Pregnancy frustrations! All I do is eat and sleep!

[rubytuesday11]

I know that new mum's struggle to find a routine and balance everything with a new baby, but I am finding pregnancy hard enough!
Since becoming pregnant I've realy struggled each day to find a routine. I want to exercise and eat well, as I want to have a natural birth, but I'm finding that it is all taking up so much time! I work part time which should give me more time, but I seem to spend all my time either cooking (as healthy stuff takes longer to prepare) eating or sleeping. I start doing an exercise dvd and then after 5 minutes I'm hungry again. My metabolism has always been fast, but now it's gone through the roof. Sometimes I try filling up on unheathy stuff out of desperation as it's quicker and easier to eat, but then I just get really bad stomach aches and heartburn. I'm really worried as my mum told me she ate more while breast feeding!
I have also really struggled with fatigue and stress this pregnancy which led me to cut down my working hours, I am amazed by all the pregnant people out there who work full time, as being pregnant seems like a full time job to me, sometimes I think I'm just overreacting, making such a big deal out of it, but when I do go out and do stuff for more than a few hours, I am so exhausted that I spend the next day in bed.
On the plus side the baby is completely healthy, as are my iron levels, blood pressure etc, so nothing serious to worry about,
What are other mum's experiences? Has anyone else felt like this, and then what happens when the baby comes? I feel like I've already had my life thrown up in the air before he/she's even been born! Sorry for the long rant! It's just been building up for a while.

Oridnarily - Eat well, excersise a lot. Walk as much as I can, swim before work, run when DS is in bed and DH home. Veggie, pulses, fruit and veg based diet.

18 weeks pg with DC2, pattern in both pg has been

First trimester - Throw up and sleep, spend a lot of time in hospital. Anything I eat is a bonus. Take no exercise whatsoever, eat crap, if at all.

Second trimester - Feel a bit better, manage to get out of bed, even go to work! Start to bloom a little. Aquanatal, walking, pg pilates. Manage to eat, getting healthier all the time, but penchant for cheese and onion crisps. A little cycling. Still a bit sick though.

Third Trimester - Well was absolutely fab last time, bloomed, ate well, walked and swam miles. Planned a water birth, had an em cs.

After baby is here - a few transition weeks, then back to normal. Lots of give and take with DH about staying in to babysit whilst the other goes for run/bike ride/swim. Plenty of time to walk with pram etc.

You do have to accept that your life is changing, and will continue to do so! You need t adapt to survive!

I think you just have to do what you have to do...if that is eating cheese and pies in bed then so be it! Do what you feel you can and don't waste presious energy on "trying to be good" if it isn't a joy for you. I think being pg is one of those thigs that will take up as much time as you let it, so if you don't have anything else to do then you tend to dwell on it and make pg busiwork if you know what i mean. Relax it will all settle out in time.

I know it's difficult but if you fight what your body tells you it needs (sleep/food/rest) you'll be exhausted and frustrated. I was a keen runner before preg and i've had to stop everything, cant even go on walks as i've low bp and faint if i've not sat down in 15 mins. You have to adapt i'm afraid, your baby is fine that's all that matters. And I suspect we'll be saying that for the next 40ish years!

i know exactly how you feel.

I too am amazed that people manage to live / run homes / work / care for babies / toddlers / children etc while pregnant.

I was very lucky as i was on a 'covering maternity leave' contract which finished when i was 14 weeks pregnant (planned) and as i plan to be a SAHM (and we have builder stuff to sort in the house) we had planned that i would stop work then.

As it was i got HG and was signed off from 7 weeks and havent worked since. and spent the 1st 3 months bed-riddenly ill

Im now 24 weeks and the past 4 - 5 weeks i have finally felt well (like "me") though am still sick several times per week.

I honestly have no idea how other people cope and im very very greatful that i have the time to cook wholesome food, go to aqua-natal classes, practice hypnothrapy daily, collect collection only ebay bargains etc etc

Even now i dont have enough hours in the day some days, and i wonder how i'll manage when baby comes too.... (Though im sure i will as I nannied for 10 years and always managed then!)

rubytuesday11 - I am 15 weeks pregnant and I feel exactly like this. I went to the doctors today becasue I feel like I am barely existing and just broke down. How embarassing...
Some days are harder than others so I just make the best of them when the good ones come.

Hope you feel better soon.

I'm a wilter in pregnancy rather than a bloomer. Think you have to accept what your body tells you. I'm better this time around than last time and have a toddler to run around after too! Last time was sick until 26 weeks, this time it stopped magically at 14 weeks.

Get plenty of rest and don't worry abuot other pregnant women who seem to be blooming, its just not like that for everyone!

OP, I think the way you are feeling is far more normal than the mythical archetype of the pregnant woman who works 37hpw until 38wks and still manages to live on organic stir-fries whilst going to yoga and pilates and circuit training eight evenings a week. I mean, I'm sure she exists somewhere, but I've never met her, not even on MN.

Really, what I'm saying is: you're doing your best and that's enough. Like others here, I've spent both of most of my pregnancies in bed unable to cook anything which takes more than 10 minutes to prepare too. And to address your mother's comment - breastfeeding does actually require more calories than pregnancy itself, so don't worry about that, either.

Keep coming back here, though, keep ranting and asking whether you're normal. And keep focusing on how good it is that your baby is healthy and growing well. Such a cliche to say it, but that's the main thing...