36 weeks, exhausted and coping with toddler!

[peanutbutterlove]

Anyone got any tips for coping with a toddler when you are in late pregnancy and soooo tired you feel like you could fall asleep on your feet?

Oh I'm so jealous of trampolining - Tena lady don't make anything substantial enough for that here!! Fingers crossed it'll trigger some action eventually...

So, the current plan is for me to have a section on Fri, (37+2)but I'm still coughing and on antibiotics so I'm not sure whether to try and get them to shift to next week (38+1 apparently an option). Put it this way, I wouldn't esp want to do myself this week but obv putting it off means higher chance of spontaneous labour and emergency section.

Nothing from me. 40+3. The thought of trampolining just made me spit out my tea though! That's impressive.

DD in nursery today, so currently still in bed. Would have gladly given anything for this a few weeks back, but am now just in a foul mood and failing to enjoy or appreciate it. Poor old DH looks terrified when he comes home about what insane thing I am going to be grumpy about now....

And good news about growth scan ithoughtofit

I can't believe i have a potential 3-5 weeks left of grumpy! Poor dh!

Lots of cramps one days then nothing for 24hrs, it keeps getting my hopes up. DS with childminder yesterday for the last time for a few weeks as she's now on holiday so I thought I could get a few jobs done and have a snooze - not a bit of it. Midwife appointment didn't go well, high BP and +protein in urine, puffy feet/hands combined with slowed growth on scans (next scan on tues) and my previous PE and HELLP meant that MW packed me off to hospital for monitoring. Hospital less concerned and have done some bloods to check properly. Haven't heard results yet. So that was my last toddler free day before baby arrives!! Never mind, he's having a rare daytime nap at the mo so I'm rooted to the chair with tea!

Ive been trampolining for the last 4 days! its weirdly really nice! 40+4 now but it has done precisely nothing to help, (stalks off to cook up yet another spice heavy dinner Grrr)

Oh wow, it's all getting close for some people - parallax I hope you are feeling ok for tomorrow or have managed to rearrange? That's amazing you've carried twins till 37/38 weeks, you must be exhausted. Even if you went into labour there would probably be time to do a section calmly I would think, though it would technically be a "emergency" one. How fast was your last labour? How are you feeling today?

errrr I'm sorry to hear about your bp/protein, any results yet? DO you have anyone else who could take toddler so you could at least rest up? I have looked after a few toddlers of heavily pregnant mates in the last year so have some favours banked!!!

39+2. Bit crampy today, just like every other bloody day for the last couple of weeks. Time is slowing to a standstill… trying to enjoy things like uninterrupted cups of tea and reading today (toddler in nursery)… would rather go into labour though!! I'm so going to go overdue again and I bet it will be another long one… now I'm pissed off at all the stories about earlier, faster, easier 2nd labours I've been avidly reading all year! Also my midwife goes on holiday tomorrow and I was really hoping to go into labour in time to have her for my home birth.. oh well!

I've still got no stretch marks and wonder if it's going to stay that way!

Oooh cramping sounds promising though... I'm still holding out hope for you that the inconvenience of a birthday party might kick things off (or you could offer to do a locum ?!)

I spoke to the hospital and they seemed disinterested in my poor old chest, so plan is to go ahead tomorrow (although I wouldn't be really surprised if I rock up tomorrow morning and they cancelled!). My last labour was 4 hrs (induced) and I'm on clexane in pregnancy, so if I went spontaneously there's a fairly high chance of needing a GA section, which obv would be worse for chest! Rock and a hard place. Feeling much better thank you - still coughing, but I'm sure at least part of it is psychological - found some breathing exercises online so trying those today. DH is off work, so has been entertaining toddler. Poor old sausage, he's been incredibly clingy since I've been unwell, which is not helping my anxiety levels!

I was doing really well until about a week ago and now I'm just knackered, sore, grumpy etc etc and want it all to be over but also want to put it off indefinitely!

:) DP is utterly convinced I am going to go into labour at the party, or just before. We may have a lot of spare party bags… do you think the midwives would want one?

Haha!

Ah -i'm sorry to hear you're still sounding rough. It doesn't sound ideal at all but like you I think I would just want the whole thing over with too! And completely understand about doing anything to avoid GA section. I can't believe how calm you sound when you're going to get two new babies tomorrow - in awe. Take care eh. And let us know how everything went tomorrow if you get a minute. xxxxx

Goodness, I don't feel calm at all, I feel completely hysterical! I find the whole pregnancy thing dreadfully anxious making. I think I see far far too much of the bad stuff at work. I've coped a lot better this time, but it just feels totally surreal.

Anyway, all being well I will try to update tomorrow. I've just plastered the soles off my feet in Vicks Vaporub which according to Dr Google stops coughing, so I'll update whether that works also...!

Aw, I'm sorry to hear it.

I have also been very very anxious this week, was crying a lot yesterday whenever baby stopped moving (even half an hour after lots of movements, it was ridiculous) Movements fine today so am trying to calm down. My work is acute med so mostly oldies and no babies/few pregnant women - probably a good thing right now! Didn't have a doctor anywhere near me for last birth (at home) which was quite nice really!

I diligently rub vicks onto DD's feet when she has a cough even though surely it is an old wife's tale - never though of doing it for myself! How about a nice hot steamy bath - and can you get DH to take toddler out the house entirely?

