Suffering at almost 5 months pregnant with twins... tips please?

[Rebecca1608]

My bump seems to have appeared over night. I've not put much weight on all over but bump and boobs gone huge it's a massive strain on my small back usually 34 back in a bra. Struggling to get comfy at night, sleeping is hard also:

Bad headaches
pins and needles in hands.
clam up easily.
cramps in legs.
feel faint if I stand for too long.

I'm hoping to work until I'm 6 1/2 - 7months pregnant but it's knackering me, I'll only go until 8 months before being induced anyway with my ID twins but will it get any easier? Are my symptoms normal? And will I be able to work that far into pregnancy?

Poor you, it is a proper struggle. Are you getting plenty of salt and fluid? I found it took way more than normal or recommneded levels of salt for me to feel okay when of with twins. Your blood supply increases by about 3/4 so it takes a lot to get the salts and pressure right. Also buy either lots of extra firm pillows or one of those stupid PG pillows - frankly anything to help you get comfy. I also decamped to the spare room frequently as sometimes a bit of extra space helped.

I worked to 32 weeks - would say that was 2 weeks too many but I do have a commute on a busy tube every day so that was a negative. Once off work I had a bit of an energy boost.

Also if you can find Pilates or yoga for pregnancy that can help with some minor strengthening to counterbalance all the weight.

Have you had your haemoglobin levels checked recently? I was about the stage you're at when mine came in low. Taking the iron tablets the midwife suggested helped a lot with feeling faint and a bit breathless. And I had a lot more energy.

I worked until 35 weeks but mine were fraternal. I think you've just to got to see how you go for you and your pregnancy.

I've noticed I'm drinking loads more than usual I'm probably drinking around 2 litres of water at work. Drinking tea before I get there and when I get home but sometimes I feel it's still not enough, I'm constantly drinking. I didn't know about the salt situation as I'm not big on salt but I'll certainly try and up that a little now too thanks and also have tried with a couple of normal pillows last night which helped me.

I've not had my haemoglobin levels checked either, my mum mentioned iron tablets when I spoke to her about it. I know pregnancy is hard no matter how many you're carrying but everyone keeps saying "you'll start feeling better" but I feel I'm lacking in something as I'm also always tired.
So I'll defo take these tips on board thankyou for your replies.

I feel like I'm going to fall forward because of all the weight of my boobs and bump LOL. There's definitely a lot of huffing and puffing going on, the stairs in work finish me off and I've got a great waddle going on. I'm not getting a chance to sleep much as I work full time and in the process of moving house and every evening sleep is disturbed due to babies practicing their kick boxing or needing a wee lol.

When you say your bump seems to have appeared overnight, do you mean that literally or just a figure of speech??
Maybe take a couple of days sick to put your feet up and have a proper rest.

I had about 10 minutes in my twin pregnancy between vile mourning sickness and howling SPD, and then went into labour at 30 weeks, so you have my complete sympathy!

Sleep, sleep and more sleep. Cut back work or WFH much as you can. Make your DP do all the moving stuff - consider it practice for when one of you will be out of play with 2 babies in a few months!
Iron - steak, spinach, dried apricots, more steak.
I'd recommend having a chiropractor first appointment so you are ready for treatment in case the back ache increases - chiro and pilates was literally the only reason I could keep walking, the NHS supplied support belt did very little for me.
Seriously, rest. Rest some more. Then eat some red meat.