What happens when "normal" pregnancy stuff gets too much to cope with? - please help!

[TitsalinaBumSquash]

I'm 22 weeks with DS3 and to be honest I have never felt quite so unhealthy and ill as I do now, ever had proper flu? Well that is how I feel ... just without the flu!
The fatigue is crippling, walking up the stairs is wiping me out to the point of tears.
I'm going to bed early, sleeping all night and then waking late, I'm spending all day aching and really unable to function.
Eating and drinking has gone out the window, I am managing a Yop Yoghurt drink to slightly ease the acid, food is whatever DP manages to get into me in the evenings but usually toast or similar because eating just isn't factoring as important and it's making me feel worse.
My head is thumping 5 days out of 7.
There is so much to do before baby arrives and I can't even get dressed most days.
Will a daily vitamin help? If so which ones are safe?
Any advice at all, I'm desperate and terrified that if it's this bad now, how on earth am I going to cope at term?
It was never this bad with the previous pregnancies. It's making me so, so low.

Have you had your iron levels tested recently? And your thyroid?

I've not had anything tested since being booked in with the midwife at 8 weeks. I'm not due to see anyone until 28 weeks now.

I posted more or less the exact same thing at the beginning of last week ! I felt bloody dreadful and couldn't do anything ! I'm 37 weeks now and feel a lot better ! No idea what caused it tho sorry !

Yes, it's really hard. I'm almost 37 weeks with DC4, and so am also caring for 3 children aged under 8, including a toddler. Knackered doesn't even come close! That said, some periods of pregnancy have been worse than others. Every time I've thought i can't go on, things have got better again. In the worst bits I've bought ready meals for myself that are things I think I might fancy (and other things like ready salted crisps), and just staggered on as best I can. Things are actually easier now than they were at 24-28 weeks or pre-20 weeks when the nausea and morning sickness was just dreadful.

Definitely take a pregnancy multivitamin. I went of pregnancare because it contains iron, which I don't need. Make sure whichever one you choose has 10ug of vitamin D.

If any friends offer you help, take it. In fact, if you think anyone will help then just ask. Ask people to take your kids for a playdate, or see if someone will cook you dinner.

My experience is that antenatal 'care' seems non-existent for low risk mums who already have kids. I've not seen the same MW twice, and they just don't seem interested or to have the time to listen and sympathise with the routine issues that aren't a big issue medically, but really affect day-to-day life.

You will get there, it will be OK in the end.

I have several friends on pregnancy number 3 that seem to be coping amazingly, I feel awful for DP and DS 1&2. I'm farking useless ATM, I'm worried people are just assuming I'm being a hormonal wimp but honestly I feel so awful.

I would get some bloods done just to rule anything out. Otherwise I hope you start to feel a bit better and the rest of your pregnancy flies by

I'd go to the GP if I were you. Tired is normal as you know... sounds like you might be anaemic.

Go to your gp - it's normal to be tired but not to the levels you're describing. I'd ask for an iron and thyroid test. Hope you feel better soon!

Could the midwife help or does it have to be the GP? It's a lot easier to get an apt with her .

I think you'll need the GP for iron and thyroid bloods.

However, I disagree with Fluffy. When you have 2DCs already (or more) pregnancy is fucking exhausting in a way that I never found it first time working fulltime and commuting. Life is just so full on and there's no down time really.

How old are your DCs Tits?

I felt terrible in early pregnancy and at 17 weeks I went to the GP and mentioned it. He put me on iron tablets, 3 times a week. I am now 23 weeks and although I feel very tired at the end of the day it is nothing like the crippling exhaustion I felt initially.

Worth a trip to the GP. Hope you feel better soon :)

They're 5 & 7

Just like my older two then . Have they god end-of-term-itis at the moment as well? Mine just seem to run round shrieking at each other and winding their little sister up.

What plans do you have for the Summer hols? That can feel quite daunting .

god = got

I'm looking forward to no school runs tbh although dreading DS2's behaviour, he has been a bloody nightmare at the moment.
I'll still visit the GP if I can get an appointment. Thanks btw for the replies,

-Waves at Titsalina -
I know how you feel. I did mention on the nov thread that I am certain I have an iron deficiency, and yesterday got a bunch of iron rich food and shovelled it in.
Today i've had a lot more energy than i've had throughout the whole pregnancy, so pretty certain it's my iron levels. When you become anaemic it makes you horribly tired, irritable, miserable etc and it's hell to cope with.

Get a baked potato with baked beans on down you and then make a doctors app!

Sorry you are feeling so rough, I felt terrible with DD3 and I found out I had pernicous anaemia (B12 deficiency), I also felt like that last year when DD3 was 1y, it turned out to be folate anaemia (I am on AEDs and they can deplete the body of folic acid leading to anaemia) so it might be worth asking for iron, B12, folate and thyroid function tests to rule the lot out in one go.

I don't feel quite so bad this pg but I have still had B12 levels checked with my GTT test just to be on the safe side.

You might have something physical ( I had a chest infection at 21 weeks and it knocked me out for 4 weeks or so), but you may have prenatal depression so best go and talk to doc or m'wife how u are feeling. I have been well up and down too with this one ( no 3), especially with 2 toddlers agev2 and 3. Best to talk about it and see what the options are. Are u getting enough support from familynand friends?

This pregnancy I've had one cold after another after another. Certain I had the flu and have been to the docs twice when he has diagnosed slight infections but won't prescribe abs "just paracetamol, water an rest"

I totally understand how you are feeling OP as I'm usually relatively healthy and had such a straightforward pregnancy with ds.

Funnily enough, I went to the midwife at 17 weeks feeling exhausted and she told me "this is what second pregnancies are like" She refused to re-test my blood as they had been one at 14 weeks. I'm now 28 weeks, had routine bloods done last week and lo and behold... I have an iron deficiency!

I'm hoping to feel a million times better soon as I don't think I can feel much worse... (in a run down, minor ailment kind of way!)

Get in with either your gp or mw and be very insistent. Bloods come back quite quickly so you could be feeling better in no time!

I have DP who is a real angel although limited because he works 5am - 6pm everyday.
I will attempt to get a drs apt tomorrow although they're like gold dust around here.
At least little one seems to be happy in there, he spends almost all day and night having a dance.