32/33 wks pregnant and I'm EXHAUSTED

[momee]

Does it make sense with 3 kids, all in sports, and a house to keep up with that I'm exhausted? OK, silly question but I need to do something about it. I can't be soo tired for the next 5 weeks or so (doc says I won't make it past 38 wks).

I can't seem to get up in the am before 830 anymore and I fall out ready to take a nap about 1 pm.

I have to things to take care of - how do you moms with 3, 4, 5, 10 kids maintain your "life" and manage to take care of yourselves? I keep thinking a walk or a bath will help, but both seem to be evading me of late. The nursery is just about done but I feel very unprepared this time compared to all my others ( I was super organized and ready!). This time I feel I'm already behind the 8 ball~~~

Any thoughts will be appreciated (by my whole family really, my dh understands but laughs that I fall into bed at 9 pm!). I'm sure it doesn't help that I get up every three hours to PEE!!!

[LG Gone Wild]

Does it make sense with 3 kids, all in sports, and a house to keep up with that I'm exhausted? OK, silly question but I need to do something about it. I can't be soo tired for the next 5 weeks or so (doc says I won't make it past 38 wks).

I can't seem to get up in the am before 830 anymore and I fall out ready to take a nap about 1 pm.

I have to things to take care of - how do you moms with 3, 4, 5, 10 kids maintain your "life" and manage to take care of yourselves? I keep thinking a walk or a bath will help, but both seem to be evading me of late. The nursery is just about done but I feel very unprepared this time compared to all my others ( I was super organized and ready!). This time I feel I'm already behind the 8 ball~~~

Any thoughts will be appreciated (by my whole family really, my dh understands but laughs that I fall into bed at 9 pm!). I'm sure it doesn't help that I get up every three hours to PEE!!!

of being in between fed up, tired, and panicked.:tongue_smilie:

[Sue G in PA]

3 kids, homeschooling, trying to prepare for a new baby AND have a life...of course you are exhausted. With this pregnancy, I had maybe a month or 2 in my second trimester when I felt "human". The closer I got to the end...the more exhausted I felt. 32/33 wks was probably when I started falling apart. Think about it: You're not sleeping for longer than 3hours at a stretch at night, busy all day long mentally and physically, your body is growing a baby (which takes a lot of energy!), you are carrying extra weight b/c of baby and that doesn't help, etc. Give yourself a break! Nap when you need to. How old are your dc? Can you leave them to fend for themselves while you nap? I have my dd11 take care of dd2 and let the 4 boys play outside or watch tv (it's okay to do that once in a while! :)). I may only nap for an hour, but it does refresh me. You can't do it all and you need your rest. Sleep late, adjust your school schedule to fit that. Focus on the basics and leave out the "extras" until you deliver. Trust me...I let history and science go around 33 wks b/c of the issues of exhaustion. My kids just do nature study, bird watching, reading science books, etc.

Take it easy. Please rest and focus more on taking care of you! Oh, and you won't ever be completely organized when baby comes...surrender to that...I have! I'm a week overdue and I STILL have things left to accomplish before baby comes...IF baby EVER comes! Know what? Those "things" will still be there when you are ready to get to them!

[mamalotsoftots]

I just wanted to pass along some **hugs** There's not a whole lot to say except just do what you have to do, and that's it. I had 3 pregnancies back to back (did you know it was possible to have more than one surprise baby. Lol. J/k!!). I woke up every morning wondering how I was going to make it through the day. All I can say is that it really helped to know I wasn't alone. So, hang in there your almost there & try to let yourself take it easy

[Michelle in MO]

falling asleep trying to read aloud to the kids. I think I read in What to Expect When You're Expecting that you're pregnant body resting is working harder than if you weren't pregnant and were mountain climbing.

Hang in there! It'll all be "over" (in a good way) soon, and you'll get to hold that new baby. Blessings!

[In The Great White North]

You are taking prego vitamins, right? And drinking lots of water?

I started taking brewer's yeast (B vitamins) also, before dd was born and throughout nursing. The kind I had, I took three times a day and could tell by my energy levels when I forgot.

I think it's related to the old wives' tale about beer helping the milk supply.:)

The only other thing that helped me was naps. (yes, that's supposed to be plural, as in, more than one a day!) I laid down on the floor in the living room and they played around me. I felt safer about it than if I had gone to my room and left them out there.

[fruitful vine]

3 kids, homeschooling, trying to prepare for a new baby AND have a life...of course you are exhausted. With this pregnancy, I had maybe a month or 2 in my second trimester when I felt "human". The closer I got to the end...the more exhausted I felt. 32/33 wks was probably when I started falling apart. Think about it: You're not sleeping for longer than 3hours at a stretch at night, busy all day long mentally and physically, your body is growing a baby (which takes a lot of energy!), you are carrying extra weight b/c of baby and that doesn't help, etc. Give yourself a break! Nap when you need to. How old are your dc? Can you leave them to fend for themselves while you nap? I have my dd11 take care of dd2 and let the 4 boys play outside or watch tv (it's okay to do that once in a while! :)). I may only nap for an hour, but it does refresh me. You can't do it all and you need your rest. Sleep late, adjust your school schedule to fit that. Focus on the basics and leave out the "extras" until you deliver. Trust me...I let history and science go around 33 wks b/c of the issues of exhaustion. My kids just do nature study, bird watching, reading science books, etc.

Take it easy. Please rest and focus more on taking care of you! Oh, and you won't ever be completely organized when baby comes...surrender to that...I have! I'm a week overdue and I STILL have things left to accomplish before baby comes...IF baby EVER comes! Know what? Those "things" will still be there when you are ready to get to them!
:iagree:
Sue G said it!!
It's only gotten worse for me the more times I'm pregnant.
Hang in there you can make it to the end!
Good luck!

[Jean in Newcastle]

It sounds like normal exhaustion of a pregnant mom with a very full plate. But many pregnant women also suffer from anemia - and that can make you very exhausted. Has your Dr. checked you for anemia?

:grouphug:

[Mallory]

I am only 23 weeks, and we should be done with most school by the time the real exhaustion sets it. But I am dreading it (and I am sure my kids are dreading a tired, cranky mom too).

I agree that anemia can be a problem. I also think that B vitamins help me more then iron pills.

[Laurie4b]

Isn't 32/33 weeks pregnant and exhausted redundant? Seriously, you are normal. It's normal to crash in the afternoon. I remember feeling like I was going under anesthesia--there was no way to stop it. I used to look carefully look over my preschoolers' room for possible hazards, and then lie down in front of the door, inside the room, so none of them could get out over me and out of the safety of the room, and then doze while they played, trusting that I was hearing enough to rouse up if there was ever true need. We all got through it without incident.

Why can't you be this exhausted for the next 5 weeks? You may need to adjust expectations, get some extra help now, or scale back on your school plans. If you don't have any older kids, hiring a mother's helper to watch them while you're napping can be a huge help, and not break the bank, because they can be younger, since you are right on the premises if you are needed.