Very excited for you - do you know if you're having boys/girls? I would literally have no idea how to sleep/feed/carry twins…

GOOD LUCK x

One of each, both reportedly human... I also have no idea how to sleep / feed / etc two at a time, but as I haven't allowed myself to consider the possibility of all 3 of us coming through it unscathed I don't feel too worried about it! I'm sure they will be vocal enough about making their needs known and we'll muddle through somehow.

Anaesthesia is definitely not the right speciality for an unbiased view of childbirth! I think it's very easy to over interpret anxiety too - so I think "oh, I feel worried about X - is it a sign of X or Y?" when probably it's nothing of the sort...

What I have been doing is buying little toddler friendly stuff (stickers, bath colour change, books from The Works 10 for £10) and stashing in a secret box to whip out at strategic moments....!

Well, it sounds as though this thread is going to have a couple of babies by the weekend at least, if not more!
I feel bad for moaning about being bored and fed up when there's loads of talk of c-sections and growth scans, and pre-eclampsia and so on, sounds like some of you are having it tons worse than me. I just feel peculiarly antsy and unable to enjoy the pre-baby time off (DD in nursery again today, just watched Scott and Bailey and fell asleep, not a hard life!) when I was craving it so badly when I was still working. My sister just arranged to stay over on Monday night if I'm still pregnant as she's working up in London, and I wanted to cry. But I'll only be 8 days over, which is still less than last time (induced at 11).
Anyway, looking forward to news of babies arriving, hopefully not in the middle of toddler parties? Good luck for tomorrow parallax, and hope that the Vicks is helping?

Good luck for tomorrow parallax! Hopefully your immune system will kick back in once the babies have been evicted.

Midwife again today. BP readings a little better but she's booked me in for consultant review tomorrow but I can't see anything exciting happening as long my BP/protein doesn't get any worse. Growth scan on tues will be all important I reckon. Having a very easy day otherwise, erm basically have cbeebies/nickjr on all afternoon so far. Did make the effort with a trip to the library earlier so don't feel too bad about it!

Had my first 'any baby news yet?' Text this morning!!! From close family member as if we'd be keeping it from them!!!!! I am 37+5.......

Ha! I was just coming on to say if I'm being driven mad by polite enquiries as to my health (definitely not an unsubtle way of asking if I've had the baby but forgotten to tell anyone...). I'm now 40+bloody 5, so if your family have started already you're in for a long ride. You might find this website helpful?!
www.haveyouhadthatbabyyet.com/
On the other hand I can't phone my parents for any reason, as my mum is virtually out of the door and in the car ready to drive up as soon as she sees my number appear. I have to text first so as not to raise hopes. This baby is never coming.
Hope all good with parallax today. Exciting times.

Ha ha! My mil is on toddler care standby and I daren't call her about anything cause she'll go into overdrive!! Her case has been packed for weeks......And the other family member means well but seriously, the moment mil is called over to look after ds the family grapevine will be like lightening! Absolutely no chance of me keeping the birth a private affair to be announced when we're ready. Will be ok as long as they don't turn up!!!!! I'll check out that site thanks mssampson

Ladies, DTD 5lb 2oz and DTS 5lb 1oz born this morning and all doing well. Over 10lb of fetus so I feel vindicated for moaning! Also, oramorph has settled my cough

Will continue to watch the thread to find out your happy endings (and probably moan about how badly toddler is taking things...any tips gratefully received!).

Whoop!! Congrat!!!! Those a crackin weights for twins! Well done you, enjoy the oramorph x

congratulations! great news. Hope you manage a good night's sleep, how long are you going to be in for do you reckon? Looking forward to hearing some stories about how having a toddler and two newborns is a total breeze compared to being pregnant. ..

So far it's loads easier because I've spent the day sitting around breastfeeding without actually having to look after toddler

I think we'll prob end up here over the weekend as babies need ?48hrs blood sugar monitoring, but hopefully home mon (if not before - I guess it depends how much they need the bed)

Yaaaaaaay !! Agree with errrr tidy size for twins! Congratulations

Oh at the end of July I was pregnant with a 19 month old. It was sweltering hot and I was miserable. Fortunately baby arrived 3 weeks early. We watched loads of Cbeebies too. Hang in there.

Oh yay parallax, huge congratulations! So happy you are all doing well (and enjoying your morphine). Hope all stays straightforward over the weekend for you. Ah I have gone all mushy at the thought of cuddly your little twins...

Friend of Dorothy - 3 weeks early?? That's NOT FAIR! :)

Have woken up full of beans this morning for no reason at all (well perhaps sleeping till 4am rather than 1am has done it!) Sent DP back to bed when DD woke up at 5.45am, switched the tv off, had a nice cooked breakfast, taught her some new songs and games… wonder how long this energy will last! We are going to football shortly (well,DP will be there).

Also managed a really good day yesterday which might be my last day alone with her (got my mum up and/or nursery all next week) - ran round the park, fed the ducks, went to the museum like old times. It was grand and she was mostly good except for trying to leave with the contents of the museum shop and then having a tantrum on the floor but my back and pelvis were dead by 4pm and I pretty much lay down from then… Also had to reverse down a hill for quite a while in the car going home and I can't stay turned around for that long any more - nearly made me cry.

Will I ever not be pregnant?

39+4. DD's birthday party tomorrow and actual birthday on tuesday (my due date!) so at least I will be busy for a few days now. Would love to have this baby in September but what will be will be...