Suddenly feeling v overwhelmed at 34 weeks

[RosiePosies]

I am just suddenly feeling so overwhelmed by everything I need to do before I go into labour.

I am supposed to be starting perineal massage and doing pelvic floor exercises, both of which I am pretty sure I'm doing wrong. Next week I am supposed to start collecting colostrum which totally freaks me out for some reason. I still haven't done any hypnobirthing yet. I haven't finished reading my 'positive birth' book and I'm trying to find someone to encapsulate my placenta without charging a fortune.

We also happen to be buying a house and are looking to complete in two weeks. The house is in the next town over which puts me in a different 'catchment area' and means I will have to change hospital and go and book in with different Midwives. For some reason this has totally thrown me.

None of this stuff was really bothering me that much before now, but it's suddenly all catching up with me and I've spent the evening in tears. I feel so unprepared, and also like a shit pregnant woman for not having it all together.

Please tell me it's not just me that feels this way!

Hello Meghan!!!

Hi, don't have too much advice but didn't want to read and run especially given the above weird comment.
Am 33 weeks and also not so far with organising, we've ordered a pram (which may not arrive til after the baby!) and have some clothes and Moses basket, but currently no cot, nursery set up, car seat, hospital Bag items. I am actively looking at all this stuff and hopefully nearly there with a lot of them. Have a few things with house improvements ongoing too, and
like you I also need to press on with the hypnobirthing (am doing the online one). Added to that just been told I have GD, and while I know it's not my fault and just my pancreas under stress, I have all the guilt for potential effect on baby. Also there's the small matter of work every day if course! 😊
So really just to say I know how overwhelming it is and you're not on your own feeling like this or in terms of prep!
However all these things are sortable and we still have time. Am just trying to move one thing onward a little bit each day and am making some progress. Also I have to say since about 30 weeks my emotions are all over the place, crying a lot and generally feeling a lot less resilient, so I do think hormones are playing a big part in how we perceive we are coping. You have got this, and you will get the essential bits in place, the rest doesn't matter.
I know a few friends that moved house that late in Pg and all went fine, you just direct and make sure you have movers//plenty of helpers. Re the hospital change, is there anyway you could still plan to be at the original place? If you could keep that constant, and not too far a drive, it might be one thing off your mind?
Hope you're feeling bit brighter today, I always feel a bit better about this stuff in the morning 💐

Hi OP, I could have written your post a couple of weeks ago! Something I have found really helpful is to list things in order of priority including even the tiniest things to do - I find ticking off quick wins is a good way to feel more on top of things (e.g. buy snacks for hospital bag). The app Trello is good because you move actions to a different list when they're completed so you can visualise what you have done. Could DH/mum/a friend help you break down what needs to be done? Things often seem more overwhelming when you're thinking about them on your own (in my case at 3am when I can't sleep!)
Good luck!

Ok, I'll just throw my twopence in here but if it's not helpful then feel free to ignore.
I would take all that stuff off your to do list. With my first I went into unexplained labour at 29 weeks. I was TOTALLY unprepared. I didn't know anything abiut labour, the stages, any words to describe what was going on etc. I had booked a hypnobirthing class for 32 weeks but never made it. You know what; it was all totally fine! Your body knows what to do. So, what I mean is, if these things make you feel calmer then by all means do them, if they make you feel stressed then don't, they are by no means essential. Birth plams need to be totally flexible; whatever happens on the day happens and you have little to no control over it. I don't mean that to sound negative; I found it empowering and helpful to just go with what was medically best for my baby and had no baggage about what "should" happen or how prepared I should have been.
With this pregnancy I'm now 29 weeks again and could go at any time but it's fine; labour is a very tiny part of life with baby.
Good luck and please go easy on yourself; even if it happened tomorrow your body would be ready.

You are going through 2 life changing events - house and baby. Be gentle with yourself. There is no exam to pass for either and it is ok to muddle through. Take a few moments every day to just sit quietly - doing nothing - just enjoy the peace and quiet.

I did not "collect colostrum" for any of my 3 dc and they have made it to teenage years without it!!!

Do work on your pelvic floors - but for you not for anyone else! There is no end line - you can still do them after baby too.

Perineal massage can be helpful but if you forget to do it one night then all is not lost.

Hope all goes smoothly with your new house and enjoy getting ready for baby!

Also - unless things have changed - I think you can choose any hospital you like to have your baby! Can't see why you have to change at this late stage?

If midwives are attached to local doctors then can see they might want you to change teams for after care as they visit you at home and may not have the time to travel to where you will be.

@5 thank you so much for your lovely response

@Rosie - indeed, Sussex born and bred but haven't lived that way for years!