We know from the feedback we received as part of our Pregnancy Questionnaire that many mums feel that the first 12 weeks are the most difficult emotionally and mentally. This page shares your experiences and thoughts on this very challenging time!

If you would like to share your own experiences please send your story to: contributions@forparentsbyparents.co.uk

I've just found out that I'm 5 weeks pregnant - and although both myself and my partner are ecstatic, I can't help but being paranoid about losing the baby. I've read so many horror stories - and I'm just convinced that something is bound to go wrong. I can't seem to shake it off - and I'm afraid that all this negativity is going to affect the baby. I'm just glad I'm not the only one who worries in the first trimester.

At 13 weeks I had a miscarriage ,I was so shocked that happened. I am now 12 weeks pregnant and constantly worried I am going for a routine scan on Thursday so I hope everything is alright. This is my last baby, either way I would like a boy as I have one age 10

My husband and I found out we were pregnant right away our doctor didn't want to see us until we were 8 to 9 weeks along, so we waited. Then we went to the appointment and they did an ultrasound and told us there were two babies but one of them didn't have a heart beat. This was very hard to understand. One baby is fine and will probably make it but the other is gone. Called a vanishing twin. There isn't a lot of information on this. Every day is hard. Not nowing if the other baby will be okay or not. I'm 12 weeks now and the one baby seems to be doing okay.- Michelle

I was into week 6 when I found out I was pregnant with out first child. It was indeed a suprise for my husband and I and we were both very happy but then I immediately got sick. The morning sickness was horrible, as I was sick constantly, every minute that I was awake....and I curse the person who called it morning sickness 'coz mine never knew the term "morning". I never felt so miserable and hopeless in my life and almost immediately, I have forgetten how happy we were when we found out.

I was stressed out as the most difficult thing to do everyday was to get up and go to work. I never wanted to quit my job so much but my husband couldn't afford me staying a home so I continued and persevered. Every week, I was on medical leave for at least 2 days, and the rest of the days when I managed to get to work, I was like a zombie. There was a constant headache, which made me feel sub-human and the vomiting came and went but the nausea didn't. My record was vomiting 5 times in a day! Worst of all, I started hating almost everything and everybody around me and socializing was the last thing on my mind, which was so unlike me before getting pregnant. My temper even flared up easily and I once scolded my mum's friend for commenting too much on how I was feeling. Most of all, I hated how people say to hang on as this will all pass......and today I am into week 15 and though I still feel nausea and like a member of the mafia, I probably can say that I am maybe feeling a little bit better than previous weeks.....All I can say to all to-be mothers out there suffering like I am is that you are not alone and somewhere out there, there is someone who is actually going through what you are and you are really not alone. Reading about the experiences of others really made me realised that I am not turning into a monster and I hope that you too realise that you are not.....I am with you in prayers....hang on...there..

Yes there were also constant tears and I wasn't afraid to cry anywhere at anytime....I was also getting messy, with lots of acne on my face, neck and body and my hair was a constant mess....not only I acted like a zombie, I actually looked like one!

When I really feel like giving up, I always think about how lucky I am that God has given us this little gift as so many other couples out there face difficulties in conceiving...and then I imagine what he will be like as a baby....

In 2004 I miscarried at 13weeks and now I have found out that I am pregnant again! I am scared right now to get my hopes up in case this pregnancy miscarries too. It's so hard not to worry but I find myself trying to reassure myself, knowing that if I am going to miscarry, there is nothing I can do but pray it won't happen. Right now I am 10 weeks and I think after I pass the age of my last miscarry, I will begin to feel alot better in hopes that I will beable to carry full term.

The first 12 weeks are very difficult. I was constantly checking my dates eagerly waiting to get to 13 weeks. I just wanted my scan to prove that it was real and that it wasnt just a mistake. But seeing my baby for the first time was just the most magical experience. Now that I am 13 weeks and 3 days!!! I just can't wait for what ever lies ahead

I'm 25 with 2 children, had normal pregnancys with both of them, got pregnant again but lost my baby at 8wks that was 7 weeks ago now. I have just found out I'm pregnant again about 4 or 5wks but I've been having bad pains. I am going to hospital for an early scan tomorrow I'm really scared as I have not told anyone about my pregnancy only my friend and boyfriend who I've got 2 kids with and been with for 9 years. He does'nt want to know so I feel a bit lonely and emotional. I really want to tell my mum and dad but I don't want them 2 be heartbroken again if the worst was to happen. Is there anything I can do to help prevent another miscarrage happening?

