Feeling "off" « Back to Group Discussions

[MrsKatie]

I don't even know how to describe it.

I felt ok this morning; today is our first wedding anniversary, and DH and I went out to run errands together (yay, romantic! Seriously though, we just wanted to be together, even though it was just going to the library and to Costco), and when we got back I started making some hummus to freeze for after baby.  Suddenly I felt tired and achy, my feet hurt badly, I went down to try and take a nap but I just lay there feeling... off.  For the second half of the day today I've just been feeling different, it's super hard to explain how, just detached and weird.  We went out to Indian food for dinner and I was super hungry but all I really wanted was bland, bland, bland; the rice and the plain rice pancake that came with other stuff.  I was hungry but didn't want to eat, and spicy Indian food is, like, my favorite!

I'm having a hard time saying what I mean, articulating how I feel.  I just feel strongly that something is different and changing.  I'm wondering if this is a sign of impending labor.  I'm 36 weeks 3 days, I'll be 37 weeks on Friday, so hopefully nothing happens before then.  Also, the way I'm feeling could simply be a fluke.  I guess I'll know more in the upcoming days...

Ladies who have had babies, can you relate to this?

[Abraisme]

Yup, Ive been feeling like that on and off lately too. Exhausted ( but not like I want to sleep), spacy, a bit dizzy, and just generally feeling like I want to check out and stare at a wall. Yay for pregnancy hormones. :/

[TalkToMeNow]

I felt off yesterday, too. It was random as I'd been feeling so good and productive recently. I couldn't sleep well, kept waking up. I felt nauseous and (tmi) had diarrhea. I was just feeling sick, like I was getting the flu. I actually laid on the couch and watched tv most of the day, which I never do. Ever. and the baby was moving a ton and my BH contractions were painful down low. Like menstrual cramps.

I think I'm feeling better today, though I am still nauseous. Eating sounds disgusting. I guess I'll just see how the day goes once I get moving.

Maybe it's just an end of pregnancy thing. Honestly, I had no warning signs of labor with my other two, and I don't have early babies apparently. So I'm not really believing these are early labor signs.

Hope you feel better today!

[Jaimee]

Sorry you're feeling off, but I can relate, too.  I would venture a guess that it's not impending labor, just end of pregnancy crap.  Last week I had three straight days of nausea and the irritability is getting worse and worse. 

There is really just no way to predict labor based on much else than obvious indications like strengthening contractions that are regular, water breaking, bloody show, etc.  Otherwise, other less obvious symptoms might have something to do with labor or might not.  No way to know until it happens!  With my first I had hardly any symptoms until contractions started and a few hours later I lost my plug.  With my second there was a ton of wondering with all the prodromal labor, but again it was pretty obvious when it started- regular, strengthening contractions and I had lost my plug 2 days prior.  So who knows!

In the meantime, treat yourself gently, relax as much as possible, and do things that make you happy.

[mommy55]

About a week before I delivered my son, I got really sick.  Nausea, fatigue, throwing up, the whole nine yards.  I just felt wiped out.  I was able to sleep it off - it was like I had the flu for a morning.  I was certain it was a sign that the baby was coming, which it wasn't (we had to induce him the following week).  Personally, I think it was my body's way of slowing me down, even if just for a day.  I couldn't function so I had to just hang out on the couch and sleep!

Hope you feel better.

[jasmin85]

I've been feeling that, too.  I call is the "blah's" which for some reason my husband hates because to him it doesn't really say what I'm feeling, but it really does!  Sometimes you just feel "off" and you can't explain it-- you aren't happy or sad or depressed, maybe a little tired and achy but for no real reason (it seems) and you're just kind of *there*.  It's really difficult lately because I can't be much fun to be around and I'm really wanting to connect with DH right now but I'm just no fun to hang out with, which makes me feel more miserable.  I'm ready to be happy and fun and have a beer and just kick back for a bit, but I'm so in "mommy-mode" right now and probably will be for the next 2 years!!  (If not longer)...

