3rd trimester symptoms « Back to Group Discussions

[eminvc]

Thought I'd start a new one for this...

Anyone else super-duper out of breath? Things that get me winded: brushing my teeth, brushing my hair, putting on a shirt. I consider myself fairly low-maintenance but just the 20 minutes of shower/brush teeth/get dressed/etc feels like a vigorous workout to me at this point.

Also, not sure if this is related to the carpal tunnel or not, but intense pains at night in both wrists, right where the bone of the arm meets the thumb. It is excruciating. I'm already sleeping w/ a wrist splint. Then when I wake up I have almost no flexibility in my hands, and very puffy fingers until about mid-day.

[loveandgarbage]

Yes, there is a reason I no longer shower every day. It just seems like such a hassle! Also walking up the stairs is getting to be such a chore. Our only bathroom is on the 2nd floor, so during the day that is annoying to deal with. However in the middle of the night, it is pretty nice to just walk a few steps to be able to pee!

I've felt a baby growth spurt in the past couple of days. And he's A LOT more active in there. Really pushing and stretching and treating my womb like his personal kingdom, which I guess is his right.

[kellybeth]

i get winded easily, i have been that way for a while, though we've moved about 1,000 ft lower than we were before. we are still at 6,000 ft above. i really feel it when i'm not breathing properly. since i'm getting closer to labor i've been keeping a rhythm in my breathing that i can hopefully remember when i'm in pain. 

i'm sorry you have carpal tunnel, that's awful.

symptoms/etc:

-tiredness is setting in more now

-nesting instinct is intensifying

-uncomfortable to bend over. 

-shaving in the shower is a cruel joke. 

-trying to shave "down there" probably resembles how i cut my own hair when i was 4. 

-trying to figure out ways to hide my newly chubby cheeks. researching slimming haircuts.

-peeing a lot. pee before i go to bed. pee when i start to feel myself get cozy. pee again 3 hours later. 3 hours after that. and one more time for good measure.

-hip pain. flipping myself over throughout the night. preggo pillow may be needed at this point. i'm stealing all of my hubby's pillows. 

-SO HOT ALL THE TIME

-reflux, but papaya enzyme helps so much. 

[HouseofPeace]

i was going to ask who's cut their hair and who's thinking about it!

just took off 8 inches and now have shoulder length curls/waves and am SO HAPPY to have new haircut!

i was thinking of SHORT after birth, but after losing the weight.  meanwhile, i wanted a change and there was a real release in chopping off hair i hadn't cut for 4 years.  

but thought we're due for a bunch of us getting haircuts due to chubby cheeks (kellybeth, you're radiant and lovely!!!  your cheeks are beautiful!) and just being so large and needing a change.

otherwise, pushing stroller w/ 18 month old and 3 year old up hill?  torture (huffing and puffing while answering calls from the USDA about food stamp processing for farms and trying to sound professional?  ha!!!)  and i'm pretty sure that everytime i try to get out of bed i swing my legs a few times to get the momentum going to get me up easier!  but otherwise, just large and sleepy.  i can't seem to want to be awake.  at all.

except for this one time of day when i have no kids and can putter ONLINE (watching Jon Stewart and the Gosling Stripped is making my day)

[Jenny01]

Originally Posted by kellybeth 

symptoms/etc:
-tiredness is setting in more now
-nesting instinct is intensifying
-uncomfortable to bend over. 
-shaving in the shower is a cruel joke. 
-trying to shave "down there" probably resembles how i cut my own hair when i was 4. 
-hip pain. flipping myself over throughout the night.
-SO HOT ALL THE TIME

hahah these are all totally me as well!

Getting ready for work in the morning does feel like a workout, and I'm exhausted before I even leave the house for my 10 min walk to work (which is now becoming more like 15 mins these days).

[josie423]

2 days ago my pubic bones started hurting. I've had SPD since my third unfortunately. My chiro just had a baby so I haven't seen her in a while and she won't be back till after Christmas, ugh. Her husband is also a chiro and they work together but I've never been to him and feel... awkward. I'm gonna have to go anyway!

I've also had an intense nesting urge! And exhaustion.. which makes nesting difficult.

