third trimester, need a pep talk!

[attached2mason]

I'll preface this by saying that I know I'm probably just being a suck , but I need to get it out.

I am 28 weeks and I feel like I did at term with my singleton. My singleton pg was so easy, really, and even at 40 weeks + I wasn't desperate to get baby to come. This time around I feel so overwhelmed by the prospect of being pregnant for potentially 3 more months.

I get tired out so easily, I've gained 40lbs, both my ribs and pelvic/groin area are sore all the time. When not pg I walk most places - far and fast - and now I walk slowly and very short distances. Something like standing in line is so hard because my feet get so sore under the extra weight. I am experiencing some swelling in my calves and ankles (my BP is great, no concern there). I am measuring (ie. fundal height) about 36 or 37 weeks. No wonder I feel like I'm at term . I don't sleep very well anymore and I'm pretty useless around the house.

I know, I know, nothing new for pregnancy, I just didn't expect it so early, yk? I really can't imagine THREE MORE MONTHS of this, let alone knowing that I will just get bigger and more uncomfortable. I want to have full term, big babies and I need to focus on that, but it is hard to feel so incapacitated.

Have I gained too much weight, is that why I am so uncomfortable this early or is this normal for twin pregnancy? Any words of wisdom? I'm open to whatever you've got, even if it's just "suck it up, princess"

I am lucky to be off work starting this week and DS (5) is in school every afternoon, so that is nice, I should be able to rest a bit. There is sooo much to do before the babies come, though . . .ugh!

[daisie31]

It's perfectlly normal to feel the way you are feeing now. Mine started a little later than 28 wks but I did get to the point of feeling absolutely miserable. I think your weight gain sounds perfect because chances are, you won't be doing a whole lot of eating from here on out. I pretty much lived on saltines my last trimester because there just wasn't any room and I got heartburn from everything. I couldn't eat a single vegi because they would just sit and ferment inside me. It's hard to look back and remember just how bad the last tri was but I know it was bad. Just hang in there and know that it will most likely get worse(sorry to add salt to the wound) but it's sooo worth it. For sleeping, I used 8 pillows all around me, it took about fifteen minutes just to set it up but I slept really great most nights. You are coming down the home stretch now, hopefully you have at least 6 wks left, you can do it. Just vent away if it helps.

Dena

[Intertwined]

No suck it ups from me! I remember feeling that exact same way, although I hit it closer to 31 weeks. There was this WALL and I slammed right into it. I just had to take it one day at a time. I felt pretty good, really, but it was still way harder than a singleton pregnancy. I was 50cm when I gave birth, and I looked every single bit of it! I don't think you've gained "too much" weight. Sounds like you've done a good job of packing in the protein! Just hang in there. It didn't just keep getting worse and worse until I couldn't stand it anymore. There was sort of an leveling out of the pain and then it really got ugly that last week but I only had a week left!

[Gena 22]

You're venting to the right crowd, we're all with you, or have been. I too hit a bit of a wall at around 28 weeks. I got so big 20 - 28 weeks I thought it would be impossible for me to continue to grow.

Every pregnancy and woman is different, but for me, things did get better. Either my growth slowed down, or I stopped noticing it. I think what really helped was compression socks. They were a lifesaver for me. And I wore a BellyBra. Don't know if that actually did any good, but it was helpful psychologically at least.

Good luck momma, and keep it up!

[attached2mason]

Thanks so much, your replies really help! I was at the OB today and she measured me at 39 - no wonder it feels like I should be giving birth any day

Excellent point about appetite slowing down in 3rd trimester. It seems to be doing that already, so it is good I have some reserves. My iron is a little low so I may consider floradix or something to just give myself a little boost.

An IRL friend gave me a bit of a lecture last night that was much needed and very thoughtful. She is a MoM too and remembers overdoing it and ending up on bedrest. She reminded me that my old version of taking it easy no longer applies and I really need to slow down. She's right and I need to listen. It is hard to feel so lazy but I need to remember that I'm already working hard

Thanks for the suggestions as well. Compression socks may be a good idea as I get further along.

Any thoughts on why the pain/pressure I feel in my pelvic floor (and whatever the muscles are called where my inner legs attach to my body) is often worse after a full night of sleep?! You'd think that would get worse from being upright, no?

[Gena 22]

I'd guess your pain is SPD. It's caused by hormones telling your pelvis to open up. Not a worry but really uncomfortable.

[Intertwined]

It helped to sleep with a pillow between my legs and try to turn over as little as possible. That was hard at the end because my hips would go numb.

And yes to your friend. Slow Down! You're growing two people. You could not move all day and probably burn more energy than I do chasing my twins all day long.

[Julia'sMom]

Yep, I hit that wall too. However, once at that point, it didn't get much worse. Everything just slowed down and I didn't do anythign that wasn't absolutely essential after that point.

Just remember how much better it is for them to stay in, then to come out early. I ended up giving birth at 37w5d and I really regret not going until 39 weeks. Benjamin just wasn't ready to come out and we are still working on nursing 3 months later. Keep cooking. You're job is to rest, eat and drink. That is all. (of course, complaining was my 2nd job at that point).

[attached2mason]

Originally Posted by Julia'sMom

(of course, complaining was my 2nd job at that point).

yup, me too. What I am finding difficult is that there is so much to do around here (bathroom reno, painting, flooring going in, decluttering/organizing, and a number of things related to reducing allergens in the house b/c of DS1) in addition to the regular household stuff. I can't really do much of it and I know it is a heavy load for DH but I'm so anxious and grumpy b/c none of it can happen on my timeline. If I weren't so pg I would be doing a lot of it myself, full speed ahead. It is weird to feel so 'useless', even though I know I am doing a very important job. I'm trying not to take my frustration out on DH .

My hypnobirthing visualizations include the babies staying inside until 38 weeks and, despite my discomfort, I really do want them to keep growing until at least then. It dawned on me today that it is already mid march, which means I no longer have 3 more months . . .now just two and a half till my guess date. Somehow that seems so much shorter .

Thanks for all the encouragement. It really does help!!

[RadTwins]

I don't have much advice, but wanted to say I can relate. I'm coming up right behind you (at 23 weeks with twins) and I'm already getting a good dose of how you feel. I've had a really hard time sleeping for the past week and am definitely slowing down. I can't seem to get comfortable on the couch or any chair, my ribs ache a lot, and when I sleep on one side or the other, that hip usually ends up aching.

We don't have any other children, but do have two great dogs who enjoy a good long walk. I used to walk fast, but have now slowed to a crawl and actually felt a bit lightheaded yesterday after walking up an inclined spot in the road that is barely noticeable. I'm still taking them for walks one at a time (in case they see another dog or a squirrel and decide to pull, pull, pull) about a mile and a half nearly every day, but I'm not sure how much longer that will last. Pretty soon turtles will be passing me.

I'm also wondering how I'm going to manage for about fifteen more weeks, but I'm committed to getting to 37 or 38 weeks, or whenever. I guess we'll just have to hang in there.