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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

What did you find worse? First or Third trimester

59 replies

Brighteyes · 02/04/2005 10:43

No doubt been asked before but I was just wondering which people found the most difficult the first or third trimester?

I thought nothing could be as bad as the first, I was constantly tired, always crying and ended up in hospital with dehydration due to morning sickness.

Now at 34 weeks pg I think the third trimester has got to be the worst. I haven't slept properly in weeks, got constant heartburn and midwife has confirmed I now have symptoms of pre-eclampsia (high bp and protein in my urine).

In comparison the second trimester was bliss (all excluding a car crash).

So in your opinion whats the worst trimester?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

prettyfly1 · 07/04/2005 22:43

third. definately the third. Had hyperemesis twice - once at thirteen weeks and again at sixteen weeks and had to have stitch put in to keep baby there but the constant pain, false labour and tiredness as well as returned nausea, back ache and moods of teh third are far far worse - every day feels like a lifetime (anyone get the idea that perhaps i am looking forward to the end of my pg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

apologies for the rant - anyone in the first stage who is expecting their first child - i should add that i never thought i would be able to have a baby and am incredibly blessed - i wouldnt change any of these symptoms for the world.

expatinscotland · 07/04/2005 22:49

Third deffo! Had incredibly severe acid reflux. Also had pregnancy-induced hypertension and severe swelling made it difficult to walk - my calves would pit so badly if you pressed a finger into them. Kept having to go in to have blood pressure monitored. It was decided to induce me at 38 weeks, 5 days as bp increasing more than they liked. But went into labour on my own at 38 weeks, 2 days and delivered at 38 weeks, 3 days.

I had a lot of vomitting first trimester but at least I could walk unhindered and drink water w/o tasting gastric acid .

QueenEagle · 07/04/2005 22:54

3rd without contest! Heartburn not too bad but always there in the background, waddling along I can cope ok with. But the worst worst worst thing ever has to be piles. I only ever get them when I'm preg and they get so bad and so big I can only shuffle when attempting to walk. At their worst I have to lie on my side for about 2 days waiting for the creams and suppositories to work their wonders. And I have never seen so much blood OMG it was horrendous.

Seriously puts me off having no.6.

ghosty · 08/04/2005 11:17

I think I only had about 4 weeks in the middle of my pregnancy with DD where I didn't feel terrible ...
Had awful morning sickness (ALL DAY) till 15 weeks, weepy, tired, tummy cramps etc etc ..
Then at 19 weeks the SPD kicked in ...
By 30 weeks I was a whale , couldn't walk, couldn't sleep ... I remember once this stranger in a shop said, "Ooooh, not long to go now!" at 32 weeks ... I nearly ran her over with my trolley in the next aisle!
By 34 weeks I had ankles the same width as my thighs ... it was mid summer and bloody hot ... couldn't walk, couldn't sleep ...
Even though I had a c-s and took a while to recover from that (SPD took its time to go) ANYTHING was better than being pregnant ...

pembroke · 08/04/2005 18:54

Third tri definately - agree with others when hated people asking if we had had it yet!! What a stupid question (as if we would not let people know) and made the situation really stressfull!

Nothing worse than ringing hospital on induction day and being told that there was no room....felt like Mary when there was no room at the inn!!! Baby born on 22nd Dec all healthy, best Xmas present ever.

Nimme · 08/04/2005 19:00

Definitely the first trimester - hate hate hate the nausea.

Sorry to hear you are not blooming. Just think soon you'll have a gorgeous baby

LGJ · 08/04/2005 19:12

Both

First..........constant nausea, lucky enough not to be working so I spent 16 hours a day sleeping and it still wasn't enough. Never got sick but everytime I put food near my mouth, my stomach turned over. Taste in my mouth, indigestion.

Third

Constant backache, my sacro-illial joint went and there were days where just getting out of bed could set it off. Insomnia. Constant nausea.

No wonder I lost one and a half stone.

jabberwocky · 08/04/2005 19:22

3rd!!! Horrible, horrible. My hips and knees ached, ankles disappeared, blood pressure went up, got carpal tunnel and Bell's Palsy.

LGJ · 08/04/2005 19:25

Forgot to mention migraines in the first and carpal in the last, thanks Jabberwocky.

qsack · 08/04/2005 19:33

Crikey, i hadn't realised that the 3rd trimester could be so bad for so many!

for me, the first 16wks is def. the worst, nausea and complete knackeredness all the time is sooo frustrating. i'm due TOMORROW, with DS2 and so far it's only been the last week or so that i've felt really heavy and less mobile. had to wear two pairs of support tights since week 22 as my veins on one leg are horrid but seeing as it's been coldish that's been ok. all the best to those of you who aren't having much fun at the moment. xx

morningpaper · 08/04/2005 19:45

I LOVED the third trimester the first time - all the ATTENTION! - and I felt GREAT - worked until 41 weeks, had boundless energy.

