I’m not enjoying being pregnant

Why doesn’t pregnancy seem to agree with me?

Despite the magazines that show rosy mums-to-be glowing happily on their covers, not everyone has a fun time during pregnancy. Your body’s going through big changes and you may feel sick or tired too. If you’ve also got piles or backache or some other less glamorous effect of pregnancy, you might feel well and truly fed up. Quite a number of women say pregnancy is something they endure rather than enjoy.

It might be a small consolation at the moment but even if you’re feeling a bit low now – things will get easier. And if you’re in your first trimester, you’ll be relieved to hear that some of the more unwanted physical effects like sickness and fatigue often wear off in the second trimester.

Remember that you’re coming to terms with big emotional as well as physical changes during pregnancy and your hormones might also be making your feelings seem more intense. If you are having concerns about your pregnancy or are finding it hard to manage all your emotions, try identifying your main worry. Once you’ve realised what’s causing you so much upset, you can start trying to think of ways to work around it.

If you continue to feel down, it might be that you are suffering from antenatal depression. But don't struggle on alone. Around one in ten women experience depression in pregnancy, and your healthcare professional will be able to point you in the direction of help.

What can I do to make myself feel better?

Firstly, get talking. Open up to someone you feel comfortable talking to and who might be able to help you resolve some of your worries. It could be a friend who’s been through it already, your partner, your mum or your healthcare professional. Talking through your feelings isn’t just a big release – it’ll help you get things in perspective too. 

Listen to your body and rest whenever you need to. Make sure you have some indulgent ‘me-time’ and do things that make you feel happy – whether that’s having a candlelit soak in the tub or even just having a phone call with your best friend. 

Finally, think of what’s to come. When you hold your baby for the first time and say ‘hello’ to the brand-new little person in your arms, all these feelings will probably fade into the background. Pregnancy’s not always easy but most mums agree that it’s worth it in the end!