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I'm a woman who is thinking about becoming pregnant. My husband and I have been married for five years and he wants a baby. However, I have heard so many bad things about pregnancy, like about how the baby's feet/legs get under your rib cage in the third trimester, how it's hard to breathe, and about round ligament pain (among other symptoms), and I really wonder if I can endure that kind of physical discomfort for 9 long months. The feet/legs under the rib cage really gives me the heebie jeebies. I can see myself having panic attacks because of that. I have a minor anxiety problem in general, and have a history of panic attacks, and I worry that I will be so overwhelmed by the physical discomfort of pregnancy that I will have panic attacks all through the pregnancy.
I only have one friend who has a kid and she said her pregnancy was easy and uneventful except that she had horrible heartburn in the third trimester, but her labor sounded like a nightmare, and she said she had problems breathing during it.
So is pregnancy really that bad? I know it depends on the woman, and my mother said her pregnancy was a piece of cake (she never had morning sickness or any discomfort and said that labor was like a bad menstrual cramp and that's it--she had no epidural.) Hopefully it would be like that for me but you never know.
Also, what physical tests/vaccines should a woman have before becoming pregnant?
You could get a huge variety of answers from different women. Some have felt the best when pregnant, some have been miserable a good deal of the time, some hve had health problems from pregnancy and some have had glowing happiness the entire time.
I was pregnant 3 times. I don't enjoy pregnancy but it wasn't horrible I guess because I did it again. I had different issues with each pregnancy. I had sciatic pain with one, I had severe bleeding after the last two. The last month is miserable to me. I don't care a whole lot for the swallowed a basketball and I can't reach my toes feeling. You would be feeling the baby though during that time and knowing your little one is in there forming and growing to be born so it makes it ok.
The birth might be easier for you with an epidural. You would talk to your Doc early on about this so you are both on the same page. If you are scared, it would likely really help you.
It isn't really that long of a time and things are changing so fast that it goes by ok.
I have panic and anxiety disorder so I know what you might worry about but I think if you too want a baby, not just hubby pushing it, that you can likely get through ok.
Bejesus. What's up with these women coming on board asking if they should have children, or if they decide to have kids, how much the process will inconvenience them.
The great thing is that doctors can do some truly wonderful things nowadays, so pronto get to your Obgyn and get a professional opinion.
You might also look into a doula; that is a person who is experienced in guiding woman through the entire pregnancy, not just the birth. A doula would be the person who could actually help with any day-to-day difficulties you may face, everything from pain and discomfort, to emotional swings and anxiety. That's they're job; to make your pregnancy easier and more enjoyable.
There are going to be many different answers but I'm sure that all end with the same conclusion: It was all well worth it when you see your little angel's eyes staring up at you
I love being pregnant. Although some of the things you say are true in your post they are not 100% of the time. Maybe a small amount of a normal NON high risk pregnancy (which is most) are extremely uncomfortable and miserable and/or painful in some way.
Just remember, for every kick in the ribs there is a sweet hiccup. For every moment of heartburn their is a thought of the incredible human being in your belly. The first gently flutter of movement, the first time you hear the heartbeat, the first time you see his or her little hands and little feet on the ulturasound all make those uncomfortable things seem small and insignificant.
I've read plenty of books on the topic but I find they don't get into detail about things like: what does it feel like to have legs/feet shoved under your rib cage? I cannot imagine. Can anyone describe what this feels like in detail?
My one friend with a child never had this symptom, and had a pretty uneventful pregnancy, as did my mother. I don't have any nieces or nephews or any other friends with kids, so I have no one else to ask besides asking it on a thread like this.
I have talked to my gyn about my fears about pregnancy discomfort symptoms, but he's a man and he didn't have much to say about my concerns. He referred me to an OB as he only does gyn but since I'm not preg. yet I feel uncomfortable going to an OB and asking all these questions in a consultation appointment.
Like everyone else said you can not get a clear cut answer for your questions because pregnancy is different, not only for each woman, but for each pregnancy. I'm due in 2 weeks with my third child. This pregnancy was completely different from the previous two, which were very different from each other. (all boys btw so gender had nothing to do with it). I've gone from extremely mild morning sickness, to severe morning sickness where I was in bed for 2 weeks and lost a lot of weight. I've gone from gaining 50 pounds in one pregnancy, to gaining 13 total in another without doing anything different. I've gone from mild heart burn to chugging Tums and Zantac. You just never know or can predict what is going to happen. It's really pointless to dwell on the "What if's" because there's nothing you can do about them.
YOU have to decide which is more important: to not deal with what may come with pregnancy, or to go through it and think the end result was by far worth it. No one can answer that question but you. I personally do not like being pregnant, but the end result each time was by far, worth every uncomfortable moment.
Right now I'm personally counting down the days to when I can lie on my stomach again, and not have to pee every 5 minutes. But I'm even more excited to meet my newest lil guy. By the time you get to the end, the fear of labor itself has dimmed because A> you know you have to go through it anyways so why dwell in fear, and B> anything is better than continuing to be uncomfortable. Plus you know it signals the end.
Do some serious thinking before you make a decision. But also, do not allow fear of the unknown to keep you away from something so precious if it is something you really want. Just make sure its something you really want.
I want to add about your fear of kicking. It's not painful. Your mind is making it worse than it seems as you havent felt it before. If anything oddly enough, it is extremely comforting because for every movement you feel you know it's your lil one awake and moving around. While I am not fond of pregnancy I love love love feeling those shifts and kicks. Its one of the few things I will miss. Your body is MADE to expand and make room for baby. Its not an unnatural thing. Its the most natural thing in the world
I've read plenty of books on the topic but I find they don't get into detail about things like: what does it feel like to have legs/feet shoved under your rib cage? I cannot imagine. Can anyone describe what this feels like in detail?
My one friend with a child never had this symptom, and had a pretty uneventful pregnancy, as did my mother. I don't have any nieces or nephews or any other friends with kids, so I have no one else to ask besides asking it on a thread like this.
I have talked to my gyn about my fears about pregnancy discomfort symptoms, but he's a man and he didn't have much to say about my concerns. He referred me to an OB as he only does gyn but since I'm not preg. yet I feel uncomfortable going to an OB and asking all these questions in a consultation appointment.
The only thing I can say is - calm down - you are obsessing! As for the kick in the rib cage, for me it wasn't comfortable but it also didn't hurt. I can think of at least 20 things off the top of my head that were more uncomfortable and not one is related to pregnancy. Talk to an OB - they are the experts and can advise you. If that still doesn't help - I suggest that you also talk to a therapist.
It feels like a stick poking you in your ribs. Take a nice sized baseball bat and poke it into yourself. Now, will make you change your mind?
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