Hormones in last weeks

[roseability]

I am 36 weeks and sooo irritable and hormonal

I wasn't like this with my first pregnancy. Generally I have kept well but just in the last week I have begun to feel exhausted. I cry at anything, take everything everyone says the wrong way and snap at DS and DH.

I was feeling so happy, chilled and positive about this pregnancy but today I feel a little scared of birth and a newborn

Please tell me it is normal to have this sudden change in emotions!

[Heebychick]

Have you talked to MW about Iron levels? i felt just like you (i'm 31 weeks) and it turned out my iron levels were a little low for me so was given tablets - new woman now!

But failing that, with my first child i did feel like this a little towards the end, it has taken a long time to get there and you are bound to be fed up with your size and feeling tired lugging a big bump around. Try and rest, spoil yourself with whatever normally cheers you up and be kind to yourself - it's the final stretch!

x

[parsleymad]

Totally empathise. Also 36 weeks and so irritable and grumpy. I don't remember being like this with my first 2 pregnancies and I'm on the spatone so I don't think I can put mine down to iron levels.
I think I feel a bit overwhelemd by how much I have to to do and organise these last few weeks. Am having a home birth for the first time and am trying to get everything ready on top of trying to keep house in a vague sense of order and some mad nesting which extends to the garden (?). So much to do and no energy to do it!

[roseability]

Thanks guys!

Yes the nesting thing adds to anxiety. My DH took on a big project making raised beds recently. For a while the garden looked like a building site!

Also feel, no matter how much I clean and sort house it still looks like a tip. I have a DS (3) who obviously doesn't understand mummy's need for order and calm!

Heebychick - good point about the iron levels. I am seeing my MW tomorrow, so I will mention it.

[Heebychick]

I have a 2 yr old DD so totally understand the 'why can't you put one toy back when you get another one' request! tee hee!

Have managed to get her enrolled in 'helping mummy with housework' though which is great as i can then sit down whilst she naps .... i promise she only has water and a cloth - no chemicals obviously!

Good luck with MW - roll on the summer eh ladies xx

[roseability]

Actually feel a bit better today. My mood is just so up and down. Yes roll on the summer. I know having a newborn and toddler won't be easy but I want to be able to see my toes and not pee every 5 minutes!

[Heebychick]

Ha ha ! Here Here!!

I understand from friends that after 6 months it all slots into place so i'm thinking by Christmas we should both be sorted with newborns and toddlers ....here's hoping.

Glad you feel a little better today.

What are your plans for birth?

[roseability]

Hi again

MW took full blood count, so shall wait and see

I am going to give birth in hospital, but hope to use the birthing pool they have there. I am very hopeful for a better experience than last time (forceps delivery)

And you?

[shellmc]

Hi there, im 38+4 and iv been having ups and downs, a few weeks ago i just cudnt stop crying but the best
This is my first soo didnt know why i was feeling like this but talking to other mums and family members they all sed its common to have these moments!!
Hope your feeling better soon hun.
Shell x

[shellmc]

Shud have sed....... the best thing was i didnt know wot i was crying for.
LOL

[Heebychick]

Hi, glad about your blood test rosea hopefully you'll have some answers by the end of the week.

I am hoping for a VBAC, had an awful time with DD, back to back and big bubba so didn't progress well at all, which resulted in an EMCS. But up for a VBAC this time, hoping bubba will be in the right position and smaller than last (9lb 12 1/2!) so i can labour normally this time .... have thought about hypnotherapy - any ideas? maybe a bit whacky tho!

shell Hi, sorry you are having a tough time too, seems it's quite common tho. It is the home straight and it is very tough, lets hope non of us go overdue!!

[roseability]

heebychick - I have been doing hypnotherapy and really believe in it. Even if I don't end up with the labour I would like, I have found it keeps me relaxed during the pregnancy (apart from my hormonal outbursts!)
I haven't done a proper course as too exspensive but I have used CDs ordered from the internet.

Sorry to hear your last birth was traumatic.
I will be keeping my fingers crossed for a nice, calm vaginal birth for us both

[Heebychick]

Hey that's great! I don't really want to do a course either and they are lots of £££ so thought about the CD's, any you would recommend?

I do yoga and last week i really 'zoned' out, which i really hope will help with the control over contractions, trouble is you never know do you.

Lets keep in touch and see how we progress ... you can be my beacon of hope for a calm birth!!!

[roseability]

Okay - great idea!

Try www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk

I bought the Effective Birth Preparation and the Calming Birth Music CDs

There is a 15 min relaxation track, which is great just for chilling and bonding with your baby. Yes very hippy 'imagine your baby bathed in a beautiful glowing light' kind of thing, but I am a big convert.

I have started doing the actual birth preparation which is about 25 mins. I am not doing it as often as a I should, but it does put you in a more positive frame of mind about the birth which can only be a good thing.

The birth music is very chilled and I plan to listen to it in early labour. It triggers the suggestions from the hypnosis.

Will let you know how I get on.

[roseability]

forgot to say they are about £10-12 each. Still a lot cheaper than the courses

[InsomniacMumontheRun]

Glad it's not just me that's a hormonal wreck!

38+2 and like Jekyll & Hyde. The low iron levels thing is interesting, I was told I was slightly anaemic a couple of weeks ago so probably explains alot.

Don't think the fact that I've been told I will probably need a c-section is helping much. Baby is in transverse footling position and not moving. Scan tomorrow to determine fate . DS was forceps so this time was hoping for short 2 hour labour 2 pushes and out baby pops......expectations a tad too high maybe? .

Hope you ladies get the births you hope for!

[Heebychick]

Thank you rosea re Cd's, i had heard of these so will buy a couple asap. My friend gave me a number of a hypnotherapist who can do one session to give me some tips etc so will try this too and let you know how i get on.

