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Pregnancy

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

I can categorically say I have hated every second of being pregnant

34 replies

AllIwantForChrismasIsAKitchenAidStandMixer · 13/10/2026 18:27

First baby, very much wanted and planned although ever since I found out I have been experiencing a lot of second thoughts and grief for the life I currently just have with DH.

Its sad to say it but I cannot think of a single thing I have enjoyed about being pregnant and I cannot wait for it to be over (now 30 weeks).

Physically:

  • awful feeling sick and dizzy in the first trimester
  • fatigue
  • raging heartburn
  • pelvic pain
  • breathlessness
  • inability to do my normal exercise
  • hate the feeling of baby moving inside me - it just feels weird and uncomfortable

Mentally/emotionally:
This has been much worse and really caught me unexpectedly

  • I don’t feel like myself, I miss who I used to be and I’m worried I’ll never get her back
  • I hate the way I look and just avoid looking at myself in the mirror - I don’t like my bump, I hate my boobs and my giant nipples, cellulite. I feel fat and ugly and completely disgusting and unattractive. Pregnancy glow? I hardly know her.
  • I hate feeling like I’m on display - being visibly pregnant is so embarrassing to me and I hate people acknowledging it in public. I’ve been trying to avoid seeing people and the other day at a work event I made a beeline for the table and chairs so I could sit down and people wouldn’t notice me.
  • People and their unsolicited opinions on my appearance
  • Major anxiety about the life change - what if I don’t like being a parent? What if my child has SEN? What if we can’t afford it? What if we just hate our lives?

Basically all of it. And I’m so sad because I wanted this but I’ve spent most of the year feeling like a shell of my former self. I can’t imagine ever doing this again and I just want it to be over.

OP posts:
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Mysteise · 13/10/2026 20:48

Hey OP, first of all, I just want to say that you are not alone in feeling this way. I think we’re probably in the minority, but trust me, not every woman loves being pregnant. I felt so many of the same things you’re describing, and more.

I searched these boards and other communities looking for someone who felt the same way, and I found so little out there. Perhaps it’s still a bit taboo to admit that pregnancy can be a really miserable experience, and that can make you feel incredibly alone. I remember feeling so baffled when people would say how much they loved being pregnant or how they’d breezed through all nine months. I genuinely couldn’t relate.

However, I will say this: hindsight is a funny thing. Once the sickness subsided, I really wish I’d been sooo much kinder to myself. I wish I’d taken more bump pictures, even with the stretch marks and despite feeling so wretched. So, with the little time you have left, might I gently suggest taking a few photos of yourself, for yourself? Perhaps with a bedsheet as a backdrop and your favourite dress, or something you feel nice in. I wish I’d done more of that.

I too felt so exposed during pregnancy. Having to get on the Tube and go to work while feeling utterly self-conscious about my changing body was really difficult. I also put on a lot of weight and had quite a bit of water retention, which only added to how uncomfortable I felt. One small consolation is that I think most people look at pregnant women with a sense of wonder, even when we feel anything but wonderful ourselves.

If you can, I’d also encourage you to spend these last few weeks resting, relaxing and perhaps connecting with your baby in whatever way feels right for you. I wish I’d had more time to research breastfeeding, too, because the education and support I received in hospital were woefully inadequate, and I felt quite unprepared.

And please remember that you will feel like yourself again but it might take time. Forget the whole “nine months in, nine months out” thing if it doesn’t fit your experience. People will give you all sorts of timelines, but your body and your recovery are your own. Give yourself permission to take as long as you need.
For me, though, one of the most incredible things was looking into my baby’s eyes for the first time. It was pure magic. There was this overwhelming feeling of knowing them forever, even though we’d only just met. Nothing could have prepared me for it.

I really hope you get to experience that feeling, too. And I say this not to dismiss how hard pregnancy is or to suggest that the end automatically makes all the difficult bits disappear, but simply because it was something so unexpectedly wonderful for me.

