Please help me through last 3 months of pregnancy

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Reaching out in desperation, I'm in such a bad place. This has turned into a ranty moan post.

26 weeks pregnant

40 years old so my body isnt what it was. I have gestational diabetes and on a load of insulin. Been trying to manage it since week 12. I can't eat or drink anything I crave or like. My body feels like a pin cushion, I'm injecting/ blood testing up to 7 times a day. Blood levels are unpredictable and I can have unexpected highs and lows as my hormones are changing. I feel like shit most of the time. Physically and emotionally.

My back is absolutely fucked. I've tried yoga at the gym (walked out after 10 mins) and at home but my body can't do anything without my back screaming in pain and I can't flex any of my limbs the way I used to. I can't swim. Walking is agony. I'm waiting for gp apt for physio and I have acupuncture next week so I'm hoping this helps.

I'm weeing up to 8 times a night...each time I get out of bed I'm in agony. My husband massages my back and that provides about an hours worth of pain relief but it's not enough. I've had professional massage done and it provided abut a days relief but it was £70! I'm only going to get bigger and in more pain.

I constantly stink of wee where I have leaks. I have tried so many tena lady pads and even the knickers and I hate them. I still smell and they are uncomfortable. The amount of times I've pulled down my knickers and the bloody pad is sticky side up...I mean.. HOW?? I have downloaded an app which reminds me to fo pelvic floor exercises and I've been doing them for over a week and no improvement.

My husband is wondering where his wife has disappeared to and so am I. He is so supportive, he does all the cooking and lions share of the housework...without grumbling. But instead of enjoying it i just feel useless. He keeps trying to find solutions for example he bought a TV for the bedroom which he sorted yesterday so I don't have to keep going up and down the stairs for the toilet in the evening. He's so sweet. But I just am struggling so much and can't believe it's going to be another 3 months of this torture.

I miss wine!

Also to add and what makes it worse is that It his pregnancy is so wanted and we tried for the longest time, I hate feeling ungrateful, and I'm not ungrateful, just struggling. I know how lucky I am xx

Really feel for you - those sound like a really shit mixture of symptoms. I’ve just delivered my second gd baby and was following the diet from 12 weeks onwards so you have my full sympathy! There are some good recipes on the gestational diabetes website if you or hubby can make some, for a bit of variation. I lived off the almond cookies 🍪 and they didn’t impact my sugar levels.

Could your midwife refer you for some physio for the backpain? I had some pelvic pain and they said if it worsened they’d do an urgent referral.

Get some wet wipes and use them to keep fresh during the day

A pelvis belt from a chiropractor

Have you got pain killers for your back

Sending so so sooooo much love

It feels like a life time but will be over in a flash

Tell us what you like to eat we can make some suggestions around the diet you need to follow for GD xx

Thanks so much you two for replying

It can feel so lonely even though inhave a diamond husband, he can't truly understand and I am sick of moaning around him.

I have membership for that gd website, my dh had made a few things off there but we've got a bit slack lately. I'm going to ask him to do me the brownies today, that should help cheer me up.

Good idea on feminine wipes, will buy a few packs to carry around and have around the house.

I dont take painkillers...I thought we weren't allowed??

Will ask about a pelvis belt...never heard of it before

All I really want to eat are apples and crisp sandwiches 🙈

Oh it sucks! Honestly, don’t feel bad, pregnancy can be really really tough.
I look at the perky ladies, with the neat bum, In their yoga pants skipping about and then I look at me 22 weeks, huge bump, bad back, risk of peeing myself, lumbering about. And I know it’s just luck and won’t last forever.

It sounds like your pregnancy is at the really tough end of the scale and so it’s absolutely ok to be finding it hard.

Keep appreciating your DP for caring, keep in mind that this absolutely isn’t forever and fingers crossed for a good sleeper with a cute temperament to make up for what he/she put you through whilst carrying them!

Thank you for your sympathy and empathy, obvs I'm sorry to hear you know how it feels but also I feel a bit less alone so thank you.

I just wish I could enjoy being pregnant so much. I love feeling baby move even though it can keep me awake. But that is the only thing I get any pleasure from. It really sucks.

