Baby #3 due,struggling to not JUST shout at 2 existing toddlers.

[laughaminute]

I am just after any parents/professionals out there that may have some ideas surrounding discipline/guilt etc-I am struggling to wonder if I am just shouting because I am heavilly prgnt/tired (Due in 2 wks) or if the children are just pushing me to the absolute limit because they know that they can as I cannot physically get to them without a struggle????? I am usually on top of things in this area (I am a qualified nursery nurse and I was a child minder too!!!!) yes we struggle too sometimes,especially I find as the children are mine-I can manage other peoples just fine!
My 2 DDS (2 & 4) seem to be fighting at every opportunity(Actually when I am out of the room in general),won't get in car seat without physical restraint,DD1 (4) seems to just not even wish to listen to my requests at all.(I think she thinks I just sound like a stuck record now) and you may have had those days but at the moment it appears that every day has become 'one of those days'.I want to get some advice about what at this time people thinkis acceptable i.e. where the boundaries lie-I mean does it really matter if they tip the laundry out of my basket AGAIN just to play in the basket??? and does anyone have any ideas of activities I could do with them to replace what i haven't been doing because of my pregnancy which I would usally-i.e.we usually swim,go to play factories,park and quite a lot of physical play but I feel a bot as if play doh,biscuits and colouring are too a bit exhausted now-HELP I have done so well this far I don't want it all to go wrong at the end-oh and DS1 has started waking in the night and calling for me (sometimes for 3 hours at a time!!!!)-any good book recommendations would be welcomed too.The girls are underneath all of this very happy and I do sometimes feel as if they are just laughing at my incapabilities........

If its any consolation I am having very similar experiences at the mo. Im 38 wks pregnant and ds 1 (4) is doing the same as your children including waking 3 times each night and refusing to go back to sleep without me sitting on his bed.
All I would advise is try to conserve your energy by choosing your battles with them and try to overlook some of their behaviour, if only to save yourself sounding like a stuck record.

I have also found that I used to use distraction techniques a lot with my son which work really well but since I've been heavily pregnant my first reaction is to nag or pick up on things that really don't need a reaction.
Mainly though don't be too hard on them or yourself. Take care.

hi I am feeling the exact same, am 27 weeks with number and have 2 and 3 yo and no family support and a DP who works long hours. I find myself shouting a lot. My two still wake a lot in the night needing resettled although DP usually attends to them as I have bad SPD/SI pain and it takes me about 5 minutes to get up.

Is there anyone else who can give you a bit of support?
I take it your DD1 is at nursery can you get your DS in as well? I'm trying to get DD2 a place just now not just for me but for her as well to give her a bit of stimulation away from me.

I know it's bloody hard but you are on the home straight now.