To ask how you coped in the final weeks

[mcjx]

Of pregnancy!

I am literally at despair. I have 5 weeks until my due date.

The acid reflux that I'm experiencing is horrendous, like nothing before. It's keeping me up at night so that I'm barely getting any sleep. I've tried Gaviscon, Rennies and otc Ranitidine. It's just not working!

Also needing a wee every 30-60 minutes. Grrr.

I've tried everything to make myself feel better and nothing's working.

Please MNers share your tips with me and tell me it will get better eventually

[GPatz]

I'm literally awake with the same thing. Although I've two weeks to go. Serving child and second time I've had hideous acid reflux. My pillows are so high it's making my back and bum sore, but that's preferable to the reflux.

In my experience, it disappeared the moment DS was born.

No tips (I wish).

[GPatz]

Second child, not serving child!

[EnchantingRaven]

I’m also in the same boat with just under 2 weeks to go..

Constipation, heartburn & feeling breathless just walking up the stairs is now completely normal for me. Rennies have worked for me, but funnily enough coconut milk has been good for me. Not sure if that’s maybe worth a try OP?

I also experienced ‘Javelin arse’ for the first time ever the other day my word that was painful!

No other tips unfortunately - but we are nearly there!

[cloudymelonade]

Three weeks to go here and absolutely bugger all advice to give other than have a good cry! I feel bloody rotten.

[mcjx]

I'm so glad I'm not alone. I really feel like nobody around me understands how I feel. DM and MIL both had easy pregnancy, mines been horrendous and I don't want to experience it ever again!

[mcjx]

@GPatz I know how you feel about the pillows situation. I've had to resort to attempting to sleep upright for the past couple of nights as it's the only position that doesn't cause the acid to travel back up. But it's so bloody uncomfortable!

I really hope this disappears as soon as I've had him

[mcjx]

@EnchantingRaven I think I might try the coconut milk! At the moment I have a cup of whole milk before bed every night (weird as I never drank milk before being pregnant) but I really don't know if this is aggravating the acid reflux situation

[mcjx]

@cloudymelonade sending you my sympathy, I know how you feel

[EnchantingRaven]

mcjx

Again I can completely relate every person I know who’s pregnant or has been, have had the easiest of times. I’ve been sick since week 8, lost weight, nauseous 24/7, diagonosed with HG, constipated terribly every few weeks, bleeding swollen gums which are rank, head aches, piles & just generally looking like an extra from the walking dead. This mysterious ‘glow’ is a god awful myth surely.

Oh and I’ve wet myself twice - once at work! luckily I had dark clothing on and because I wee every 7 seconds anyway it wasn’t much - but still.. mortifying

The only good thing I’ve had is my hair looks great. Not sure I’d trade that for the above tho..

[EnchantingRaven]

Re: milk - Sometimes normal milk can add to it unfortunately. Coconut milk doesn’t seem too, I read something a while back on it and thought it was worth a try and it really helped. I’m sure it mentioned soya milk / vegan alternatives to milk etc helped too.

Hope you feel better soon tho, it’s a nightmare trying to sleep with it

[OMGMyLifeIsCrazy]

Possibly won't make you feel any better, but it could be worse. I had all of that with my 3 pregnancies but when I had 5 weeks to go with my second, I got chicken pox. Not just a few spots - head to toe and internal. I was praying for death (seriously... it was horrendous) for a couple of weeks and sincerely wished I could just have the original symptoms back. Take some nice warm baths, do a bit of meditation and revisit one of your all time favourite shows (one with lots of episodes). Desperate Housewives and Sex in the City, always made me feel better. Best of luck with everything.

[CosISaid]

I remember drinking Gaviscon by the bottle. I was constantly itchy, but I put cocoa butter (when you could buy it from the pound shop) all over me. I didn't sleep well at night, but would fall asleep during the day (something I've not done before or since).
The overwhelming feeling for me was worry though. I would have very vivid dreams of a baby crying, or having a deformed baby.
I've only had one pregnancy and one baby by choice.