I enjoy showering very much, but sometimes when I'm rinsing my hair and standing under the water I start to feel nauseous and lightheaded. What's up with that??

[typebug]

Well some stuff is going OK. I seem to be a good sleeper and I can get through the night often only getting up to pee once - win! Not always but probably 75% of the time anyway. I have tons of energy but... the Braxton Hicks issue is still way out of control for me. I can manage to be on my feet for a short 30 min flat walk in the morning but after that they start again and then just don't stop. My belly can stay in spasm for as long as it takes to get all the way back home again. So I'm stuck lying on my side and occasionally sitting for the rest of the day unless I'm willing to brave the wrath of these things again. They used to be a single incident and then they'd pass and I'd be able to continue but they don't stop on their own unless I can lie down or take Spasfon which then makes me go right to sleep for the rest of the day anyway. I drink water, I take magnesium and electrolytes and have cut out any uterine irritants I've been able to look up. Now I'm just worried that I'm going to start to see my muscles die away and be far more weak than I need to be for the birth. I feel like something else must be possible. Chiropractic hasn't help. Maybe accupuncture or deep tissue massage. My research continues. 

[LadyCatherine185]

I can't believe I'm already 30+2 weeks!!!! WOW!!

The biggest change for me over the last week or two has been nighttime sleep going waaaay down hill. I am constantly having weird dreams, getting up to pee 5 times a night, and my pubic bone is hurting a bit at night too. We finally set up bunk beds for the boys in the room next to us (previously DH was sleeping with DS1 in a twin bed and I was sleeping with DS2 in the queen/master bed) and DH is handling all the boys' nighttime wakeups. SO THANKFUL for that, as DS2 was waking me a lot at night and wanting to sleep ON me, so between his wakeups and my own, I was waking up 10-12 times a night easily! DS2 has done great with the transition so far, he's been sleeping solid from 10-4, and then going right back to sleep for DH until morning (and DH just stays in bed with him).. and DS1 is loving sleeping on his "big boy top bunk"!!! phew.. maybe we CAN do this 3 kid thing.

I have also had some pretty intense nesting urges. My house has stayed really clean the last few months. Yesterday I finally washed/organized all the baby clothes, and I purged a bunch of "extras" as well as some of the bigger boys' clothes. That felt really good, as I am trying to simplify on my laundry!

I am definitely feeling the tiredness coming on too.. and I can't shower everyday either! I usually take a bath on the days I don't shower, and don't wash my hair.

I have had zero desire to cook, which is something I usually enjoy doing. We've been keeping it pretty simple with meals around here!

Other than that, I've had a much more comfortable second half of pregnancy than I did with my previous pregnancy. I am SO glad I lost those 30 lbs between these pregnancies, I think it has made a HUGE difference in how my body is handling the pregnancy!

[etsdtm99]

its good to hear i'm not alone in various things 'going down hill' .. sleep has gotten horrible lately, waking every 3 hours to pee, waking up hot, waking up from super crazy weird dreams .. ugh.

my belly has also been getting lower and lower.. bending over and even squatting is getting way more difficult, i have to hold my breath and do all sorts of weird things..  i had to clean/organize the office/craft room yesterday (which was a complete disaster) and i ended up just crawling around the room on my hands and knees .. cause i just couldn't bend over to pick things up..  with my belly lower, breathing has been easier this week than it was last week.. i'm sure baby will grow again and breathing will get worse again soon..   the top half of my belly feels like its going to rip in half, like all the weight of the baby is carried on the skin or something, i'm even getting new stretch marks up there after 2 pregnancies without really getting any.. (got most of what i have the first time around)  oh STAIRS - not only do they leave me feeling out of breath but my legs hit my belly when i'm walking up the stairs so i have to do this weird waddle thing and it is just.. yuck.. i'm avoiding the stairs as much as possible.. 

my nesting urges are going crazy again.. we're getting a new freezer asap so i can continue cooking/freezing..  i filled up what we have and didn't even make a dent in my list.. 

[buko]

I think I'm still in pretty good shape, very lucky, but definitely starting to feel more little "aches and pains" kind of stuff.  Like there's no doubt I'm pregnant! 

