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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Poll: which is harder, pregnancy or having a newborn? Vote here!

174 replies

Kathyis6incheshigh · 30/11/2007 11:53

IME, pregnancy is waaaaay harder than having a newborn.
Pregnancy means:
-you're sick all the time
-by late pregnancy you can't breathe properly or bend down and you need to go to the toilet every half hour
-you have to get up at night every hour or so to go to the toilet
At least when you have the baby:
-you only need to carry a baby around, not baby + placenta + fluid
-you have the option of putting it in a buggy or giving it to someone else for a while
-you can co-sleep so you don't actually have to get out of bed at all
-you have a sweet little baby which gets constantly admired

Surely it's not just me who thinks this? Or do I just have really really shite pregnancies?

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LyraSilvertongue · 30/11/2007 22:27

I'll second that daphneharvey. Hardest year of my life was from when DS2 was born and DS1 was 22 months.

dingdongbelgianbunsonhigh · 30/11/2007 22:30

Pregnancy by a million miles

Pinkchampagne · 30/11/2007 22:35

Newborn!

Was a big shock to the system having a new baby that just screamed with colic for the first 3 months, and it just happened to be at a time when infacol was off the shelf!
The birth itself was a doddle compared with those first few months of parenthood!

poppysocks · 30/11/2007 22:37

Newborn: Exhausted, sore, stress-ridden hell.

Pregnancy: Wonderful. Loved it.

fingerwoman · 30/11/2007 22:39

pregnancy, definitely.
but maybe I just have easy babies

iloverosycheeks · 30/11/2007 22:59

newborn - really regret not being able to enjoy it more - such a short period of time but when you are in it you think your life is over!

Mossy · 01/12/2007 08:28

I had screaming baby from hell for the first few weeks but I would still say pregnancy. The sheer exhaustion, not being able to walk further than about a mile without feeling like I was seriously ill, the chronic heartburn, the sickness that never really went away...

Weegle · 01/12/2007 13:13

Pregnancy. No contest. I hated moring sickness. I hated heartburn. I hardly got any sleep because of needing a wee/uncomfy. I was in agony with my joints. I hated pregnancy!

MrsBadger · 01/12/2007 13:17

pregnancy has an endpoint so at least you know the ghastliness will finish

whereas with a newborn you feel like it will never stop and you will be up four times a night for ever and ever.

DeathBySnooSnoo · 01/12/2007 16:44

mrsbadger-i found my last 3 babies easy,like i said,it may have been down to being more experienced,but i think part of it was the knowing that the older they get,the harder it gets.i wanted to make the most of the early months before the 'eyes in back of head/bum/everywhere' stage began.

i have had a newborn and toddler 3 times over now(well,ds1 was still a baby really when i had dd2)and i still say pregnancy is worse.

i would even go sofar as to say theat in my case,AND was worse than PND.at least there are more options when it comes to medication when not pregnant or bf,and there is less guilt about the stress harming the baby.and i can smoke.

cat64 · 01/12/2007 16:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

divamummy2 · 01/12/2007 19:29

i have 14weeks old, but my 2.7yr old is hardwork

LedodgyChristmasjumper · 01/12/2007 19:41

It depends on whether it's your first or not. With the first pregnancy it is alot easier than having a newborn as you can sleep when you want and have a lie in at weekends etc. Subsequent pregnancies are hard work as you have other children to look after. I'm now 35 weeks pregnant with my third measuring two weeks ahead and feeling very, very pregnant and want him OUT! However I know when i'm dealing with two other children whilst trying to bf a screaming baby all through the night and am so tired I can't physically open my eyes anymore i'll want him back in again!

beansprout · 01/12/2007 19:43

Pregnancy is a walk in the park compared to having a newborn.

paulaplumpbottom · 01/12/2007 19:44

There is no contest. Newborns are harder. When yu are pregnant its all about you, everyone is worried about taking care of you. When a baby comes its all about the work with not much help

melpomene · 01/12/2007 19:47

Newborn - unless you are unlucky enough to have a dreadful pregnancy with lots of pain and sickness. When the baby is still inside you you don't have to cope with constant crying, poo leaking everywhere, worries about not having enough milk etc.

LedodgyChristmasjumper · 01/12/2007 19:48

OOH no I disagree there no one has given a stuff about me this time round I think people get bored when you're on your third. When the baby is born I know dp will help out loads but seems to be oblivious to the fact i'm up the duff atm.

DarthVader · 01/12/2007 19:51

Pregnancy stuffs you up big time
Newborn much easier

cazzybabs · 01/12/2007 19:52

Newborn - people are far more forgiving when you are pregnant! Plus you can sleep when you like (work and other children allowing)

mrsruffallo · 01/12/2007 19:53

Definitely pregnancy

worriedmum34 · 01/12/2007 19:53

newborn

mrsruffallo · 01/12/2007 19:53

Definitely pregnancy

loler · 01/12/2007 20:02

I think that with your first pg - everyone treats you like you're special and a delicate flower. With any other pg you're just expected to get on with it. Maybe that's why the first time mums find pg easier than newborns?

MadamePlatypus · 01/12/2007 20:08

Can't really remember with DS. However, with DD, I found being pregnant + almost 3 year old much harder than newborn + 3 year old.

blueshoes · 01/12/2007 20:27

Both my pregnancies were a doodle physically. Both cs and recovered quickly.

Both my dcs were nightmare babies though, very demanding, high maintenance and non-sleeping, for the first 2 years of their life, then it slowly got easier.