28 weeks and feeling seriously pants

[Fairy130389]

Hi all

28 weeks today.

I have really, never, ever felt so awful.
Over the last few days I have started being sick again, have SPD, and am just generally exhausted. I can barely bring myself to get dressed! I am still working (have just had a week off to move house) and due to go back tomorrow but seriously don't know how much more I can take - my commute is over an hour long and I have a really stressful job which means spending long periods of time in my car or sat at a desk, all of which makes me in agony by the time I get home.

How do we get through this? I've got nearly 8 weeks until mat leave and honestly I could cry.

Iron! Get thee some iron!

Spd is shit and shit and shit. Have you seen a physio? Have you got painkillets? Can you work from home or have an environment assessment from HR to see what would help?

Sorry, it sucks.

Can only offer sympathy I'm afraid, I'm 29 weeks and have felt lousy throughout my pregnancy.

I have PGP and seeing an osteopath definitely helped reduce my pain and increase my mobility. I didn't find the NHS physio much use at all, although my support belt helps a bit. I have also been prescribed co-codamol for when the pain gets too much.

The best thing I have done is reduce the number of hours I spend commuting or at work. I work one day a week from home and am using my annual leave to take every Friday off. My employer is understanding, because this arrangement means I can keep working rather than going sick until my mat leave starts.

If you are really struggling, see your GP. Ask about getting signed off for a bit. You're entitled to take sick leave instead of maternity up until 36 weeks. Or request a 'fit note' detailing what limited duties you can do. You shouldn't have to work if it's making you feel so crap. It won't be doing you or your baby any favours.

Hope you start feeling better soon.

I can sympathise, I got signed off at 26 weeks because my job is quite stressful and I found that working was making the aches and pains so much worse, it was really having an impact on my mood - crying all the time, couldn't face doing anything. I wouldn't say it has improved completely but it HAS improved since I got signed off.

In the last 2 weeks although I'm still exhausted and fairly tearful I've felt more like doing normal things such as housework and cooking for myself again.

Nobody else is experiencing YOUR pregnancy so don't let anyone else tell you how much you should be able to cope with, and if you feel like you're not managing then don't force yourself. I had to go to hospital a few weeks ago (everything was fine) but the midwife sat down and said to me "you aren't superwoman you know, you've been trying to be haven't you?", she was right!