When do you start feeling uncomfortable and need to slow down??

[Saffra]

I'm currently 22 weeks with my first and have been fortunate to feel pretty well all the way through, aside from some mild nausea and tiredness at the start. I have a growing bump, but definitely feel like I can be quite active still.

I work for myself and I plan on working until the very last minute. Although I am sat down for the most part, there are certain parts of the day where I'm rushing around like a bit of a maniac, collecting deliveries, having to lift (not very heavy) boxes, etc.

I know everyone's different, but I'm wondering when I might start to feel uncomfortable and need to slow down.

??

Around 25-28 weeks for me... breathlessness and feeling big, tired and awkward!!! :)

I don't think I ever felt the need to slow down, but was definitely a little dozy of an afternoon beyond about 30 weeks. Listen to your body, I say.

With dd1 I was absolutely fine until I had a bleed and contractions at 32w - the stopped it all and dd was born at 39+5 but I did slow down after the scare (still worked until 37w though but stopped doing overtime and we got a cleaner for a few weeks).

This pg I'm 22w and slowing already - but it's twins so not really comparable.

It is impossible to say, some women get SPD and are in agony from 20 weeks and others go at full pelt until labour kicks in! With DD1 I was fine up until about 38 weeks (when I started my mat leave) and I was so exhausted after a (very sedate) trip to the local shops that I almost cried. With DD2 I was undertaking my midwifery degree and couldn't stand for long periods from about 30 weeks, started mat leave much earlier and dragged myself though the last few afternoons in particular with angry/lively toddler in tow. Generally though, I was pretty spritely with both pregnancies, but am not much of a sit down and watch telly kind of person. I also knew that a reasonable level of activity is actually very good for pregnancy in general, stopping when your body tells you to.

Not until around 34-36 weeks but thats because my ankles and legs swelled up and made me really uncomfortable.

with dd1 I finished work on the friday and had her on the monday (37 weeks), so whilst I was tired, I never really stopped as such! And I stress that I know I was extremely lucky (although had to go to the loo alot cos of horrendous BHs)

With the twins I was ok really until 32 weeks. I had a few scares at this point, and luckily was due to finish work at 33 weeks anyway (but spent the majority of the last week in hospital only going to work on the friday to say goodbye!) but consultant advised me not to drive after 32 weeks. I had them at 34 weeks!

It's really hard to give you advice if it's your first as everyone's so different.

I'm 37 weeks and am just getting to that stage now where I feel a bit uncomfortable.

Two weekends ago I was still working all day on a really vigorous outdoor brush clearance project chopping down trees and dragging them about (in 30+ degree heat, phew) but I think I might give it a miss this weekend.

Last pg I worked (Uni lecturer) until 2 days before my due date and it was absolutely fine.

Wow I am really impressed with all of you!

I'm 20 weeks and have already had to slow down - if I walk my normal speed I get severe abdominal pain, and I feel tired all the time. I also get out of breath going up a flight of stairs. Before getting pregnant I did 3 -5 hours karate training per week and I live on the 6th floor without a lift so I have been surprised at getting so unfit so quickly.

I had a rough first few months with morning sickness as well, so had to slow down then (otherwise I threw up).

Am still waiting for my 2nd trimester "boost"...although to be honest I have just about accepted that it's never going to happen and that I will spend 9 months being tired and unfit.

I'm 39+1 (that all important extra day!) and it's only really been in the last couple of weeks that I've started to feel ungainly and enormous. And my sleep has gone out of the window which means I'm pretty tired. I always get dreadful insomnia in the final weeks.

I too work for myself selling girls' dresses online and am still pootling off to the post office to send orders. It takes my mind off the waiting game! I do make some odd grunting noises when I'm hauling my boxes of stock around though! They say it's good to be active at the end rather than horizontal on the sofa as the baby is more likely to get in a good position for the birth.

with my first i was alright all the way through really, with my 2nd i think it was around 37 or 38 weeks that i just found like all of a sudden i really could hardly walk any more and really needed to have some rest and sit down a bit, i stayed inside for about 3 weeks, apart from the rare trip out here and there to doctors and once to my friends house, i had to get my mum round to help me out with my ds1 i was just so knackered and aching everywhere...
really hoping i dont feel like that again this time, as it was not too great

I'm so jealous of you all who only started slowing down pretty much at the last stages. Like Bartimaeus, I'm 20 weeks and I started slowing down a couple of weeks ago: my bump is quite big, I am aching all over (sciatica-type pains at first, now groin pains), so I'm moving much slower and I also get a lot more tired and need to go to bed early. I get terrified thinking what it will be like later...

mpops I'm sorry but it's nice to know I'm not the only one! I was beginning to think I was being lazy...

The lack of fitness/having to slow down is really tough for me as before I did lots of sport and was always running around like a mad person.

I was fine until they made me stop working at 36wks (a false labour scared my employers half to death!)
Now I feel like the walking dead. But only 2 weeks to go!

It's interesting to see how everyone's experiences are SO different.

Hmmm..... I am really, really, really hoping that I'm still feeling really well until the very last minute (when contractions start!).

But, will probably 'allow' for having to slow down from 30 weeks onwards-ish. Just so that I don't take too much on.

Totally depends on the person/pregnancy. I was lucky enough to be off work from about 30 weeks (just a coincidence) but was taking long walks and going out with friends until a few days before I gave birth. You really can't predict how your body is going to react, though!

I think most people I've spoken to (and my experience) is 36-37 weeks onwards you start slowing down and now that I'm 39 weeks, feel properly big and not that comfortable. Even in the final weeks though, you can certaintly enjoy walks, lunches, coffees etc, but I think it's a really good idea to be taking it easy (ie not working and not doing too much heavy house work / DIY) as it gets you into a good physical and mental state.