-I pee a lot-- I can hold it if I have to, so serious urgency hasn't come into it YET, but prefer to go about every 30 minutes during the day and get up, oh, at least 3x/night.  Luckily, I WAH, so I can mostly pee as often as I feel like it!

-I do feel some pubic pain here and there-- I have off and on for a while, especially after a harder workout-- now it's a little every evening.

-Slightly annoying BH at night when I don't hydrate WELL all day.  Though since I figured out the cause, I have cut them from 3-4x/week to maybe 1x every two weeks.

-I have a hamstring tendon injury from last year (running) that is getting irritated, probably by the relaxin and the funky sleep positions.  As long as it doesn't get WORSE, I'm okay.  Fingers crossed.

-Because of my lower-quality sleep, I feel like I need to be "sleeping" as much as 10 hours a day-- I know I'm lucky that I can even do that if I choose, but it's cutting into some pretty critical work I have to do with my business.

[Jenny01]

Typebug - have you tried a good support belt? I haven't been able to walk without one for a few weeks now. I was having the same issue - tightness/pain that wouldn't stop until I sat down - felt to me like ligament pain though as opposed to BH, but then again, I don't really know what BH feels like since this is my first.

[typebug]

Originally Posted by Jenny01 

Typebug - have you tried a good support belt? I haven't been able to walk without one for a few weeks now. I was having the same issue - tightness/pain that wouldn't stop until I sat down - felt to me like ligament pain though as opposed to BH, but then again, I don't really know what BH feels like since this is my first.

Oh i nearly forgot about those. I think I may go get a support belt today. I've just had a major round of ligament pain so it will help with that if nothing else.

On the BH front my midwife just emailed me back and said I'm someone who will probably have this issue right through the 3rd trimester and that I'm just going to be on partial bed rest to manage it. I'm not totally satisfied with her answer.

[Gillmoro]

Typebug- sorry to hear about the BH issues, hope they resolve soon.

I am definitely getting to that big and uncomfortable point.  My legs are starting to swell when I stand up for longer than 30 minutes or from sitting for 5-9 hours at a time in class.  And I am tired all...the...time.  I am trying to figure out when to accomplish all my nesting projects as I only have a few days off next month and that will be my last down time before baby arrives. 

My biggest issues is little feet kicking me down low- not only am I anxious for this baby to turn head down, but getting kicked in the bladder and crotch from the inside is very uncomfortable.  I spoke with my midwife and husband yesterday about options if the baby does not turn.  I know there's still plenty of time I am just one of those people who needs to think through and try to prepare for all options to put my mind at ease. 

HouseofPeace: I just got a cute cut over this past weekend, I went with a long bob and probably cut 5-6 inches in back.  I really love it though, makes me feel a little less lumpy. 

[HouseofPeace]

okay- worst thing and really hard for me to deal with is at 5pm every night i am too tired to do what i need to do.  i cannot handle the screaming, the chaos, and my husband has been out the last few nights and i'm just fried.  today i baked a turkey, brownies, had a tea party/playdate for the kids, then dinner, then bathtime while trying to put away much of the kitchen chaos.  but at 5pm, i was dropping plates, getting BH, and just emotionally couldn't get it together to just take care of things.  the last 3 nights have been really rough sleepwise, 4 1/2 year old and 3 year old up a lot, and i just couldn't handle doing anymore.  last night when loading dishwasher around the same time, i broke my plate.  it's definitely a pattern of 5-6pm, i just cannot handle DOING anything.

so while i was finally off my feet, my 20 month old baby girl picked up all the clothes from the bathroom floor (3 girls worth) and dropped them in the bathwater.  then went over and played happily in the toilet (which of course was NOT flushed, but not poop) until the floor and her pj's were soaked.

i yelled.  

then sent everyone to bed.  held and rocked baby (who's actually never pushed me to the point of yelling at her before.  she's been a little mouthy, but i'm pretty good at the boundaries and patient discipline thing) who was very happy to snuggle.  but feeling like an absolute flop as a mother these days!  

how do you other mama's deal with the 4-5pm kid meltdown (followed by the 5-6pm mama breakdown) without becoming a weepy mess?  

i've cried more the last 3 days than in a long time!  and i know i'm going to be tired for a while.  husband is traveling next week.

we have had houseguests for the last month, which is hard on me as i like my private space.  but i need some coping mechanisms for the next few months!!!