Hi insomniacM sorry to hear you are having a tough time, i guess you may have a slim chance of baby moving in the next week? But if not try not to be blue, have you had a Csection before? Get scrubbing those floorboards on your hands and knees!

[roseability]

Insomniac - my baby was breech until this week. I did get on my hands and knees and scrubbed the bathroom floor. I have no idea if this worked or not, but baby is now cephalic.

Fingers crossed for your scan. My last birth was a forceps so I completely understand your desire for a natural delivery

[InsomniacMumontheRun]

Roseability - Glad your baby turned! They like to keep us on our toes don't they? Mine is totally in my right side today, feels like head under my ribs. I have a bi-cornuate uterus so they don't think the baby will be able to turn properly.

Have been getting on my hands and knees regularly but to no avail.....still hoping though!

[swottybetty]

ah, i am signing up for this club too. i am 37 + 4 and a total wreck.low iron levels too apparently. also stressed out by prepapring house for homebirth. i feel like i have been waiting ages to hit the 37wk mark and now its here i really dont feel ready and just see dirt and mess everywhere and a hundred jobs to do. wondering if i should just give up on homebirth ambitions cause of how upset it is making me. if i go into labour before weekend i will have to go to hospital i think cause not ready.

dh and i arguing every day and i know i am putting loads of demands on him. we have just had huge row. we didnt argue like this last time, and yet last time i had a bleedin awful hospital birth. i am so frustrated that just when i need some energy the most,i just feel so exhausted. have been on antibiotics 4 times in last five months and i dont think that has helped me feel too good.

i have been doing the natal hypnotherapy cd too. its ok,i keep meaning to get the birth music cd too as an additional trigger. i have been burning an aromatherapy blend whenever i have the cd on. already i find that the smell association is very strong. i am finding it difficult to get 35min to do cd -- dd naps for an hour and half each day but that is my only time to get stuff sorted cause am too knackered to do anything in evening.

oh damn and blast i feel sorry for myself. should really go and sort stuff out with dh. sorry for such a moanathon. i just read all the other posts and thought my moans may be tolerated here ....

[thisisyesterday]

oooh can I join???? I am erm, nearly 37 weeks I think and super grumpy.

swottybetty, i am having a homebirth too. really don't worry about preparation! there is tons of tiem for that.
all the midwives want is enough space to put their stuff and look after you, that's it.
they don't care about the dust on the tv or the dishes in the sink or the toys all over the place.
(trust me, this is my second and my house will be even worse this time round!)

[roseability]

swottybetty - moan away! That is what this thread is for!

Don't worry about the arguments with DH. I think it is usual for couple tensions when a baby is approaching. Both of you get a little bit tetchy, as even if this isn't your first it is still a big life change

Good luck with the homebirth!

[WowOoo]

Roseability, my dh tells me I am totally up and down, snappy at times, overemotional at times, irrational and soppy!

Also says he's never seen me clean so thoroughly and that I'm getting things properly organised.

Hvae had the jitters a bit. I'm only 30 wks now, but am worrying about how we'll cope, whether I'll get my VBAC and how ds will cope with his new brother.

Think it's totally normal... you're 36 wks so will warn dh that my moods may get more extreme. Ha ha..poor dh!

[Heebychick]

Hi ladies - welcome swottybetty and wowooo and i agree with rosea in that the last few weeks are so tense especially if you are bordering OCD on tidying up (like we all seem to be in this thread! ) i am worrying about all sorts - have i even prepared at all for this baby, haven't done anything yet as keep kidding myself that cos it's number 2 we should be prepared but i can't actually remember how to prepare bottles or even hold a newborn!! ok a little OTT on the panic front but all your worries make sense to me and i'm not sure our DH's DP's can understand fully.

wow as for the VBAC, i'm the same as you hun, and also how our DD will cope with another baby around. I worried about having a second for fear of losing a single moment with our DD, i adore her and i know i will this one but it's hard to think you have to split your time isn't it. What preparation have you been doing to help the VBAC choice?

All normal worries i'm sure but still upsetting.

[swottybetty]

hey all. ty for your niceness. today has been v up and down already but i am trying to stayed pulled together. i cant believe i ever used to be a go-getting professional lady. i feel like a fat old nag and a bit train wrecky

heeby,how old is your dd? i am a bit worried too, and feel quite sentimental about the last few days of it being just us. she is fourteen months and has always been a daddy's girl but total turnaround last few weeks and she just wants mum. terrible timing, bless her . she just started walking and is always on the go but today she was so sweet. i just had to crash out on sofa and she just came and snuggled under duvet with me.

good luck vbac'ers! its funny how much more the birth seems to matter second time round. i am so fixated on it.

[DawnAS]

Can I please join in aswell?

I'm 36 weeks today and thought that somehow I'd been missed out when they were handing out the PG Hormones - but nope - they've cut in this week. Irritable, fed-up and only managing about 2-3 hours sleep a night - if I'm lucky!! Nothing to do with getting up to pee - luckily I'm only having to do that once a night - but I'm just so damned uncomfortable and hot in bed that I can't sleep!!

This is first baby so nothing to compare it to...

Also dreading the birth as they are intending to induce me at 38+5 due to Gestational Diabetes (thanks Mum for passing that to me... ). So I can't even have any chocolate to help me feel better!!

I have to be induced PLUS have an insulin drip throughout labour and a heart monitor, so no moving around for me.

I've been told that they'll try to induce for three days, then home for a day then back in and try once more. If not then a C-section.

All joy and light here!!

So no other DC but a DDog who unfortunately seems to be eating something dodgy in the garden so I have to get up when she whines in the early hours, to let her out to be sick. Oh the joys!!

I'm going slightly mad I think....

xxx