Grumblings

[spryng]

3rd trimester sucks.

I'm tired all the time but when I go to bed I can't sleep. I can't get comfortable even though I have a thousand pillows. And if I eat too close to bedtime, I wake up with food in my throat a few hours later.

My hips are sore from lying on my side but I can't lie on my back without feeling breathless and lightheaded. Sometimes a walk helps sort out my hips, but then I get shooting nerve pain.

It's always too hot. My hands and feet are pulsing with too much heat.

I'm hungry all the time but I don't want anything. Making food is a lot of effort even though I am literally home all day.

I feel bloated and huge. I don't like going out in public because I am so visibly pregnant. I miss being able to ghost around, unnoticed. Also I have very few clothes left that fit but I don't see the point in going and getting any more. Just put me in a muumuu and leave me.

Sometimes I get dizzy just from sitting.

On the other hand, the alternative is none of this and no Lady Jr. No one said pregnancy was easy, but damn if it isn't harder than I expected. No, scratch that - not harder, necessarily, but I thought I'd be able to deal with the discomfort easier, or at least with grace. I thought I could take the bodily changes in stride. Like everything would just happen gradually, but instead it's like BAM suddenly you can't sleep.

I am seriously questioning my intention to work until my due date.

I'm also 100% scared of labor.

And then I think about meeting Lady Jr and it all seems worth it.

Comments

[dreamsrundeep.livejournal.com]

Oh, god. YES to all of this. I'd forgotten so much of this, but it all came roaring back to me reading your entry. Pregnancy - I think I underestimated the aches and pains associated with it. The loosening of the ligaments causing hip and joint pain, the annoying pains in the lady parts, the heaviness and uncomfortableness. And then crown that with being *unable* to sleep either because the baby is moving, you are hurting or can't find a comfortable position, the heartburn/food in the throat feeling.

I FEEL YOU.

Hang in there! You are doing great! You are SO CLOSE! And then there will be a baby! YAY!

I gave up at 36 weeks. I asked the doctor to write me out of work because I literally felt like I couldn't walk another step. I was so tired that I was crying at the thought of having to walk from my car to my desk. And I had a 'reserved' spot at the front of the building (because I was HUGE!) and used the elevator. It still took me 30 minutes to walk to my desk! A slow, slow waddle. The boys were born at 37 weeks on the nose. I'd equate 38 weeks to my 36 weeks (with twins). If you have to go out, go OUT! Lay on the couch and do nothing. It is WORTH it. Rest as much as you can. Baby will be here soon!

[ladibug21.livejournal.com]

I worked until my due date and REALLY regretted it. I was angry and miserable and completely unproductive. After my due date I had 11 days at home and I forced myself to walk 20 minutes/day but otherwise I napped and watched bad TV.

If you can stop working sooner, do it.

I really don't understand the biology of making the end of the 3rd trimester so miserable and then you spend the first months after birth super sleep-deprived. You'd think nature would want a rested mama going into that.

[xotiffany.livejournal.com]

I have always felt like it's natures way of preparing you for the sleep deprivation of a newborn. But you (hopefully) get the angry part of it out of the way before the baby arrives. Because I'll tell you, we all get angry and emotional about it. It really is true that the moment you see that little baby, everything else is so small in comparison and a lot of it is forgotten.

Don't work yourself too hard if you'd rather have those moments to relax and just have to yourself. You deserve to take the time before the beeb arrives.

[audesapere.livejournal.com]

That sucks. :( but it's temporary! i don't know what else to say. Maybe try one of those meal plans or kits for cooking? I'm sure it will all be worth it!

[jadesymb.livejournal.com]

Third trimester is the WORST.

I mean, it is all worth it, but it sucks.

I know nothing about your labor plan, so I don't want to comment on being scared of labor, only to tell you that my second kid, the labor was just fine. Do you have a labor plan shared somewhere other than LJ? Or did I miss it?

Lots of love.

[lantairvlea.livejournal.com]

Having been there two and a half times (shhh, ultrasound and official announcement Tuesday) I can sympathise.

I did work until the day of (taught lessons the same day I went into labor both times). I don't know if my baseline fitness helped, especially with the horses encouraging a strong core, but I also used a support band, which I think really helped. Kelhan did like to sit on my sciatic, which sucked, especially walking along and having a leg pretty much give out.

Have you tried napping in a reclined position? So you can be on your back, but not compressing important blood vessels and such that laying flat on your back does.

Know what you want from your birthing experience. I did the boys without pain medication because I really don't like the idea of epidurals (being poked by needles is probably my least favorite thing) and believe the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Child #2 wore me out more than Child #1, but he also came at 5am instead of a respectable 10pm. Things did seem to heal up quicker the second time around. I took comfort that billions of women before me have done this and done just fine.

The end is near, good luck!