[josie423]

Originally Posted by HouseofPeace 

okay- worst thing and really hard for me to deal with is at 5pm every night i am too tired to do what i need to do.  i cannot handle the screaming, the chaos, and my husband has been out the last few nights and i'm just fried.  today i baked a turkey, brownies, had a tea party/playdate for the kids, then dinner, then bathtime while trying to put away much of the kitchen chaos.  but at 5pm, i was dropping plates, getting BH, and just emotionally couldn't get it together to just take care of things.  the last 3 nights have been really rough sleepwise, 4 1/2 year old and 3 year old up a lot, and i just couldn't handle doing anymore.  last night when loading dishwasher around the same time, i broke my plate.  it's definitely a pattern of 5-6pm, i just cannot handle DOING anything.

so while i was finally off my feet, my 20 month old baby girl picked up all the clothes from the bathroom floor (3 girls worth) and dropped them in the bathwater.  then went over and played happily in the toilet (which of course was NOT flushed, but not poop) until the floor and her pj's were soaked.

i yelled.  

then sent everyone to bed.  held and rocked baby (who's actually never pushed me to the point of yelling at her before.  she's been a little mouthy, but i'm pretty good at the boundaries and patient discipline thing) who was very happy to snuggle.  but feeling like an absolute flop as a mother these days!  

how do you other mama's deal with the 4-5pm kid meltdown (followed by the 5-6pm mama breakdown) without becoming a weepy mess?  

i've cried more the last 3 days than in a long time!  and i know i'm going to be tired for a while.  husband is traveling next week.

we have had houseguests for the last month, which is hard on me as i like my private space.  but i need some coping mechanisms for the next few months!!!

Oh my goodness, this is my life right now. It builds up all day and then comes to a head around dinner and bedtime prep. It is so hard, and my DH is home, so I can't imagine what it would be like without him. :( My kids know I'm tired and frazzled and really push me. They are either screaming and fighting or running out of control while laughing loudly non-stop. I have no advice but know exactly what you're going through.

[odinsmama]

Originally Posted by HouseofPeace 

how do you other mama's deal with the 4-5pm kid meltdown (followed by the 5-6pm mama breakdown) without becoming a weepy mess?  

This time of day is our screen time. By this time the boys need a break from each other and I need a break from the loud. Older boy (7) can do puzzle games on the computer and younger (4) can do puzzle games on the iPad. Sometimes the older one will be in the right mood to help younger one with Starfall on the computer and sometimes the younger can be content watching the older one play his games. Whatever keeps the peace.

While they're doing this I'm finishing up dinner (they eat at 5 or so and ds2 is in bed by 7) or if dinner is in the crockpot I'm putting away laundry or just resting!

Also, I ditch any part of my routine that isn't working. Bath time has NEVER worked for us to do it in the evening. Either they fight (when they used to bathe together) or make a huge water mess. Now my younger one bathes at some point during the day and the older one showers at some point. They don't even do it every single day unless they're dirty or stinky. If we can clean it off with a wash cloth and it is later in the day, the bath can wait until tomorrow.

And if I seriously need some extra down time in order to keep my sanity or physical health under control, we do extra screen time. There are plenty of cool educational games and shows out there so none of this time is just cartoons or whatever. We save those for Saturday mornings.
I'm fortunate to live in a place where winter is not extreme, so the boys are still playing outside a LOT if it's not raining. If it has been an all day indoors day, I know that extra screen time will just make things worse as far as their behavior/attitudes/fighting goes.

Anyway, that's what this mama does at that tired, cranky, hungry, wild and crazy time of day.

Hope you can find something that works for you!

[odinsmama]

Oh, forgot to mention that this happens right after their quiet time, which they do separately. They have a play room and can take turns in there playing Legos or a puzzle or drawing or whatever.

