to feel useless at maybe having to start mat leave early

[uselesspregnantmum]

...I am 31 weeks today and for the last two weeks have felt pretty crap. Exhausted, breathless, dizzy, headachey. My BP is up but not seriously so but I think it's all too much now. I have a full time office job but also three children Youngest is 2.5 and v.demanding - very clingy and when I get home am literally not able to put him down to make dinner, I end up just shoving crap in the oven like waffles and chicken nuggets, I've been so stressed and tired recently I've set off the smoke alarm twice by forgetting to put the oven off.

There is so much to do once I get home, nappies to wash, uniform to wash, making sure kids have done homework, changing foul cat litter, I am falling asleep on the sofa as soon as youngest ds in bed, it feels like an achievement just to wash and dry my hair. My DH is great but he works long afternoon - night shifts and so just isn't there in the evening though he does his best to tidy in the morning and get up with the kids.

I fell asleep briefly at work the other day and have had to go home twice in the last fortnight feeling ill.

I was supposed to work up to 35 weeks but every day just feels harder. I feel dizzy and rubbish after sitting at the computer for an hour, my mind isn't on the job at all. I work in an environment where you are just expected to soldier through if you're ill and bitched about if you take time off, today when I left early one person didn't even was quite rude to me, I actually sat for half an hour plucking up the courage to walk out even after my boss had said I could go as I just couldn't bear the judgement - the last woman to have a baby at my office worked up until the day before she gave birth and I just feel there is a sense that I should just get on with it and it's pregnancy, not an illness (which is true, but I am feeling ill with it).

I just feel very useless and tearful, other people manage to work through their pregnancies and I have managed to last longer with my others. I was so tired last night I forgot to check what groceries we needed and there was nothing for breakfast today, I am snappish with all my kids and just a crap worker and a crap mother not to mention a crap wife.

Just wear disposable gloves if doing cat litter!

God, I remember thinking pregnancy would never end and I only got to 32 weeks!! That bone tiredness is awful.

Get signed off sick, pregnancy-related sick leave. Bet your GP will be supportive. Important to take care of yourself at the mo.

Hi, YABU but I was very hard on myself too when I got ill during pregnancy - carried on, kept saying I should keep going, didn't want to accept I felt rubbish - ended up making myself feel even more rubbish and had to be in hosp for longer than would have been necessary.

You are doing masses already with other children to look after, think long and hard what advice you would give your best friend if she had written your post and then take it as easy as you can.

Best of luck with the preg and put your feet up!

I haven't been to work since 28 weeks! Not starting maternity leave until 35 weeks, but the nature of my job and the problems I've had with the pregnancy (various, but involve having to avoid stressful situations and being on my feet for long periods) have meant the two have been incompatible and I've had to go off on sick leave until maternity leave starts. Have had several bitches colleagues tell me how pregnancy isn't an illness and they managed just fine and I need to toughen up (nurses - totally unsympathetic to each other), have told them to fuck off.

Thank you all, I feel a lot better now and braver about my decisionxxx
ps it's an indoor cat so ok to change her litter unfortunately!

It's not Iron deficiency is it. IThose symptoms sound familiar. Not saying you wouldn't be tired anyway but low iron or ferritin can cause those symptoms. Also thyroid?

Give up and give yourself a break!

I thought I could go till the day I dropped because I work part time at home (and because I was determined to stick two fingers up at an arse of a consultant - not an obs one - who told me I would 'have' to give up at 33 weeks).

Today is the first day of my leave at 36 weeks - officially, unofficially I still have bit of stuff to finish - with twins due in the next fortnight. But I decided that I just couldn't be bothered any more, and needed the sleep time . Sounds like you do too.

Reading your op made me feel so lazy!! I'm 30weeks have a 3 yr old dd and work part time! I'm absolutely exhausted!! I have 4 weeks to ho and am counting down the days!! Please give your self a break and get some rest!! You sound like super women!!!

Wish you all the best!! :)