Anyone else can't read a novel during pregnancy?

[mrsgboring]

When not pregnant I always have a novel or two on the go. It's a sign that I'm seriously losing it if I'm not reading fiction for any length of time.

BUT in pregnancy, I've never been able to read anything except books I've read a thousand times before and even then, rarely fiction, books about pregnancy and books about child development. I really really have read so much low level crap on babies' brains, various educational philosophies etc. (Some good stuff) I'm starting to go mad, as this is my third pregnancy and I can't switch off from childcare and child development. I'm thinking of trying to dig out a Teach Yourself Latin book just to try to attempt something different, but don't really have the energy.

It's like my imagination gets switched off when I'm pregnant and I'm trapped in my own head. Normally when I read (something good at least) I can hear the action in surround sound in my head, and see it in front of me and that's all just completely gone during pg.

Can anyone relate to this?

Yes.

When pg I don't have the concentration to read a novel or watch a film. I have to watch a film in about 3 sittings - very annoying for dh!

Oh yes, can't watch a film either. Or sport of any kind. But this I can live with as we're not big on either of these activities.

DS2 is now 11 wo and I've been reading my book for 45 minutes before I go to sleep - it's heaven!

I'm v impressed you are going to try and learn Latin. I am such a dork when pg, my memory fails me and the simplest of tasks can fox me

My mind is just going round in circles and I'm deep in Montessori methods of teaching a child to read and write at the moment. It's just not healthy as DS is only 3.

I don't suppose I'll actually manage to learn any Latin or anything stupid like that, but I might find the book which would be a triumph.

oh I had this - it felt like my IQ dropped several notches while I was pg. I am a big reader and not into any kind of crap like chic lit r anything but I couldn't get my head round anything even vaguely intelligent - I even started buying women's magazines!

me too, i totally lose the ability to read when preg.

it drives me mad as when i'm not preg i read at least a book or 2 a week but i just can't seem to focus when i'm preg.

I'm the opposite, I read more when pg. It's like I just want to sink into an armchair/bed and never move (chance would be be a fine thing, bristle, gr) except to turn the page and lift an arm from box of chocs to mouth.

I am the same! I usually love reading and have one novel next to my bed and one in my handbag at all times! I couldn't read at all between 6-14 weeks as was so sick with nausea/vomiting that reading made me puke even more - it felt as though I were reading in a moving car for some reason!
I have been trying to read now that nausea etc. has gone but just can't get engaged the way I usually am. I have also started reading crappy women's mags as they are 'easy' to read!

I'm glad it's not just me......

same i cant read any books only chat mag

can't read anything serious but found it's a great time for reading Charles Dickens!

I'm the same, can't read anything. Each pregnancy got through max three books. Then again, DD2 is seven months old and I've just finished the book I started in July (Foucault's Pendulum) so am not much better with a young(ish) baby!

Charles Dickens = pretty damn serious to me

coco, it's really like soap operas, but very gripping. not all of them, but I would really recommend David Copperfield, you cry buckets! and the characters are so great..

so glad to have read this thread!

Before pregnancy I read War & Peace! Absolute bookworm. Now I can't even read a newspaper! I was trying to get into some creative writing but at the moment I am brain dead. Rubbish TV/films are all I can manage.

I am trying to read Barack Obama's dreams from my Father but it is taking me a long time (the book is brilliant).

I was just the same, it was most depressing (and certainly didn't help me with my English MA ). Thankfully now that DS is here my brain seems to have come out of hiding and my reading habits are back to normal. Especially now I can balance bf DS with one hand while clutching a novel in the other

Thank you all. Glad it's not just me. I did get my brain back the last time. I don't feel stupider, just have no concentration whatsoever, and deeply stunted imagination.

Barbarella - me too, I couldn't read at all for nausea. Even reading to DS was too hard, unless it was a book I'd memorised and even that was hideous. Thank God it's a bit better now.

Totally had the same thing and am an avid reader normally. Spent the last 3 weeks of my first pregnancy (luckily signed off work due to SPD) just staring into space.

Made myself read a Henry James book when dd1 3 months and finally felt had my brain back.

just after giving birth I found those James Herriot vet books very soothing! All creatures great and small etc! I could identify with all the cows and dogs giving birth!