If I'm knackered after emptying the washine machine, what hope is there for labour?

[LionRock]

OK jokey title but serious sentiment. Days / weeks to go and I know it's usual to be tired, but I feel so unfit that I wonder if I'll have any energy for labour. Everything's an effort, today's slow 20min walk felt much worse than last week. Did anyone else feel the same and how did you get on in labour?

I was exhausted at the end but found completely unexpected reserves of energy and stamina for labour. It dragged on for 4 days and I didn't sleep for three nights... my DH was falling asleep on his feet but I just kept going (and I am not the most athletic of people either). It did catch up with me a bit after the labour though... which is why I spent the next month 'operating from bed' as much as possible... you will hopefully have the same experience (well, not the four days, the energy burst).

Might be worth asking your midwife/ GP to check your iron levels just in case you've got anaemia.

Haha, sorry but your OP made me laugh! I gave birth to my daughter three months ago, and I remeber beforehand thinking I was sooooo unfit and everything I did required so much effort. I ended up having a very lengthy labour - in hospital in labour for 35 hours+ and although I was absolutely exhausted, I do think your body 'kicks into gear' when required ;)

I sympathise! Am 36 weeks and have spent today doing not much, had a nap after lunch, and am still very sleepy now!

With my DD, I went into established labour at 4am and 39 weeks (so pretty knackered), and even not pregnant I'd feel pretty exhausted at that time of day, but like others have said, energy just appeared from nowhere and I was fine. I think DH was probably feeling more tired because he didn't have the adrenaline I did!

Adrenaline will kick in believe me. Time is weird in labour - it sort of goes fast. You'll also want to eat a horse afterwards you'll be so hungry! Don't worry - your body will find the energy. You'll just have to endure a whinging partner telling you he's tired!

haha, lollystix just reminded me of DP saying, sweety you have no idea how tired i am, 36 hours into MY labour, agree with others, plus my midwife told me to take lucazade sport for energy, dont know if it worked but trying to finish the bottles gave me something to concentrate on

38 weeks, finished work yesterday & I'm completely exhausted today.

I sympathise, because ever night when I'm having contractions I'm thinking that I'm waay too tired for this, but also agree with what everyone else said, you find reserves somewhere, and time is weird in labour.

I was knackered and anaemic, but when labour kicked in, man was I on fire! Never had so much stamina in my v unsporty life. 9 weeks later and am exhausted again. So yes, don't worry, mother nature will give you a kick up the proverbial!

When I was pregnant with DS I remember wailing to MIL that I only had an hour and a half before I went out so didn't have enough time to clean the kitchen.
Most kitchens can be made clean in under an hour, ours wasn't a big one :o

Labour was absolutely fine - you manage when you're in the middle of it :o I too am not athletic, get exhausted going upstairs at work but labour is different. Rest as much as you can between now and then, do a bit of light exercise / cleaning when you feel up to it, snooze whenever you can because when you're having contractions you might get a lot of broken sleep.

It's your body telling you to sit on the sofa and eat cake in preparation for labour :-)

Pack lots of snacks for early labour.. cereal bars, chocolate, orange juice, bananas, whatever you like.. some people just can't eat, but I scoffed everything in sight and I'm sure it helped build up reserves.

jareth I like that idea :o

stealthy MIL announced that she was going to visit us today, and I threw a tantrum because that meant I had to clean the house. incidentally, this meant chucking DS's toys in a giant tub, washing up 4 plates and 2 bowls and running the hoover around our living room. A job that would normally take about 40 minutes tops. It took me almost 3 hours

It's not an idea, its true! :-) your body is witholding reserves. This is why cake is a good plan.

Start on the cake now - then breastfeed so you can continue to eat it. Then get pregnant quite quickly after so you can eat more cake and continue the cycle. I've had 3 babies in 3 and a half years just so I can eat lots of cake without gaining weight. Ds3 is 13 months now and can't bear to stop feeding him as my cake habit will have to stop....And I'm not sure I can.

Thanks for the tips - I'm getting fed up of sofa + Easter eggs so sofa + cake would be a nice change