Above all, please be nice to yourself. You don’t have to love pregnancy to be a great mum, and struggling with it doesn’t mean you love your baby any less. You’re allowed to find this hard. And remember, you never have to do this again if you don’t want to. CakeBrew

AllIwantForChrismasIsAKitchenAidStandMixer · 13/10/2026 20:56

Mysteise · 13/10/2026 20:48

Hey OP, first of all, I just want to say that you are not alone in feeling this way. I think we’re probably in the minority, but trust me, not every woman loves being pregnant. I felt so many of the same things you’re describing, and more.

I searched these boards and other communities looking for someone who felt the same way, and I found so little out there. Perhaps it’s still a bit taboo to admit that pregnancy can be a really miserable experience, and that can make you feel incredibly alone. I remember feeling so baffled when people would say how much they loved being pregnant or how they’d breezed through all nine months. I genuinely couldn’t relate.

However, I will say this: hindsight is a funny thing. Once the sickness subsided, I really wish I’d been sooo much kinder to myself. I wish I’d taken more bump pictures, even with the stretch marks and despite feeling so wretched. So, with the little time you have left, might I gently suggest taking a few photos of yourself, for yourself? Perhaps with a bedsheet as a backdrop and your favourite dress, or something you feel nice in. I wish I’d done more of that.

I too felt so exposed during pregnancy. Having to get on the Tube and go to work while feeling utterly self-conscious about my changing body was really difficult. I also put on a lot of weight and had quite a bit of water retention, which only added to how uncomfortable I felt. One small consolation is that I think most people look at pregnant women with a sense of wonder, even when we feel anything but wonderful ourselves.

If you can, I’d also encourage you to spend these last few weeks resting, relaxing and perhaps connecting with your baby in whatever way feels right for you. I wish I’d had more time to research breastfeeding, too, because the education and support I received in hospital were woefully inadequate, and I felt quite unprepared.

And please remember that you will feel like yourself again but it might take time. Forget the whole “nine months in, nine months out” thing if it doesn’t fit your experience. People will give you all sorts of timelines, but your body and your recovery are your own. Give yourself permission to take as long as you need.
For me, though, one of the most incredible things was looking into my baby’s eyes for the first time. It was pure magic. There was this overwhelming feeling of knowing them forever, even though we’d only just met. Nothing could have prepared me for it.

I really hope you get to experience that feeling, too. And I say this not to dismiss how hard pregnancy is or to suggest that the end automatically makes all the difficult bits disappear, but simply because it was something so unexpectedly wonderful for me.

Above all, please be nice to yourself. You don’t have to love pregnancy to be a great mum, and struggling with it doesn’t mean you love your baby any less. You’re allowed to find this hard. And remember, you never have to do this again if you don’t want to. CakeBrew

Thank you so much that’s all so kind 🫶

OP posts:
DuckCootLoon · 13/10/2026 20:58

I hated being pregnant so much. I was very lucky that I had a really easy birth. I honestly would rather give birth ten times rather than be pregnant again.
I had a very difficult first few months too with my newborn, but the difference was that even though we had good and bad days, every week was easier than the last. Pregnancy was just a drag, knowing I had x many weeks to keep struggling, and nothing to do but put up with it and wait.
I'm also fortunate that I adored my son from the first, and I would do it all again for him. But, we've stopped at one, because I wouldn't want to subject him to a wreck of a mother for 9 months.
Wishing you all the best, just keep getting through a day at a time.

SlightlyTerrifiedButPolite · 13/10/2026 21:36

@AllIwantForChrismasIsAKitchenAidStandMixer I just want to reassure you that my friend has 4 kids and she openly talks about how much she hated every pregnancy and she couldn’t understand why everyone speaks about how magical a time it is. She said she didn’t ever feel she could tell anyone how she was feeling because it was so taboo to say you don’t enjoy being pregnant

I’m nearly 22 weeks after IVF and a loss and I can tell you I’m not enjoying it. I had a joint condition before and since 14 ish weeks it’s been hard for me to walk and every past injury is flaring. No energy. Insomnia. I almost think the fertility treatment has made me even less patient because I really just want to feel like I’ve got my body back! I am of course deeply grateful to have gotten this far but it doesn’t stop it feeling like a marathon (frankly how hard it was to get here just makes it feel like even more of a slog)

A number of my friends have said they felt LOADS better after birth despite all the scary things people tell you unhelpfully tell you to expect. Felt way less tired even with a newborn just because they were no longer pregnant

I’m glad your DH empathises and also that he’s taking steps to make sure he’s looking after his own mental health. Sorry the MH team have been useless. Can you ask your GP what they would recommend? What sort of support will you have after birth, is your DH taking paternity leave and do you have family nearby?

