Struggling - 33wks & handling an active 18mo

[olien]

Anyone else dealing with a pg & a toddler? Its getting so hard for me lately. I can hardly pick him up anymore & just cant keep up with him physically.

My 2ng pg & now at the end the discomfort of my ligaments way low down are excruciating!!The Dr said this gets worse with every pg. Its starting to get me nervous.

It was almost 50deg today & I couldnt bear the thought of taknig DS outside today. The poor little man . Last time I had him out, it took me 2dys to physically recover. I feel bad.

I guess I am looking for suggestions or any stories of personal experience. Also, just venting.

[chely7425]

I TOTALLY feel your pain. I have a 22 month old and an 8 month old and I am 6 weeks pregnant. It is definitely not fun at the end!! I don't know what I am going to do this time with 2 of them, I suppose figure it out as I go. We got a comfortable outdoor chair for our back patio that I can sit on while DS plays outside. I tried to find things I could do with him that were fun but didn't take a TON of time. I don't have a TON of helpful suggestions but you CAN get through this! There are a lot of other little things we did to make it easier... we got a kids table for DS to eat at so I didn't have to lift him into a chair (got this last year), we consolidated all the stuff I need everyday downstairs so I don't have to run upstairs to get changes of clothes or whatever. Umm... I forget what else but if I remember I will come back!

[McMandy]

I definitely can relate. My first born (girl) was 21 months when our 2nd child (boy) was born. I was definitely weary. They really want and need your attention at this time, and I found that the best way to do that was find something we could do while I sat on the floor along side her. Maybe it was just something as simple as putting magnets on a cookie sheet or coloring something... or singing silly songs, or even watching a show together.

Now I have a nearly 7 year old, a 5 yo, and a 30 month old.. plus I watch a little boy during the week who will be two soon (I'm currently 13 weeks pregnant). It seems much easier now than it did back then... crazy enough. I guess you just get use to the noise, chaos and busyness and find ways to keep them busy. Of course, my tune may change when I'm 33 weeks pregnant!

Sometimes I just get out a bunch of books and we flip through them. (Sometimes I read them, sometimes we just talk about what we see on the pages.) The best thing to do is really wear them out in the morning so they'll take good naps so you can relax! Playdough is fun- although it can get messy- but you could read a book or talk on the phone at the kitchen table while your toddler plays. (Or, you could get silly putty.. which sticks together better.)

You could also build a "fort" out of chairs, tables, and blankets and lay inside with your toddler, who will find it awesome and amazing, especially if you allow him to have his snack in there.

Does your mall have a little play area? He could run off some steam there and you wouldn't have to worry about the weather.

It is tough, but it's almost over. Don't feel bad if you find yourself turning on cartoons or something like that. You're tired, you're hugely pregnant, and that's just how it is. Remember, toddlers are fairly easy to entertain with simple stuff. Give him some plastic bowls and empty season shakers. Give him a box to play in and color on. Get creative.

[LinzMommy2Be]

I'm 20 weeks pregnant and DS is an active 20 month old- it's not so bad right now but I'm not looking forward to the end of pregnancy with a toddler. I also watch my niece during the week and she is 4. I don't have many suggestions but I love what the previous poster said about making a tent. I do this with DS and he loves it. I bring in some books and blocks and a couple of his trains... I can lay down and relax (I've been really tired this pregnancy) and he just thinks his tent is the best place to be.

[sanguine_speed]

I am 33 weeks too, and have an 8yo, a 6yo and a 2yo. The 2yo is the busiest of the bunch. We have made the decision as a family to have child care for the toddler because I just. can't. I'm having some painful complications and can barely manage physically. And yes, each pregnancy has gotten harder.

[elus0814]

I have a homeschooled 5 year old, a homeschooled 4 year old, and an 11 month old. It's exhausting. Having only one toddler to deal with sounds easy!

[mommariffic]

It's different than my first pregnancy, that's for sure!

DD is 2 1/2. I have some weekday help [I write from home] so for a few hours a week I'm at my desk enjoying my writing/creative time and just sitting on my butt. I also make sure that at least some of our days are spent quietly: reading, doing arts and crafts, etc.

