Surviving first tri with a toddler

[newbian]

DD is 18 months and I'm about 6 weeks pregnant. The fatigue has started to set in. She wants me to chase and play with her and I'm exhausted! Not nauseous (yet) but I'm expecting that shortly. How do I keep up with my toddler while staying awake and not over exerting myself!

Can't offer much help but Lucozade (for me to stop throwing up) and My Little Pony (for dd) DVDs were my best friend!

I tried to entertain her by walking in the afternoons and staying in in the mornings.....setting her up with toys on lounge floor or DVD whilst I laid on sofa trying to hold down the sick!

Once I got past 12 weeks I was fine though and increased my activities....lots of walking and nature stuff with dd.....petting farms, cafe trips etc. Weekends were easier once DH was home.

I don't feel great about it, but tv is my toddler's new best friend. We also do try and go out every day as I find the distraction actually helps me feel better. Places where he can run about burning off energy and I don't have to chase him too much.

Things like a bowl of rice and various kitchen utensils kept him occupied for quite a long time and wasn't too much work to clear up. DS is 21 months though so is more able to entertain himself with his toys for a bit.

I know how you feel OP. I am 8+5 and I have a 2 year old plus a 7 month old who still breastfeeds 2-3 times a night. Thank goodness I have no nausea yet but I've never suffered much with it. I find that pulling out old toys keeps the bigger one entertained plus she's always suitably impressed by home made maracas and the likes, or even a pot with an old wooden spoon and some potatoes to 'cook' - nothing that takes a lot of energy on my behalf. As for the baby well thank goodness she's learned to crawl this weekend so has become easier to please as she can crawl to what toy she wants. Aside from that I get as many early nights as possible. Sometimes I panic thinking how will I cope when the newborn is here but they'll both be 7 months older so hopefully easier !!

Any chance of a couple of mornings at nursery?

CBeebies, iPad, books, any game I could play whilst laid on the floor and also visiting my parents! I was in the first trimester over winter so there wasn't a huge incentive to go out anyway. I've really tried to make up for it in the second trimester!

Good luck!

Yep, first trimester is when my DC discovered Duggee and Postman Pat. We read a lot of books and I sat on the floor a lot whilst they played cars. Not my finest moments, but needs must!

DD was 14 months when I fell pregnant and i'm not going to lie. First trimester was extremely hard. I was sick everyday and hardly had the energy to get out of bed most days but you do get through it.

She's now 22 months and i'm 38 weeks and it's hard again but still not as hard as first trimester even though I'm the size of a small house and peeing ten times a night.

Thanks moms! I work out of the house a few days a week so have childcare for those days, but the rest of the time...I'm struggling. I want to lie in bed while she is pulling my hand to run around and play with toys. We don't do much TV but maybe I'll need to think about it. DH is stepping up on weekends which is a huge help but DD wants mummy only a lot of the time. I've also always been the more active playmate of the two of us so she expects it to continue.

One tactic I've discovered is when she wakes up from a nap, take off her grobag and let her play with toys and books in the cot while I lie on the floor next to it That uses up about 20 min.

Definitely utilise TV.

We didn't use TV until first trimester - all my screen time ideas went right out the window in favour of survival