Currently 14 weeks with no.2 and have been feeling sick - much worse than my first pregnancy - so I'm hoping that I'll enjoy my third trimester this time too! (I deserve it after all this sickness!)

LGJ · 08/04/2005 20:16

MP have posted a little something for you on the food thread.

motherinferior · 08/04/2005 20:54

I loathed every minute of both my pregancies. At their very best they were like being a rather fragile and exhausted member of a very strange cult religion with peculiar food taboos and the complete rights of total strangers to tell you about your huge fat belly.

CarrieG · 08/04/2005 20:57

lol @ motherinferior!

First was the worst, definitely - nausea, exhaustion, psychotic mood swings - like being disgustingly hungover for 3 solid months. At least for the third people know you're pregnant & you get some sympathy...

motherinferior · 08/04/2005 20:58

But then they comment. In a manner ("ooh, you are quite big for dates, aren't you?") which makes it quite clear they think you're not just pregnant but a big fat porker as well.

CarrieG · 08/04/2005 21:01

Actually I was quite into being a big fat pregnant porker - I'm a strapping lass anyway, so when I started to look like I was trying to smuggle a large armchair out of the building, I found it quite liberating...

sansouci · 08/04/2005 21:15

For the 2nd pg, the 3rd trimester was by far the worst. So bad, in fact, that I never want to be pregnant again!

It was the summer of 2003; terrible heatwave, massive weight gain, couldn't sleep, pins & needles in my hands from water retention, looked & felt like a blimp... blood pressure soared, could hardly walk, ended up with a c-section at 36 weeks!

ThomCat · 09/04/2005 00:05

I'm sure I'll be unpopular for this but in truth I would have to say none of the above.

I was taking the pill and took the morning after pill, but had that feeling that I had just conceived so took the morning after pill and as far as I was concerned there was no way. So the sickness etc I felt I put down to other stuff, just brushed it under the carpet, I didn't let it in. luck y - yes - but if I'd known I was pregnant I may have been/felt a lot sicker, as it was I thought oh catch a grip woman! Found out I was pregannet 3.5 - 4 months in. Was over the moon and embraced being pregnant. I felt great, sexy, happy etc. Did yoga/active birth classes and worked right to my due date. Yes I got tired, yes I got chronic heart burn but it must be those rose tinted glasses of mine again, I just don't remember it as anything other than a great time. Okay, I got teary and hormonal and that wasn't exactly nice but it was nothing really. Just hope that Gid willing when i get pregnant again I'm half as lucky in enjoying my pregnancy so much again. I had it very easy, east pregnancy, easy baby, just a bit of getting my head round having a child with Down's syndrome, but in general, very, very lucky all round. Bring on the next one I say

JoolsToo · 09/04/2005 00:07

3 pregnancies - all nausea free - felt excellent with all three - apart from being a bit more tired during 2nd and 3rd time for obvious reasons!

biglips · 09/04/2005 00:27

3rd as first had no morning sickness through out my pg (and no problems too) but in the 3rd i was knackered and worn out as i felt my legs were gonna fold up on me !!

lucy5 · 09/04/2005 00:37

2nd because I had really high blood pressure and couldnt do anything.

Frizbe · 09/04/2005 00:40

2nd and 3rd due to trapped femeral nerve....excruciating pains several times a day, birth was a doddle after that!

sallystrawberry · 09/04/2005 00:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bobbybob · 09/04/2005 08:44

Definitely the first. Felt knackered, nothing fitted but too small for maternity clothes, having to keep it all a secret then I lost my job. Winter.

3rd was easy, went swimming every day, made new friends, pottered about the house, capsule wardrobe and fantastic hair. Summer.

PotPourri · 09/04/2005 18:26

Tough one. I think it isi equally bad really. Was really sick in 1st, but rose tinted glasses are now telling me ti wasn;t that bad (even though I know it was!).

Last was a nightmare, and I was 16 days late so had a bonus 2 weeks of now sleep, aching bones, looking like a huge balloon with hideous stretch marks as DD didn't engage in my pelvis until in labour! Also, I found people DIDN'T give me a seat. Amazing how enthralling a newspaper is when there is a big fat pregnant lady hanging on for dear life to the rail right next to your seat! ANd heartburn... enough said.

OK first was worst actually, as I was shattered, ill, didn't fit my clothes, but keeping it a secret so had to carry on as normal. Also no little kicks to remind you that it will all be worth it in the end!

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