Once the baby's here, is not being pregnant anymore a real relief??!

[Bumpsadaisie]

Those of you who've done this before, once the baby's born, do you feel really great not to be pregnant anymore?

Am 36 weeks and I keep imagining what bliss it is going to be not to be the size of a cow, to be able to walk 100 metres without getting puffed, to be able to eat normally, not to wake up umpteen times a night with reflux, needing the loo, baby kicking etc etc.

However, am I in for a nasty shock? It occurs to me that post-natally you might actually feel even worse - sore bits, sore nipples, no sleep.....

I think I've got this fantasy idea that I'm going to spring back into feeling like a lithe teenager again ....

My last pregnancy was fine but I still must have been really tired at the end, didn't realise it at the time. I remember having a MW appointment in 90 minutes time and thinking "well I don't have time to clean the kitchen before I go then" - 90 minutes! I could do it 3 times in that time now
Felt immediately better after the birth- loads of energy

I was so much better after the birth. Even though I had to have surgery afterwards to repair a tear.

The first time I went to sleep ( admittidley this wasn't for 48 hrs) but I woke up on my stomach and it was soooo nice to not have a bump there anymore.

I think I started to miss being pregnant when I got broody fore the one I'm carrying now but I know I am going to hate being pregnant in the next wk or so. I'm 30 wks now and just starting to get a bit uncomfortable.

Oh yes and actually being able to go for a proper wee and then not having to go again for hours

I couldn't believe how amazing it felt not to be pregnant anymore. You can lie on your tummy! & not have flaky hands from repeated washing because you're going to the loo so often! So on & so on. & more importantly, you get your cute little baby who makes it all worthwhile (most of the time ). & even though babies are really demanding, you can detach from them - even if it's just whilst you have a quick shower or whatever. You get to do it on your own. Even with any episiotomy scars / piles / whatever else, it was still such a relief!

Of course if you're one of these people who's simply never felt better than whilst pregnant, that's going to be a bit different. But the fact that you're asking suggests that maybe you're not

Second time around I remember feeling this massive sense of relief as DD's body slithered out of me. My pregnancy was HARD, and by the end I had most definitely Had Enough. I remember thinking "ahhh it's over now" I felt like this weight had lifted. That's not to say that I felt marvellous post birth, I was sore and torn and worn out, but I wasn't pregnant any more!

& things that you can barely believe that you'll be able to do - like sit cross-legged on floor to change a nappy, then pick up your baby & stand up from that position without needing your hands to support you! Imagine!

Everyone is different.
I hated being pg, but I found having a newborn very hard too. Bfing was agony and I couldn't handle the no sleep. After about 6 weeks it felt much better though and since then parenthood has made pg seem a distant and rather insignificant memory - until next time.

I hated being pregnant but soon as they both arrived I kind of missed my baby bump