Too tired for this ....

[Yellowsuit]

I am 8 months pregnant and have 3 lo's at home with me. Aged 2, 4 and 5. We spent yesterday doing nothing at all because I was so tired and I'm feeling even worse today. No family nearby to help. I just need to get through the day. At the moment I feel I could fall asleep if I just closed my eyes!

I really feel for you. When I was 8 months pregnant I only had a 2 year old and that was bad enough. Make sure you tell your MW about how you are feeling.

What about friends? Is there a family that the older children know who might be willing to take them out with their own? Can you afford to take them on outings but just don't have the energy? Someone else might be happy to have one or two of yours on an outing in order to entertain their own.

Do you have a park/ play place near you? I would go there after youngest has had nap and let them all play and you can just sit/ watch a while

The science museum basement is good if your in London ( suitable mainly for little ones so no giant children pushing over)

Or take to park, they play, you drink hot choc. The air will wake you a bit and they can play and hour so on return will be happier to play inside again

Set up playdough at home on table. Fairly unmessy, plus they can do without much help.

Do you have any friends or neighbors your close to that could help out?Even if just for an hour in the day so you can go and nap to recharge your batteries.

If not could you afford a babysitter to watch the children in the house whilst you nap or maybe a childminder.

If you have a partner have you told them how worn out you are.If you haven't then you should.If they could take care of the children for an hour when they get in from work or if they could sort out bedtimes for the LO's so you could go to bed early each evening.

A few days in won't harm your children,just lay some easy to play games out or toys for them,stick something on the tv when they get bored with playing and rest on the sofa.

I hope you manage to get some rest I know how awful being really tired can make you feel.

Also if you can afford to maybe look for someone to come and help say on a Wednesday. Then I'm assuming you have help at weekends, so if you can't get out much they next few months at least they are only in max 2 days at a time. A nanny one day a week will take all children out even baby when arrives if you need a few hours to catch up on sleep.

TV and don't feel guilty!
If you have a garden fill a baby bath or big toy boxes with water, they can wash clothes and hang them on a clothes horse. Put food colouring in the water and give them jugs and plastic containers.
Chalks on paving slabs
Carpet picnic
Visit the charity shops and let them buy toys
Manicures and pedicures, my DS loved this!
Give them a (very long) list if things to find inside/outside and reward with ice lollies (ones that take ages to eat!)