Looking after 3 year old, 34 weeks pregnant, anaemic with PGP. Struggling!

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Fully aware my situation could be a lot worse and I’m very lucky and grateful to be pregnant. But my DH is currently away for work and I’m looking after my 3 year old solo whilst 34 weeks pregnant and miserable. I have really bad PGP and struggle to walk too much. I’ve also recently been diagnosed anaemic so I’m very fatigued and breathless. Doing the dishes makes me out of breath. I’m on iron tablets but they’ve not kicked in yet so I still feel horrendous. I also get really bad heartburn so spend most of the day uncomfortable in one way or another. Loved being pregnant first time but really struggled this time. On days when my DS isn’t in nursery, I’m struggling to entertain him. I find it hard to get out of the house now due to the PGP and breathlessness. Any ideas of how to cope and for entertaining him? Feel like such an awful Mum right now with how little excitement and stimulation he’s getting.

Buy in some childcare. Your DH working away is not ideal and he needs to organize some support for you if he is taking trips this late in pregnancy.

Any local teenagers who’d like some pocket money in exchange for playing with child after school for an hour or two and doing the washing up?

Hate to say this because I’m so anti lots of screen time usually. But I’m currently pregnant with my 2.5 year old at home and honestly we’ve been watching Disney films whilst my husband was travelling for work. I felt horrible and guilty at first and then I decided to cut myself some slack. It’s not forever, they won’t be ruined, your husband will come home and order will return. Once my husband returned and he asked for TV i just explained that we watched lots of films because mama was sick and now I’m feeling better and daddy’s home. Took him 2-3 days to stop asking. Please give yourself a break.

I was really anemic abd same short of breath couldnt even leave the house. Ended up paying private for an iron infusion and made a huge difference to my life. I will never rely on tablets to get me up as they just weren't absorbing. If I was you I would do ASAP if uou gave money as in 2 weeks youll be like a different person

Im starting to get sore hips and PGP but im just resting when I can. I agree with PP. Movie days and see if anyone can help with childcare

Honestly? Your DS will not remember this time at all. I had hyperemesis, heartburn and PGP so spent most of my second pregnancy on the sofa with DC3 watching Peppa Pig. Sometimes we'd go to a small soft play area where I could sit and see everything and DC could safely access everything independently. DC has absolutely no recollection of this time whatsoever! So do what you need to do to get through the day. Do not beat yourself up. Your son will not be permanently scarred or broken for a few weeks of low effort parenting.

Sending hugs, that’s really tough. Cut yourself as much slack as possible if you need to rely on screen time etc and if you have some outdoor space you could let him loose with some buckets and soil or water now the weathers getting better. Also maybe speak to your midwife about an iron transfusion rather than tablets as it can work much quicker. When I was pregnant I just allowed alot more mess to entertain my 2 yo, eg, put down a bunch of towels on the floor, popped him on a chair over the kitchen sink with some Tupperware and just let him play with water even though it meant mopping it and having some extra towels to bung in the wash after.