I'm so glad I've read these submissoins as I just found out I was pregnant which was a shock, but I'm coming to terms with it now but I know quite a lot of people who have miscarried in the last year or so. I am getting so anxious, worried and nervous and I'm now scared incase anything goes wrong in the first three months now that I am looking forward to it. - Lisa

"This is my 2nd pregnancy I had a miscarrage at 9 weeks last time. So for the first 12 weeks of this pregnancy every little pain I had was a worry it didn't help that I was so emotional anyway but now I'm at 14 weeks and feeling ok. Still worrying about pains though."

"My moods are up and down. One day feeling energized, excited,and happy. The next day I may feel irritable, sad, and depressed. I weep at the tiniest things. My moods are completely unpredictable. Thank god my husband is so understanding!"

"During my first pregnancy I think this trimester was the worst because emotionally and mentally you are trying to fully get your head around the fact that you are going to become a family. Physically I was very sick each morning with little warning, unbelievably tired, feeling fat and generally a little grubby (bad hair bad skin etc) and you can't tell anyone for fear of just how early in the pregnancy you are."

"I felt that the first trimester of my first pregnancy was very difficult because it was all new and I didn't know what to expect at each step of the way. I think the first time your hormones are in shock and it seems to be worse for morning sickness etc. By the second time your body knows what's what and deals with it better."

"I constantly worried about things that could go wrong. It's difficult when you don't understand what to expect. I was lucky to have a lovely midwife who was very patient!"

"I was constantly worried about miscarrying and asked for frequent scans for reassurance."

"I found it very hard at work, being tired with bad sickness but trying to keep it quiet till 12 weeks. I was happy to be expecting but also scared. What helped was knowing that it would get better and that lots of people had these feelings."

"I had a lot of concerns about miscarriage as I had bleeding throughout the first 3 months every week or so. I was feeling happy about being pregnant but worried all the time and not feeling like I could talk about it etc for fear of it not lasting. Talking to my husband about our worries really helped and using friends and web forums to realise other people were feeling the same."

"I was really scared of miscarrying after a threat and found it hard to adjust to feeling pregnant - the sickness and worry of how I would cope with the birth and all the medical intrusion. I was lucky to have a really good team of midwives who were great - there was a drop in session every week and it was so relaxed and friendly I felt so much better."

"I had very bad morning sickness and fears about miscarriage. I found I had to be very assertive about having extra check ups if things don't seem quite right, e.g. bleeding etc."

"This was difficult time for my husband and I due to the adjustment for both of us re how our lives had changed forever. What helped was talking talking talking! Thank goodness my husband and I were able to discuss our worries. We are now excited and looking forward to our baby."

"There was uncertainity about my dates plus I was sick and scared about the whole thing! There was a feeling of being out of control! Ready books about pregnancy and my partner's support did help."

"Because I was only young having my son I was worried about his health and what people thought of me. My midwife was like a friend to me and that helped me through it all."

"With our first daughter it was the worry about the physical changes that I had never expected. I did wish that it hadn't all been kept so hush hush and the more my concerns were brushed aside the more I worried. I kept being told it was all natural and that no one had any answers to my strange pains. By three months I couldn't get up and I didn't know if it was me or the baby."

"Getting our heads around being pregnant was a challenge. Our first child was a surprise pregnancy so I'd been smoking for the first 6 weeks without realising I was pregnant which I now feel really terrible about. Second time I was also concerned for the baby's health and concerned about how my other child would adapt to our new arrival. I found that I snapped at my poor partner alot."

"I felt completely unsure of everything & the medical profession basically leaves you to get on with it - my care only started after 18 weeks which meant 18 weeks of worrying if everything was OK. I joined an online ante-natal club where we were all due in the same month & all going through the same thing."

"In my heart I've always wanted a baby so I was shocked at how upset I was when I finally got pregnant. It made me feel guilty about all those desperate for a child when I was regretting it back then. Now I'm very happy but it was a long story and a bumpy road!"