It's really kind of depressing to have to be so responsible, to take care of so much and to just want desperately to relate to people again.  I'm tired of feeling like an outcast.  I've never been that in to drinking, but I have to admit that not being able to and being around so many get-togethers lately I'm really sick of it!  And, I did try having half a beer the other day because I've been so worked up about all of the impending changes, but all it did was put me to sleep!  Ugh, I'm just ready to be done but I know that that is when the mom duties really kick in.  DH has been in such a "hang-out" mood and spending time out with buddies at the bar (which he never usually does) and I'm just at home holding down the fort.  I really want to reconnect with him but I'm just SO pregnant and then I'll be breastfeeding and hardly sleeping and taking care of a tiny crying person....how am I supposed to be fun and interesting to be around?!  Blah.

[TalkToMeNow]

I'm sorry jasmin! It's no fun to feel like that. I can relate, somewhat... I am definitely no fun anymore. I go to bed at 10 every night. I don't always sleep (sometimes I read) but I just can't take the couch anymore after that. I need to get in my bed and get comfortable. When dh is home on the weekends, he wants to stay up late watching movies or something. I'm like, can we go to be now? It's 11!! And I never want to do anything interesting. I used to be so much more fun before I was pregnant. My kids (and his) are older, we can leave them and go out... sometimes my two are with their dad, so we get alone time. I used to love going out to a nice dinner or wine bar. Sometimes, we even took little weekend trips without the kids!  Now it's kids all the time and me just wanting to lay around. 

I've tried having a half a glass of wine here and there, and it really does nothing for me. It doesn't feel fun or relaxing... mostly, I just end up feeling guilty like I'm doing something wrong. I pour most of it out. Though I did get a bottle of sparkling grape juice (non-alcoholic drink, obviously) this weekend and drank the entire thing out of a champagne glass. That pepped me up for some reason!  :) 

Hugs. We'll all get through the blahs together. 

[birdhappy85]

Jasmin - Well said! I feel a lot like you do... kind of disconnected from the world. I've been canceling plans with friends lately because I'm getting so little sleep that I'm pretty much dead to the world every day and the idea of socializing just stresses me out. I don't feel like myself anymore. I don't even know what I'd talk to people about if we just went out for coffee even. I feel so... boring and irritable I guess.

I'm getting frustrated and overwhelmed with my to-do list before the baby comes because every time I accomplish a few tasks, I end up adding more to my list. The list never seems to be getting shorter. And I'm running out of steam. My DH is worn out all the time from work so I try not to bother him with things I wish he could take off of my plate. I tried going out to run errands twice yesterday and each time I made it to one store, I became so exhausted and felt so "off" that I just drove back home and laid down. How can I get everything done at this point?! Ugh. And I have to take my car into the shop tomorrow morning, so I'll be without it for a day or two and won't be able to get anything done anyway...

I have have HAVE to get out today and shop. No way around it. I'm standing up in my friend's wedding on Saturday and I haven't even bought my shoes yet. I also offered to bake muffins for the ladies the morning of the nuptials while we're getting ready, so I have to get groceries for that. I wanted to do something nice for everyone. I'm way overextending myself right now. Oy.

[TalkToMeNow]

I'm over extending too, birdhappy. I'm actually taking 12 little 6 year olds 1.5 hours away to a pumpkin patch on Saturday. We'll be staying for 3 hours and then coming back. And I said I'd pack lunch for the whole troop. Thank goodness there are a couple other moms driving/ helping. The part I'm dreading the most is the 3 hours in the car with 5 girls. I can not imagine the noise level! It'll all be worth it, though. My little monkey thinks it is pretty much the coolest thing in the world that I do this stuff. 6 is such a sweet age. 

[Mal85]

I've been feeling off the last few days too. I'm just kind of spacey. I feel like I can't quite express the things I want to say or I'll lose my train of thought in the middle of a conversation. Actually, finishing a conversation is exhausting to me right now. My brain just feels fried and isn't working well anymore. 

I've been physically uncomfortable for a few weeks now, but I've always said the last 4 weeks is absolutely the worst, IMO. Now I know that I could go into labor at any time and they wouldn't be doing anything to stop it, so really baby is a-go whenever she's ready. So, I'm constantly on the look-out for signs of impending labor and asking myself "could this be it?" My brain just doesn't have room for anything else right now. Which isn't a great time this time. It's the end of the quarter and I have parent-teacher conferences next week that I need to prepare for. I still need to wrap things up for my sub folder, so I need my brain to work but it just doesn't want to.

