31 weeks - exhausted; normal?! (long - sorry)

[Pootletrinket]

Am 31 weeks (tmw actually, so a bit premature!) and working full time; DD is 4 and goes to nursery a lot. Wonder if I'm being lazy or a bit tough on myself - at the weekends (and in the evenings) I can just about manage to feed us and maybe clear up kitchen a bit but the rest of the house is a tip and I wander around trying to muster the energy to do small bits that will make a difference but become quickly exasperated. Feel breathless, but assume this is baby related rather than anxiety, but still can't manage to do much at all. Quickly exasperated with DH who did mega clear up in kitchen during the week, which was great, but then seems to think this should tide him over in the brownie points scale for weeks - he slept until 11 yesterday, looked after DD while I fought and battled in Sainsburys and then slept during rugby; emptied the dishwasher and did his usual of helping put DD to sleep - I didn't do any more housework, just unpacked shopping (nearly finished me) and made a meal but today he's gone out on a jolly (after I had a lie in) and I feel I should be doing loads in the house but can't. DD just pleaded with me to play a specific game with her, we compromised as I don't have the energy to improvise all the time (as she wants) and I felt so guilty.

How is it I can manage to get to work and do stuff there (presumably because I have to and none of it feels as bad or momentous as tidying/cleaning my house) during the week but neglect my child/house?!

Getting daft now, I know she's not neglected, but am not being the super mum I'd like to be!

know how you feel i am 30 weeks tomorrow. work full time have ds who is 6 and at school. feel exhasuted today and quite pathetic - even speaking is hard!!!!:)
i think we have to remember we are growing a human being and that takes a lot of energy, some days you have reserves for everything else and some days you just dont. i have decided not to beat myself up about it and just get as much rest as I need. hopefully after dc 2 is here I will get the chance to make it up to ds and husband. haha of course then I'll be exhausted for another reason!!

have you ruled out aneamia?

LOL, thanks Flowerfairy; think you're right. My self-indulgent rant got me spurred into action; DD wanted to play outside, so she did that with the backdoor open while I prepared lunch and cleaned the kitchen; then she wanted to help me with some cleaning - have negotiated a balance of her helping clear up some of her clutter and then me doing something she wants (well, that's the theory - seems to work until she doesn't want to do what I've asked!) - feel a bit better, but think you're right, need to give myself a break - would be so much nicer to chill if the house was clean and tidy though! Might try to motivate DH when he gets home! Know what you mean about even speaking being hard though!!!!

CarGirl, I don't think I am as eat quite well plus had blood taken a week ago and nothing came back from it.

I'm working full time but don't yet have a DC - I'm shattered, so you're bound to be doubly so. Admittedly it's got worse since 36 weeks, but I certainly started feeling more tired since 30 weeks.

I've stopped caring so much about housework etc... and just concentrated on eating well, sleeping as much as possible and getting to work in a reasonable state. Felt much better once I decided to be easier on myself. Good luck!

Thanks - I do feel a bit better and it hasn't taken long to make a bit of a start, but the energy it took to make that start was enormous! If it wasn't EVERY room in the house, it wouldn't be so bad, but it is and DH is just rubbish for 90% of the time!!!!

I'm 30+1 and knackered. Had a cold this week and it has well and truely floored me. I also have SPD, but I seem to be managing that better. Docs signed me off work for 2 weeks to let me find my feet again.

My house is a tip, the thought of cleaning makes me feel dizzy. Went shopping for a nursery carpet today. Drove to door of shop, walked round shop, drove home and I need a lie down :o

I have the utmost admiration for all you second/third+ time mums. I cannot imagine feeling like this and having other DCs too.

They used to call it confinement for a reason I think! They should lock us all away :o

I'm 32 weeks tomorrow and similarly knackered. What's worse is that I star jobs thinking I have the energy and then halfway through I realise I want a nap.

And this is DC1 so I don't have a four-year-old to look after.

I too work full-time and am counting the days until my maternity leave. I'll be 36 weeks. When it starts.

Have all of you had your bloods checked?

The difference after 2 weeks spatone/floradix was huge for me in all my pregnancies as my hg count always dropped to about 8!

Oh, thank you all for posting, I do feel relieved that it's not just me!!! And think DD will forgive me for my crap mum moments! 6 more weeks of work to go before I finish - and I thought I was finishing early (earlier than last time!)

I've had bloods checked, iron is normal etc, I'm just super knackered I reckon!

Yes, knackered here! And only just coming up for 29 weeks. I was doing really well until a week or so ago, but all of a sudden it's hit me. I'm a SAHM and can get through the day ok running about after my 2 year old (although not actively playing with him as much as I feel I should be), doing housework, making meals etc, but come about 6pm I can hardly get off the sofa. I'm going to try to go to bed a bit earlier, getting about 8 hours sleep at the moment but think I'm starting to need a bit extra.

OP, I could've written your first post. I'm 35+2 and been feeling like you for teh last few weeks. I still have 2 weeks of work to go, although I suspect I may fall into an actual coma from exhaustion before then. My DH just doesn;t get it either, I think he thinks I'm just being lazy and 'trying it on' I suppose. Some days I'm so tired that my eyes won't focus without a mammoth effort.