Survival strategies for preg + toddler

[wholebreath]

Looking for advice from mamas who are on their 3rd or 4th or more. How do you get through parenting a toddler while pregnant? I feel sick, my patience is shot, and we have no family around to call for help. Seriously, I can't believe I have to grow an entirely new human being, while running around after a 2.5 year old.

Can you tell I'm feeling whiny??

[BreakfastyMichele]

I'm no help to you, as we're in the same boat. I'm just sending (((hugs))) and advice that you hit the sack early if possible!

[LindsayK]

I'm only on #2, but I had nasty morning sickness and felt exhausted all through my 1st trimester. I really limit the TV watching 2.5 year old DD does, but during that 1st trimester, she watched a lot of TV. I felt really bad about it, but its what worked and let me lay down on the couch all the time, and kept her somewhat occupied. DH ended up doing a lot more cleaning, too!

Now that I am in my 2nd trimester and feeling good, things are pretty much back to normal, I am happy to report. At least by the time I'm feeling more tired and achey towards the end, DD understands that I have a baby in there, and likes to "hug" and kiss him. She's sorta getting it!

[darkblue0729]

I'm pregnant with #3 atm and have an almost 3 year old and a 1 1/2 year old...the short answer is you do the best that you can!

I have come up with some things that the girlies can do (even if some f the things are messy) that they love and are pretty low key for me:

coloring
tea parties on blankets
pretend vacations (they dress up in beach hats, get buckets, toys and walk to an imaginary beach on our living room floor)
playing with salt dough
singing nursery rhymes (while mama is lying down on the couch, lol)
I pop a big bowl of popcorn and put a blanket down and let them watch a Little Bear 'at the movies'...yes there is vacuuming to do afterwards, lol, but it's a half hour of peace
I bring out a basket of clean clothes and let them 'fold' it
dress up
There's more but preggo brain is taking over, lol
Is essence mama, some days are better than others! The sheer fact that you are worrying about how to be the best mama whilst growing a new LO speaks volumes; as long as you try to do stuff with your babe when you can and are generous with the love, IMHO all will work out

[aikigypsy]

Same as PP. I am pregnant with my second, and DD is 2.5 One week in the first trimester... or was it two? It felt like forever... DD was sick and I had a bit of it, too. I was about 8-9 weeks along and TOTALLY EXHAUSTED. We watched "My neighbor Totoro," a.k.a. "Cat Bus," 5 times in three days.

I do not believe in TV, and it's been hard breaking her of the addiction since, but for those weeks of complete exhaustion, I'd recommend buying or borrowing a few good kids' movies (and making your husband/partner/friends do as much as they can).

[Honey693]

In my first trimester I put a mattress on DD's floor, laid there semi comatose and let her wander around her room and basically destroy it. If she wanted to play with me she would just drag her toy or book over to my half asleep body. We watched a lot of Sesame Street and Muppet YouTube videos too.

[Funny Face]

It truly is survival.

I have a 4 year old and a 16 mo. old.

We don't have television but I get lots of videos from the library for them to watch during this time. Dd also plays on Starfall on the computer and enjoys that.

I read books when I can. They love for me to feed them things so I'll lay on the couch feeding them dried cranberries, nuts, goldfish, etc. For some odd reason they get a kick out of this.

I take anti-emetics on the bad days, otherwise we truly would not be able to survive.

I feed easy foods that we normally avoid like bagels, mac and cheese, ravioli, etc. Lots of fruit and finger snacks.

I let them loose in the back yard and watch them from the couch with the door and windows open.

I think it's actually harder just having one to take care of because they have no one to play with.

Big pallets for everyone on the living room floor do well also.

Baths! Lots of baths together!

Hang in there.

[tngirl11]

When I got pg with my DS, my twins were 18 months, so it was kind of rough. Like everyone said, you just kind of do what you need to do to survive, even if that means too much tv for a little while! Once the morning sickness goes away, it's so much easier. I also completely baby-proofed one room, so that I could lie down close by and close my eyes and just listen without worrying too much about what they might do!

[wholebreath]

Thanks for the encouragement mamas! To top it off, we found out today we will be moving in the next few months. The move is really a good thing, but the timing couldn't be worse. Breathe out, breathe in, breathe out......