My friend I mentioned with the four kids is a great and enthusiastic mum but openly chats about how much she hated being pregnant. Don’t assume your pregnancy is a blueprint for motherhood. And I would try to think now about what support you can put in place after birth xxx

Newgirls · 13/10/2026 21:48

You are not alone! I felt terrible too. You are helping women by being honest so thank you.

ps it’s lovely when baby is out - I enjoyed lying on my tummy again and someone else can carry them when needed!

PurpleThistle7 · 13/10/2026 21:57

I had a rough time with both pregnancies. Two miscarriages before my first including one with a complicated recovery and some permanent issues after. Was intensely anxious with my daughter and never really enjoyed any of it. Then had a much more horrible physical pregnancy with my son - endless morning sickness, all sorts of pain etc etc. I was in a total mess by the end of it and decided two was it for me although I’d always wanted more. It’s okay to hate it, it’s a huge change and hugely intrusive and I felt super angry about all of it after wanting it for so long. And intensely angry with my husband who didn’t have to deal with any of it (besides my mood which was… something)

I was so, so happy to be done being pregnant that all the challenges of a new baby wasn’t really a problem for me. It’s hard yes, but hard in a manageable way and a way people can actually help with so it all felt fine. I think a lot of women are great at one part of all this and maybe not so great at others and that’s okay. You’ll find the part you’re best at and all this will fade.

Try as hard as you can not to look so far ahead - things will change a lot and keep changing. Spending a lot of time worrying about going back to work in a year won’t help anything - you have no idea what will be happening a year from now. Try to keep it manageable and focussed so you can actually do something. Do you have a pregnancy physio or yoga class? I found a really good Pilates class that helped with some of the pain. Is your bag packed? What are some practical things you can focus on that are near future and not trying to project too far away.

I hope it gets easier for you soon but either way you’re almost there and hopefully that will help to remember too.

maybemaybenot17363 · 13/10/2026 22:03

I can really relate to this. Pregancy was an awful time mentally and physically. Baby was very much wanted, longed for, planned etc. Honestly I would do it all again for as it is the greatest love I have experienced and the joy of my life. I would love ten, I loved the newborn stage and just love being a mother. But I will never do it again because of having to be pregnant again. Plus this time I wouldn't be able to cope how I did last time, a recluse in my house as I have a child.

Before you know it, baby will be here. This will all be a memory
Honestly I felt better immediately after giving birth

Smallestshadow · 13/10/2026 22:11

I hated it too! Love both my kids to death (one unplanned and one not) but detested everything about being pregnant 😂 I was very lucky to have straight forward pregnancies and births, I really do appreciate that, but I was so much happy once I’d actually popped them both out!

edit: mine wasn’t anxiety about being a mum or carrying a baby. I was happy to be having a baby and looking forward to having a child/another one, I just hated the whole experience of being pregnant.

ByLilacMember · 14/10/2026 00:19

All for those feelings you're having are what I had too, I also had some good feelings.
I'm 2 kids deep now and I wish someone said to me it's ok to entirely transform physically and mentally. Hell, the brain changes alone are enough to feel like a defferent person. It's called matrescence. I read a load of books/listened to podcasts about it as that's always my first instinct when feeling lost. After 1st baby I rushed back to be myself again and I sort of managed it. After baby 2 I'm taking it slower and seeing where the changes take me.
If you wanted everything to stay the same you wouldn't have made such a change. It's ok to have fears about what is so entirely unknown. Some books really helped me and MN!

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