Lazy or just prego?

[spiritmomma]

So I feel like I am such a lazy pig. I am used to working a lot more than I am... I work less hours at my job, then DH has to make dinner when I get home. Is anyone else taking it easy now that we're 3RD trimester? I feel so guilty, like I should be doing more. Everyone tells me to relax and not that not working so much is understandable, etc... But I feel like I am being harder on myself than anyone else is. Does anyone share this sentiment???

I mean, I am not SICK, just pregnant. Am I the only one who thinks I should still be able to do my regular stuff? Am I being to hard on myself to expect to keep up to my normal schedule?

Advice please!

[spughy]

I know what you mean - I struggled to justify asking for reduced working hours. But I can't escape the fact that I have less energy, and working 8 hour days meant there was nothing in my life except work, food and sleep (because there is no arguing with an increased need to sleep!). As far as work around the house goes, I also have to accept that yes, bending down is a little challenging, and there are certain things that are simply uncomfortable now (like washing the dishes, I can't get close enough to the sink to do it comfortably!)

I am still making dinner, but working 1 1/2 hours less every day and doing less around the house generally. I think next week I am going to ask DH to take over laundry duty as it is getting more and more difficult to squeeze through the junk in our hallway to get to the laundry room.

That having been said, I think it's also ok - and a good thing - to do more than people expect. First, it's great for your self esteem and I think we need psychological boosts as much as anything right now. Second, rest is one thing but muscle atrophy is another, and there's a fine line between them! You don't want to go into labour already pooped but you also don't want to go into labour after a month or so of inactivity.

I would say a good balance is to ask for help with the stuff that takes mental AND physical effort - like housework - and put your energy toward more fun physical activity like walks, swimming, workouts etc. After all, you'll miss out on a lot of that for at least a short time after the baby's born, and it's nice to get it in now. Plus it's both energizing and relaxing, and good for the baby as well.

[Kavita]

I am also feeling a bit lazier the last week or so. It's generally considered normal for the third trimester. I didn't feel so perky weeks 4-10, then felt better after that and got a lot done, and tried to get ahead with some things because I sort of assumed I wouldn't have as much energy now. Part of it with me too is that my work pressure/busyness level has ramped up in both physical and mental ways, so I don't have as much energy for home stuff. Also a lot of other types of stress have abated, so I'm trying to not heap more pressure on myself voluntarily.

After a lot of stress and activity, I'm trying to just rest more these days. I don't want to be a total bump on a log, but I am trying to honor the need to rest and relax too. I figure that I'll be doing plenty of work for the next 18 years after the baby comes!!

[flapjack]

I've definitely slowed down- have done much earlier this time than ever before. As long as the house is hoovered daily, everyone is fed and clothed (in clean stuff) and the dog gets walked, that's good enough for me.
Probably the most embarrassing thing imaginable happened to me on Tuesday- my youngest bounced out of school going "Daniel's mummy had a baby girl!" The last time I saw her, she was 38 weeks (and 2 days) pregnant and I hadn't even noticed...:bag: Admittedly, she has a toddler as well as her 5yo so taking it easy wasn't an option- but as I can, I'm intending to...

[SoggyGranolaMomma]

I get tired more easily, but I'm actually doing more than I have been the whole pregnancy so far.

I just move more slowly. I'm having my sewing machine serviced today and actually am back to cooking dinner again and am entertaining doing some baking. :p

I'm blaming it on nesting. :LOL

[willemsmamma]

Right there with you spiritmomma!!!
And I'm a SAHM right now. I asked dh this morning if there was any way we could budget out our finances so we could get someone to watch our 19 month old a couple of mornings a week... I just need to catch up on rest!!! I don't think we'll be able to swing it so it's wishful thinking.

Are you getting enough iron and staying hydrated? Also eating smaller meals more frequently so that you blood sugar is stabilized? Sometimes that seems to help.

Don't worry about your body slowing down! It's normal to feel this way. It will come to an end eventually though and then you'll have a beautiful baby to hold and care for so rest as much as you can now (while you can :LOL ).

[bec]

Just remember, it takes a lot of time and energy to grow a baby! Don't be so hard on yourself. Rest, take it easy, and listen to your body. If it is cool spending the entire day gardening, fine. If your body is telling you to slow down a bit, listen to it!



Bec (who is definitely slowing down)

[2tolove]

Just thought I would add I am in the same boat now too! This time is a lot more challenging with a 30 month old!! But last weekend DH cleaned the whole house & did the laundry while I napped! ( And I too am a SAHM! - I married a REALLY good one ;) ). It makes me feel really lazy, but then like some of the pp said - we are growing babies in there! :) I think that women tend to be so hard on ourselves! If the tables were turned how do you think your DH you be at this stage :wink

[spiritmomma]

My wonderful husband:heartbeat has been encouraging me to relax more. He has made me dinner every night now for almost 2 weeks! (mmmm.... last night he experimented with some stuff and we had a really good Mexican style meal... He rocks!)

I think I need to just enjoy this time of resting. Thanks for helping me to feel less guilty! I have always said, growing a human is hard work! I guess I am harder on myself than anyone else is. I do take a lot of walks (for pleasure and because we don't drive a car!) So I do get lots of exercise. I probably walk 6-10 miles every week just getting around. I am also never without my water bottle, so getting plenty hydrated. This is my first pregnancy so I had no idea I'd be this tired. I've seen women go both ways: they are either bedridden or super nesters! I just figured I'd be a super nester based on my personality. Although I am finding out pregnancy changes everything! Nothing in my life is predictable anymore!