The good news? You get a beautiful baby in a few weeks!

[tympanic]

I agree with Gaviscon and Google sleeping positions that help mininise reflux. It may be lying your left side by memory but don’t quote me on that.

Most importantly, lower the expectations you place on yourself. I worked right up until the end trying to be a trooper, and then one day at work I found myself a sweaty, sobbing, painful mess in the bathroom and went right home. Should have left weeks before.

Women generally try to do it all, but here is one of those times you don’t need to. Put your feet up, delegate house duties to others, and rest, rest, rest. It will all be fine :)

[MaverickSnoopy]

I honesty think it's nature's way of preparing you for a newborn. Here have shit sleep for most of your pregnancy you're never going to sleep again. (It's not quite that bad)

Newborn sleep aside, you really are in the thick of it now. I had pgp in my pregnancies and vividly remember spending my last few weeks in pain turning in bed and struggling to go to the loo every 37 seconds. It's time to be kind to yourself in the day so you are getting some rest at least.

[mcjx]

@EnchantingRaven Christ, sounds like you've had a terrible time yes, agree the pregnancy glow must be a myth as I look half dead most of the time! Haha.

I was waiting for pregnancy to make my hair look great but it's been nothing but greasy for the past 8 months, I'm livid, lol.

Good luck to you and your LO

[mcjx]

@OMGMyLifeIsCrazy god bless you, that must have been awful to deal with.

Yes, daily baths have been great and I've actually just restarted watching Desperate Housewives!

Thanks for your message

[mcjx]

@CosISaid yep, I nap in the afternoon most days. It's bliss

It's the only time I get some decent sleep, doesn't help that DP snores like no tomorrow!

[mcjx]

thanks @MaverickSnoopy. Yes I've also got PGP, getting comfy in bed is nigh on impossible at times. Turning over feels like a mission!

[Thismummyruns]

I pop a Rennie in between my cheek & gum before I drift off- it slowly disintegrates as I sleep to give me a few hours of no heartburn.

I'm up most nights pissing like a race horse too and haven't had a full nights sleep since probably November- now I'm suffering with painful piles- it's all prep for what's to come

[nattynoonoo821]

go the dr and get omeprazole. its life changing. if they wont give it you can buy otc as nexium. and even if you cant sleep because of pain enjoy the quiet. am up feeding my 3 week old for the billionth time.

good luck!

[mcjx]

@Thismummyruns I've tried that before but I'm out of Rennies at the moment

I usually have Ranitidine, it used to work at first but now it does nothing for me

[mcjx]

Thank you, @nattynoonoo821 ❤️

[ThriftyMcThrifty]

Four weeks to go here. I’ve been taking
Prescription meds twice a day for the indigestion since week 9, I couldn’t survive without them. I find almond milk really helps though, I can only have my medicine twice a day so use this in between. Only four weeks to go here, i know how you feel.

[MsHopey]

I've got 23 days left!
Thanks to a lovely bit of gestational diabetes I'm not even allowed the rennie to solve the acid!
I sleep on my left side to ease it a little bit but not enough!
Rolling over in bed takes about 10 minutes now with a lot of moaning and groaning coming from me.
I wake up with painful hips, knees and back from the awkward positions bump puts me in.
On the plus point, its officialt April, so I'm having a baby this month 🎉🎉🎉

[Ponchie]

Get to the gp for your acid reflux, it’s bloody awful and if the ranitidine isn’t working you need it sorting ASAP.
I drank the majority of fluids during the day and then limited myself in the evening (although I don’t think it helped too much)

The pregnancy glow is a myth, I had what I referred to as a ‘pregnancy grey’ as I looked like utter shite for the whole 9 months. Op, have you started maternity leave yet?

People kept saying to me ‘difficult pregnancy, easy labour’ in my case this was true, so I have my fingers crossed for you!
I felt better straight after having my baby and I’m getting more sleep now than when I did when I was pregnant
Good luck!