[MrsKatie]

Wow, I can relate to pretty much everything you ladies are expressing here!  I am very lucky that I am done working (as of last Friday - SO glad I made that decision) and that I have little to do other than prep the house for baby.  But, like all of you, I'll get these little spurts of energy and then have to lie down when my task is half-finished.  DH and I bought a recliner off craigslist for breastfeeding ($35! Woo-hoo!), because we desperately needed a comfy seat of our own in this house (we live with his grandmother).  I can't get out of it for hours at a time!  Even after sleeping for 10 hours at night.

It's a new and strange mental place to be.  I feel like I'm so deeply connected inwards that I can't relate to the outside world.  My attention and energy are all directed towards my body and my baby and I'm detached from everything else.  It seems we're all going through this right now.  It seems appropriate for where we're at.  Yesterday was our first wedding anniversary, and I don't feel like DH and I connected the way I'd hoped we would -- we're both just so distracted.  He's super focused on what needs to get done pre-baby, and on what kind of father he's going to be to a newborn (he's super comfortable with slightly older kids, who all ADORE him, but he has very little experience with tiny babies), and I just can't get my mind outta my belly!

I'm feeling similarly today, but with a little more energy (cause it's early in the day).  Sending good thoughts and positive vibes out to all you ladies.  It's a transformative and challenging time for us all right now.

[mommy55]

One other related follow-up.  I was totally exhausted/feeling crappy for the last month or so.  My allergies really hit hard and we made 2 out-of-town trips.  We've hung around at home for the last few weekends and have really relaxed........and it's made a huge difference.  I feel like I've hit my 2nd wind and I'm hoping this continues until delivery (I can hope, right?!).  I know it's not always possible, but I think a lot of this is due to just slowing down.  My son is just 17 months old, and a lot of moms of 2+ kids told me early in this pregnancy to take it easy.......and now I see why.  You start to feel like you can do it all, but we all need to rest/chill at some point.  If you can take advantage of that, go for it!

[TalkToMeNow]

Originally Posted by MrsKatie 

Wow, I can relate to pretty much everything you ladies are expressing here!  I am very lucky that I am done working (as of last Friday - SO glad I made that decision) and that I have little to do other than prep the house for baby.  But, like all of you, I'll get these little spurts of energy and then have to lie down when my task is half-finished.  DH and I bought a recliner off craigslist for breastfeeding ($35! Woo-hoo!), because we desperately needed a comfy seat of our own in this house (we live with his grandmother).  I can't get out of it for hours at a time!  Even after sleeping for 10 hours at night.

It's a new and strange mental place to be.  I feel like I'm so deeply connected inwards that I can't relate to the outside world.  My attention and energy are all directed towards my body and my baby and I'm detached from everything else.  It seems we're all going through this right now.  It seems appropriate for where we're at.  Yesterday was our first wedding anniversary, and I don't feel like DH and I connected the way I'd hoped we would -- we're both just so distracted.  He's super focused on what needs to get done pre-baby, and on what kind of father he's going to be to a newborn (he's super comfortable with slightly older kids, who all ADORE him, but he has very little experience with tiny babies), and I just can't get my mind outta my belly!

I'm feeling similarly today, but with a little more energy (cause it's early in the day).  Sending good thoughts and positive vibes out to all you ladies.  It's a transformative and challenging time for us all right now.

I have a one-track mind right now. All I think about is baby. I'll look distant and dh will ask what I am thinking about... it's always baby.

[MrsKatie]

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

I have a one-track mind right now. All I think about is baby. I'll look distant and dh will ask what I am thinking about... it's always baby.

I know! I'm constantly thinking of that Simpsons episode where Moe steals Homer's drink recipe and re-names it the "Flaming Moe."  Homer's going around town saying "Moe... Moe... Moe..." and everyone has Moe's face.  I'm like that, just replace "Moe" with "Baby."

[xakana]

Yeah, I've been feeling like that, too. Honestly, I wish I had someone to wait on me hand and foot so I could just lie around all day. I am so exhausted, sore, hungry, weak, dizzy and today, I've been having contractions for the last 7+ hours. I'm so tired. (36weeks, 3 days here--37 on Sat)