[willemsmamma]

Although I am finding out pregnancy changes everything! Nothing in my life is predictable anymore!

You got that right!!!!!!! :thumb And if anything in your life is left intact AFTER the baby gets here.... motherhood changes the rest :LOL (but in a good way).

[MamaFern]

i figure if im being a bit lazier than usual, its fine, since ill probably never rest again :LOL being a single mom of a 2 year old is enuff, not to mention a Newborn on top of that... not that im not delioghted and sooo looking forward to it, but i did have a pappa around when elwynn was newborn, and im beginning to think its going to be hard without.. anyways, i want this baby soo much, that id put up with anything.. ive been waking so often in the night to pee that i figure my daytime nap is just covering that time spent walking back and forth from my bed to the toilet :LOL i havnt been exercising as much as i planned either but im jusr recovering from my near fatal fall down my front steps, so thats my excuse for that :LOL

[Queen of Cups]

Last time I was absolutely pyscho about continuing my life/work as I always had until the baby was born. And, guess what happened... pre-term-labor! Apparently, 35-week-pregnant women really shouldn't be working 50+ hour weeks on their feet including moving heavy equipment around. It didn't work out well for me, anyway... I think its way better to be a little lazy and avoid bedrest than try to maintain a full-speed-ahead lifestyle and then be stuck on bedrest for the last month - it sucks!

[zjande]

I am soooo right there with you guys & agree with all of you that said it's hard work to grow another human being so we should rest as much as our body tells us to. You all make me laugh at myself anyway though because I'm a sahm AND my kids are 7 & 14 & I'm STILL exhausted & drag myself around the house some days! :p I've been much slower this entire pregnancy, and my body definitely tells me when it's done with all this upright, moving around business. And now with my pretty extreme tail bone & back pain, sometimes I have no choice but to sit with a heating pad & moan. I totally can't move my body like I can when not pg. I feel like an invalid some evenings. Evenings are the worst!! I figure it's only going to get worse for the next 2.5 mos but that's how growing a human is going to be for me this pregnancy apparently. I'm going to rest a LOT, & my family now puts my shoes on & fetches stuff for me all the time. :love

I've never questioned whether any of this was "laziness", I just feel it's a lot of work to grow our babies, that's all. :love

[spiritmomma]

so last night, I could barely keep my eyes open at 10PM, I slept until almost 9AM. :zzz I caught the bus to our local LLL meeting, then came home and slept another hour or two. :zzz Tonight I am supposed to go see The White Stripes w/ DH. :jammin But I think I might be too tired! The venue is literally across the street from our apartment (we live downtown) so I guess I could sneak out if it was too intense or too loud for the still-in-tummy-can't-cry-to signal-so-i'll-just-kick-really-hard babe. Is it damaging for an in utero baby to be at a loud concert? Do you think I'll have the stamina to stick it out? We do have seats so I can be sitting, but... :blah

[zjande]

If I were you spiritmomma, I'd go while I still had the chance. After baby comes, it may be quite some time before you could do something cool like that. :thumb Can you sleep in in the morning to make up for it?

[MamaFern]

i love the white stripes.. ill go for you :) :hug but i totally understand being unmotivated to do stuff.. ive passed up so many evening events lately because i just couldnt fathom getting ready and going out and not falling over in the street.. :LOL

[samsmamma]

I just can't do as much as I want to. My ankles and feet hurt so much by the end of the day that if I stand and try to do a huge load of dishes, it just really hurts. My back is also sore. I need to see my chiro to get some of that straightened out. My workload is intense right now so that just drains me, and then mothering a preschooler is demanding, so something's gotta give, right? I do what I can around the house and try to make my weekends with Sam as great as possible, so it is honestly DH who is getting the short end of the stick, but he is being incredibly supportive because at the end of the day, having me feel good and ready to labor is the most important thing.

But here's an example - when we were walking to school yesterday we were kind of going fast because we were a little late. It's about 3 blocks from our house, but they are long blocks. I got a bad stitch in my side - so we decided to take the bus! And you know what - I don't feel bad about it at all!

I have stopped going to the gym though in lieu of taking walks and stuff.

Now I have to do some dishes...

[spiritmomma]

Well I gathered up my motivation and went to the show! It was an indoor show at a theatre so no smoking, etc... I had to sit down through part of it because I just couldn't stand up anymore, but I am really glad I went. I felt the need to cover up my belly (as if to protect the baby's ears from the LOUD rock show) but I doubt it did any good. I just hope the baby doesn't cry whenever DH or I puts on a white stripes cd! I guess we'll know then if he or she wasn't happy at the show! :guitar :drum:

[zjande]

Hooray, I'm glad you had fun! I hadn't thought of that.. I would've had to sit too for sure. Maybe your baby was rocking out! :D

[spiritmomma]

i guess this gives "rocking your baby" all new meaning! they were selling baby tee shirts at the concert so I totally bought one for the baby. after all, he or she was in attendance, and clearly affected by the music! I never knew you could get a sense for your baby's personality before you could look at them or hear them make a noise. I can kind of tell my baby's mood by the movements in my belly... or am I just crazy and imagining that I can tell? :LOL