Why am I so tired?!

[BlueIsYou]

It's making me feel incredibly anxious and resentful towards very soon having a DC to get up to. I cried this afternoon, wondering how I would cope. I'm brushed off my feet with exhaustion now and I'm not getting up every 2/3 hours to tend to a newborn

I can hardly manage to move physically or mentally.

I'm 29 weeks pregnant and I am exhausted.
I went to bed at 6.30pm and awoke at 9am this morning.

I was so fatigued before 6.30 that I didn't have the strength to balance my plate/hold a fork to my mouth to eat my food.

What is going on? This is ridiculous, I can't function or physically be of any use.

Thank goodness I have no other DC to see to. They would've set the house on fire or something

Have you had your iron levels tested recently? Pregnancy is very tiring, but what you describe is extreme. I'd speak to your mw about it. Are you struggling with mental health, anxiety or negative feelings? Anxiety is exhausting and depression can manifest as lethargy and exhaustion.

There's a difference in my experience between the drained-ness of pregnancy and the sleep deprivation of caring for a baby. The sleep deprivation is no picnic, I won't lie, but when you give birth your body will lose the constant energy drain that is supporting the baby, which makes things easier. The sleep deprivation has other challenges, but you'll cope, I promise.

Tiramis Yes, iron levels are on the low side. I'm currently taking iron tablets as prescribed by my GP but they don't seem to be improving my symptoms

I do feel quite anxious at the moment and I suspect I do have quite frank antenatal depression. I'm extremely low in mood and everything seems so bleak and awful. I'm so worried about how I will cope as a Mum/what if I don't love my baby?

It's awful

Ok. That helps explain it.

I think I would go to your GP and midwife again. Get levels retested, get iron dose upped if necessary. Speak to your midwife, tell her you fear you're depressed and ask to be referred to the perinatal mental health team. They should be able to help you or at least listen and help you talk through your worries.

You will love your baby. I can promise you that right now.

Do you have a partner? Mum, friend? Are there supportive people around you you can talk to? There are things that can help you feel better, and you deserve to feel better.

Blue - I think you should talk with your MW. this is extreme and if you're feeling so concerned it might that you need extra help. As Tiramisu says, the exhaustion of pregnancy is normal but this seems extreme and if you're struggling with depression, then that could easily be impacting you.

On a purely physical level, what is your blood pressure like? Mine is naturally low and tends to sink even lower when I'm pregnant. At it's worst, I was down to 65/40 or something (it's all a bit vague now) and felt like death. I ate a lot of very salty food for a while!

In terms of anxiety, I do understand what you're feeling. All I can say is that you WILL cope. It might well be hard and there may be some months at the beginning that you struggle, but with the right support, and with time, things will get better. I would start thinking about how you access that support right now by speaking with your midwife.

Good luck!

Tiramis I will ask for levels to be checked again

I often sit and think I've made a big mistake and that I don't even want a baby anymore. I also feel extremely anxious about money as DH lost his job last month and is yet to get another. I'm not at work because of severe HG sickness. It's all just so poo.

I would love to be able to talk to someone professionally, who may be able to help.

I have a DH at home, and I'm extremely close to my Mum but she's rubbish with phones and lives miles away.

She suffered with bad postnatal depression so would understand where I'm coming from

Also, you should go back and speak to dr/ mw because of the HG. I don't know a lot about it, but it's possible the tiredness is dehydration/ malnutrition if you're finding it hard to keep food and drink down? That is, of course, debilitating and it might be that you need to be checked and possibly get some IV fluids. Depending on how severe your HG is, I'd consider speaking with MW/ DR asap.
Good luck!