Coping with exhaustion in 3rd trimester

[Bojangles33]

Is anyone else absolutely knackered? I'm 31+3 and I feel like I've been hit by a bus. Even when I do manage a decent nights sleep I feel so exhausted I can barely function. Work is so hard (it's also an hour commute which doesn't help). I've only got 4 weeks left but I'm worried how on Earth I'm going to cope with a newborn if I'm already struggling so much before it's born!

Yes 34 weeks and really noticing it over the last two.

Had a day yesterday where I felt spaced and fuzzy all day but then had insomnia last night. Managed an extra snooze before I woke so not too bad so far today mind you I've not managed much but I'm finding I just can't predict when either is going to hit.

Don't remember this with my first!

Yes 31+6 with twins and feel absolutely massive and tired. A good nights sleep does help but I'll still fancy a nap at some point and it doesn't help with the discomfort.

Also now the boys are bigger their kicks are harder to sleep through.

And my commute is long too. Totally knackered when I arrive in the morning.

I do spend an hour in the afternoon working from the beak out space with my feet up, but that is mainly to reduce swelling.

Couldn't even face cooking dinner when I got in last night.

I've increased my working from home days though. Can you do that?

3.5 weeks until mat leave for me!

Clare, I have found flight socks really help with swelling and I feel better when I wear them (some how) - I think I get bouts of low bp.

The only thing worth doing is double checking if your iron is ok. But mines apparently great and I'm knackered!

Same here. 34 weeks and exhausted.

Suffered really badly with sickness weeks 6-23, then acid sickness from week 26..... I need a break to recover but not going to get that with a newborn.

My commute is around 1hr 45 each way - it destroys me.
Seeing doctor next week and will ask her to sign working from home certificate as o can’t go on.

OP if it's extremely difficult you could chat to mw/ gp and perhaps consider an earlier mat leave? Or a sick note. Perhaps a couple of days self certifying and just completely resting might help?

37w, 5d. No amount of sleep helps and even if I can sleep for many hours I wake up 1 to 5 times to use the bathroom. Find myself almost falling asleep at my desk at work, on the bus, in the car, on the sofa etc.

Thanks @ZERF - my BP and iron are both fine. I get almost weekly checks with twins!

Not sure my compression socks would fit over the swelling! It's from the knees down 😖, but maybe DH's would. I'm already in his normal socks day to day as mine don't fit.

I don't know how you're coping with two!

Every time I get a growth spurt my feet severely protest and I've been having to just lie on the sofa while Dh sorts out ds.

Pregnancy tiredness is different to lack of sleep newborn tiredness. In pregnancy I could fall asleep (in the day) anywhere, with a newborn I'm tired but not usually falling asleep where I sit.

Is there anyway you could work half days or nap at lunch time?

The third trimester was so much worse than having a newborn. I was worried like yourself, but honestly for me pregnancy was horrendous and I just felt so much better once I was no longer pregnant. I didn't realise how tired and sick it made me till I suddenly didn't feel sick anymore.

These are my first @ZERF so I don't know any different!

I do catch myself worrying sometimes about how I'm going to cope with two babies when I find getting up/moving about so hard. Then I remember I won't still be pregnant once they're here! 😂

I recommend resting as much as possible.
I have a 15 month old DS and currently 39 weeks. It's been really tough. But instead of housework when he naps I have been strict with myself and just gone straight to bed. Even just to lie down.

Get your feet up as high as you can (to drain the swelling). Wash your hair in the bath so you can lie down.

Anything that relaxes you where you are off your feet. Painting your nails, going for a swim.

Definitely try and go on maternity leave from 37 weeks at the latest. You might get bored, but you will be rested

I agree. Pregnancy tiredness is different to newborn tiredness.

In pregnancy I can just fall asleep at the blink of an eye. But with a newborn it's harder to relax as you always worry baby is about to wake up!

Thanks to those who are reassuring that the newborn tiredness will be different to this! I feel like I am being a bit of a wuss at the moment and it doesn't help when well meaning individuals just keep telling me how I should count myself lucky and enjoy it before the baby gets here....

I am working from home a day a week but think I will up it to two days and see if that helps, or just go home earlier and work in the afternoon at home. I feel like it's not safe for me to drive by the time it gets to 5pm! Not long to go until mat leave now I guess.

it doesn't help when well meaning individuals just keep telling me how I should count myself lucky and enjoy it before the baby gets here

Exactly this!

I'd be rich if I had a pound for every time someone tells me my pregnancy insomnia and exhaustion is nothing compared to how little sleep I'll get with a newborn. Not helpful!