second half.

Yes, I’ve had previous miscarriages that’s another reason why the start is the worst, mentally it’s not fun.

The first, by far, with both. Utter exhaustion, nausea, just bleurgh. I had some issues with High BP and needing more monitoring in the second half but loved it in general.

The whole thing was hell from start to finish - both times.
First there’s the sickness, followed by heartburn, then the SPD. With the associated anxiety, body changes and insomnia.

Last.

First 20 weeks were worst by an absolute mile. I've mostly enjoyed being pregnant since about 25 weeks but up until then it was actually just a pretty horrible slog. If my whole pregnancy had been like I am now (39 weeks) then it would have been a breeze!

The first. I spend the first trimester feeling like I have low grade flu for two months. Feel absolutely fine and still active even at full term.

I'm only 34 weeks but so far the first 20 weeks were by far the worst!

None stop sickness and anxiety from finding out to 16 weeks, then rib pain until 20, I felt awful.

But from 20 weeks onwards I've mainly felt fine. I've had the odd spell of tiredness but apart from that I'd hardly know i was pregnant (if it wasn't for the huge, kicking bump of course).

Fingers crossed it stays that way!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy

First 20 weeks.. just because of the worry about all going well. But I love being pregnant

@SprogletsMum

The 20 weeks after pregnancy are definitely the hardest

😂😂 Touché

I found it all difficult for different reasons.

First trimester is so hard because you're exhausted and nauseous and anxious about miscarriage and haven't told (m)any people yet.
Second trimester is generally the sweet spot when you have more energy, the nausea wears off, you tell more people and you're not huge and uncomfortable yet. Unfortunately in my second pregnancy, my second trimester was March-May (first lockdown) so it was pretty shit. Plus I had PGP which started very early in the pregnancy and got progressively worse.
Third trimester is ok at first but unbearable at the end when you're huge and very uncomfortable. For me the PGP was completely debilitating. It did ease off a bit after about 37 weeks. But then I started getting lots of uncomfortable pressure on my cervix towards the end.
Anxiety about a healthy pregnancy is eased the further along you get and with each normal scan, blood test, etc.. but anxiety about the birth increases as the due date approaches.

In summary... it's all shit

The first 20, well 27 as I had hg. It has eased off now at 36 weeks but still feel like shit a lot. Can't sleep now though. Luckily I've finished work now.

Also in aot of pain down below now, although my back is better than it was but I think that's because I'm basically doing nothing, whereas I had quite a physical job.

1st pregnancy def last 20 (21wks for me 😩) first 20 didn't even feel pregnant. From about 28wks Insomnia, uncomfortable, heartburn, back pain. The last 3 wks were the worst, felt so heavy and uncomfortable.

Second pregnancy, aw it was tough from 12-20wks. Kept fainting and felt sick and dizzy all the time while trying to look after a toddler! Put me on iron tablets which give the worst constipation. Only had another 17.5 wks as went early. They weren't a breeze (sore back, getting bigger still running around after said toddler) but compared to a tough 2 months it wasn't as bad.