Can't wait for baby to be here, even though that will be a new set of challenges with its own pain (sleep deprivation, sore nipples, pain from recovering c section etc) 😅🙈

If you have a co op or Waitrose near you they has this amazing low carb bread called love life - I could tolerate two slices at a time and it made me feel like I was eating ‘normally’ so I could have egg on toast, a sausage and egg sarnie etc - when I was feeling down in the dumps it helped!
And yes there are painkillers that are safe to take in pregnancy so talk to your dr or midwife.

For treat food on the GD plan, I've recently discovered baked Camembert doesn't affect my levels at all. Makes me feel more normal, can get away with some nice whole grain seeded or rye bread with it and then some chopped peppers, cucumber etc. Try to find nice treats for yourself. I can't tolerate the baked GD treats unfortunately, but for me anything I put nuts or nut butters on brings my levels right down.

It is miserable constantly patrolling everything though. I went out for lunch with friends, ordered two small GD friendly starters while they ate a proper lunch, and still my levels were sky high 😬😢

I'm walking a lot of km a day, the first bit is pretty uncomfortable but I find if I push through that I feel better.

We don't have too long to go though. Im trying to just take it one week at a time

Thank you will check out that bread

Husband made millionaire shortbread from the gd website tonight...I had a small slice...bloods within range!! Happy days x

So sorry OP.

Diabetes & pregnancy is hard work. Can you ask your diabetes team if they can prescribe the Libre (scans your blood sugar using a sensor rather than finger prick)? If not, you can buy them (although expensive they could make a big difference to you as you can track what your blood sugar is doing more easily). I would also ask about an insulin pump during pregnancy, or stronger insulins so you're injecting smaller quantities.
Back issues - you should be able to take paracetamol, ask about pregnancy physio as they might offer it a couple of times a week, which could help. They may also be able to help with the weeing. I know that's no fun.

Hope you can get something sorted. Hang on in there.

Thank you so much for your suggestions, greying. I am about to fall asleep so will come back to it tomorrow

Well I say fall asleep...I need another wee. Since climbing into bed and attempting to sleep about an hour ago this is now my 4th toilet trip. Back is stiff and agonising. Will take paracetamol while I'm in the bathroom...Good call

For the wee have you considered some washable pads or pants instead of disposable? In my experience they smell better and stay put better. Cheeky Wipes do some designed for incontinence which I wore throughout pregnancy (weak pelvic floor, copious quantities of cervical discharge - ah, pregnancy, that elegant and feminine time of a woman's life ). I pre-washed them on 30 with some biological detergent and they always came up lovely.

Definitely buy a snoozle for turning over/getting in and out of bed... whilst still painful I physically wouldn't manage without mine now I'm heavily pregnant.
Also look at pelvic partnership website.

Thank you so much. Any chance you could link to the washable pads and also the snoozle please? X

I haven't used it, but this looks like the snoozle: www.thesnoozle.com/

I've got a serola belt, it was life changing and I'm in it again for this pregnancy

Codeine and tramadol and paracetamol all fine when pregnant when the risk is out weighed by the benefit (in your case I would say it is)

You can take 8/500 available from the pharmacy as a simple start

Femfresh soap is amazing too Idc what people say about not using it, it works, it stopped me having UTIs and it keeps me literally smelling like my arms all day. I smell fresh at the end of the day as I use wet wipes and feminine soap. I get the whole wee smell thing I had a urine bag in my first pregnancy and it was the pits.

How you feeling today xxx

Yes @stalkersaga that's the snoozle, it's been a life saver!

Oh. My. Fucking. God.

That Snoozle!!

Ordered.

THANK YOU

Going to check out the serola belt now!

I've been using feminine wipes for 2 days now and while it's kept the smell at bay (along with pads) I am finding then quite...drying. Will check out the fem soap. Does the soap keep you smelling fresh all day or in combo with wipes?

Definitely tell physio re leaks and pelvic floor. You should be seeing gynae physio re this.

Pelivic floor exercises won't work in a week. It will take weeks to see a difference, but it WILL improve. (I had post birthday injuries).

Good luck! And it's ok to moan!

Soap without wipes make a massive difference xxx promise xxx belt rules but needs to be on hips not bump xx

thank you everyone!! feel so much better since posting. some great advice and tips xx