I'm 23 weeks? 24? I can't even remember but I'm already nesting a bit so being home = us cleaning together or working on little projects I've put off, which is fun since DD loves to "help.." I also try to get out of a few times a week and really get her active needs met like a museum or something.

[sweet_tart_vt]

I can totally relate!
I am 30wks pregnant with #7 and my youngest is only 13months. My other kids are 11, 10, 7, 5(special needs autistic) and 3. The 3 oldest are home schooled, the others arent old enough yet. It has just started getting me worn out this week. Ive finally got a belly, ( had some very bad stomach issues for months and months and lost 15lbs) my varicose veins are really bothering, and the little man still nurses and is carried around a lot. My 5yr old has autism and goes to speech/pt 3 times a week so I feel like I am always on the go. Usually I thrive on being busy, but I am finding myself ready to crash earlier and earlier each night. I am, for all intents and purposes, a single mama, so there really isnt anyone there to help me out either. The family that is near me I choose to not associate with, and those I would are far away.

I try to find time each day for each of the kids to have some independent "down time", and let the younger ones watch a movie, and put the babe down for a nap then. My oldest are great at helping out without asking and sometimes I just have to leave things if I am not up to finishing them before bed time. We tend to go to bed early, and being home schooled I am not rigid on a wake up time, so there are days I get a few extra hrs sleep. My youngest sleeps 12hrs thru the night, so even if I may be beat by the end of the day I know that I can recoup with a good nights sleep.
We all just do the best we can, because we have to. Sometimes it is organized chaos, and other times it is just chaos, but I wouldnt change it for anything. A lot of it is not trying to be overly hard on yourself and dont get too caught up in the diapers, dishes, and dust or you will miss the best yrs of watching your LO's grow up.

[etsdtm99]

I have been there and will be there again soon.. I am 12 weeks with #3.. i have a 22 mo old and a 4 yr old.. when i was about 34 weeks with my 2nd, i started seeing a chiropractor and it made a HUGE difference in the ligament pain and hip pain .. it did not help with the fact that i could not breath but i was really so much more comfortable at the end of my pregnancy than i was 28-34ish weeks ..

do you have any relatives or friends without kids or friends who are not pregnant who could maybe go to the park with you? i am pretty sure thats what i did near the end to get my DD out of the house..

[cyndalnronny]

I have been in your shoes. I know what it's like. Is your yard fenced in if so just put a chair out there and you sit down while lil man plays and runs all day. If not then just let him run around inside or have him watch tv with you or give him something to help you with that he can do. they usually like to help at that age. It will teach him how to be helpful when the baby comes and it will get tiring for him. I have 2 girl 2 yrs apart and 23 wks pg now. This baby will be 2 yrs apart from my youngest. So I do know what it is like. Also when you get him to help you let him know how much a big boy he is for helping you and a good boy too of course he will like that and want to help you more.

[zannster]

I have a 5-year-old, and I don't have to pick him up BUT he doesn't play well on his own and always wants me to do things with him (or alternatively, he wants to watch movies and play games on my computer all the time, which turns him into an obnoxious brat). I've had a lot of ligament pain as well this pregnancy. I'm also sleeping really badly thanks to carpal tunnel syndrome. I'm just so tired. Hang in there!

[To-Fu]

I'm with you! I'm 28 weeks with a 2yo, AND I'm anemic. So I'm reallly feeling the fatigue this time around. The worst is those rare spring-like sunny days when you know you should (and want to) take the toddler outside but you just can't.

Hang in there, mama.

[peachsara]

My first two are 19 months apart, so I've been there. I was soooo exhausted and in sooooo much pain. Plus, my DS was/is a super high needs kid and my hubby was working all the time. I was pretty miserable.

I don't have any advice, just wanted to say: vent away. 3rd trimester is tough, regardless of how many kids you have and their ages, imo. I'm 27 weeks now and terrified of the coming months. But, I know that in the grand scheme of life, this is not a huge thing. Thank goodness for all the post partum hormones that help you forget how bad it really gets!