[HouseofPeace]

thanks!

i forgot about starfall.  my oldest is not quite 7, and while he's careful, my 3 year old and 20 month old are chaos on wheels and destroyed the last computer i let them get screen time on!  and i've never replaced it!  i forgot that's how i dealt with last baby too!!!

bath time is not daily here, except for the 20 month old, and it's 2-3x a day for her (she loves to eat).  

i realized this is the ONE time of day i don't have tightly scheduled, and maybe i need to work on that.  they like to know what's expected, when, where, and for how long!  once they have that, everyone seems to just fall in line a lot better.  my little ones are not quite 7, not quite 5, 3 and 20 months, so it's challenging to get something that works for all.  i'm also a very social introvert, so by the end of the day i've been pretty much drained of all my social skills and just need to find a way to get more alone time (robbed from me today by a well-meaning visitor!) as well as setting the kids up better.

meanwhile hubby is staying home tomorrow to let me rest and to celebrate his b-day.  which is a relief b/c we haven't had a day off in more than a couple of weeks, and that wears on us both.  and we're traveling this weekend.  and he's traveling next week.  *sigh*

[loveandgarbage]

Ah, the lovely late afternoon witching hour. My kids are exhausted when they come home from school around 2:30 and the slow march til dinner/bedtime is sometimes torture these days. It's been too cold to be outside, it now gets dark around 4:30 so my kids are internal clocks are confused, I'm grumpy and tired, blah blah blah. If DH is home for dinner (luckily most nights) I feel like I can push through and make dinner while drowning out crazy boy noise, because DH will take over bedtime and I can slump on the couch around 7. But if he's working late I uh... make the kids a quick snack dinner and turn on a movie for them! They think of it as a super special treat (especially if I lie out a picnic blanket for the food) and really I do it just because I can't stand to be on my feet for another minute! What also works for us is having lots of playdates. As much as having two or sometimes four extra boys at our house raises the noise level, it also keeps my kids entertained and cuts down on the whining factor. So I've been offering every chance I get to host. We usually have them 2-3 times a week. And when the baby is born my friends will happily repay me by taking my kids whenever I need. So everyone wins.

I hear you on the crying thing, though. Last week DS2 was in quite the mood on the ride home from school one day, was trying to pick a fight with me about something I can't even remember, and when we got home and I reached back to unbuckle him he straight up kicked me in the face! He's never done that. I managed to keep it together until we got in the house and then I ran upstairs, threw myself on the bed, and starting weeping teenager style.

Honestly no real advice here. On days when I'm exhausted I do the bare minimum to keep the house running. And on days when I have more energy I try to catch-up. DH has taken over a lot of the house chores (we usually do about 50/50) and he's happy to do it and I try not to feel guilty.

[LadyCatherine185]

I do a lot of the same as odinsmama and loveandgarbage..

Our witching hour starts around 4 as well (more with the 2 yo than the 4 yo) especially if DS2 has not napped. In advance, I either prepare dinner earlier in the day so all I need to do is heat it up quickly, or do a crock pot meal; but lately it has been a lot of "snack" dinners (last night was creamy tomato basil soup and buttered bread with cheese and apple slices) that only take me 5-10 minutes to prepare. DS1 loves to help with dinner, so this keeps him occupied/happy those last few minutes, and we do a lot of afternoon movies. If DH is working late, we also do movies with dinner and eat in the living room.

It hasn't been too terribly cold here (40's-50's in the afternoon) so I make sure to get us outside as long as it is sunny in the afternoons, so they are more receptive to the screentime and downtime in the evenings. This is also when they get to have "junk food" snacks like crackers, pretzels, etc. usually while I am finishing up dinner. Thankfully the 4 yo is pretty happy to sit on the computer and watch PBS videos (he LOVES Wild Kratts), but the 2 yo is still a challenge at this time of day.

I also know that there is an end-- DH is usually home by 6:30, DS1 is in bed by 7, (if DS2 doesn't nap he is also in bed between 6-7, if he does nap he is up between 10-12), so once DS1 is in bed it is either 2 adults on 1 kid, or 2 adults ALONE. ;)