Third trimester - is this normal ??

[tryagain20]

Hello all,

I've just entered my third trimester and the last 2-3 days I'm just so exhausted !

Not exhausted like I could sleep exhausted- just exhausted at any physical activity whatsoever.

I don't sleep particularly well at night and I also don't have naps.

Walking up the stairs is so hard. Getting dressed, putting shoes and socks on- just anything where I'm not just chilling is the biggest effort I have ever experienced in my life. I'm out of breath a lot and need to walk really slowly. I get winded really quickly and get a stitch if I walk too fast. When I walk with others, they have to slow right down..

Does this sound like the third trimester ? Or should I worry about anaemia or something ?

I would say it's pretty normal I've felt like this for weeks (bump is pretty big) when baby gets bigger they put a strain on all your body including organs. I cant walk up the stairs without having to sit down when I get to the top because I'm.out of breath its ridiculous... but of course if you are worried about it I would have a word with your midwife see if she suggests anything. Xx

I'm the exact same I can't put on my shoes or get dressed properly I'm 30 weeks. I am struggling to walk the pain and Braxton hicks take my breath away, my bump is constantly hard now and tight with braxtons doesn't feel normal at all. I also am very tired and worn out. I keep getting pains radiating down my legs and thighs that makes me cry and pressure down below, no position is comfortable for me at all. Sorry to offload every single symptom but I'm so fed up I never had this with my other two pregnancies x

Sounds very much like the third trimester! I'm permanently knackered... don't sleep at night really (heartburn, pgp,
Sciatica and pregnancy insomnia... and a 16 month old)

If you can nap during the day at all I really suggest doing it! It's the only way I'm surviving. Nice relaxing hot baths help as well.

Same for me with walking as well. I have to leave 30 extra minutes to do everything now. School run takes forever

I was like that in 3rd trimester. No harm in getting checked out if you're worried

Yep, normal (they say pregnancy is 3 months dreary, 3 months cheery, 3 months weary!) Anaemia is also a possibility and could make things worse, but your 28 week bloods should reveal that.

I agree with PP but I also found that iron supplements helped. Even though my iron levels weren't considered low enough for prescribed iron supplements, I got some spatone and I felt that really helped.

Thanks ladies ! This makes me feel so much better. But I'm sorry we are all suffering like this. It's such hard work- I had NO idea. I literally complain all the time to anyone who'll listen 😂
I'm a delight to hang out with clearly...

I hope you all get moments it relief. I still have nausea as well unfortunately. If I could choose between pain / exhaustion and nausea, I would choose pain / exhaustion any day. Good luck all !

I felt like this around 30 weeks and it turned out to be anaemia. I felt 100x better once I’d started on iron supplements!

Hi OP, everything you’ve just described is how I feel every day! I’m so pleased I’m not the only one! I’m taking a liquid iron supplement as I thought my iron stores might be low, but after a week on the supplement, I still feel knackered. Luckily it’s stopped the need for afternoon naps, but I just cannot manage simple physical things any more. It took me 3 hours to clean the bathroom the other day as I had to take breaks and sit down. I’m 26 + 2 so not quite into my third trimester, but I have a feeling that this will last until baby is born.

Sounds the same as me and I’m 29 weeks. I have anaemia and hoping the supplements kick in soon but everything is much harder now!

Currently 34 weeks and totally feeling like this. Even harder with my 19 month old ball of energy!

I spoke to midwife in regards stitch constantly and not been able to breath and she said it's literally just baby squashing my lungs. Never remember feeling like this with no1, shoes and socks are horrendous everything is so much effort 🙈 xx

Yep...all of this. I'm knackered just getting out of bed in the morning! By the time I've FINALLY got up I pretty much need to sit down again.

My job at work is quite long hours and physical - and even though they're REALLY good, I just feel so done in especially by the end of the day I barely have the energy to eat or do anything. (Have to be up by 0530, not back home until about 8pm by which time I'm utterly dead and often with back ache.

By the morning I just hope to be moderately ok enough to go back to work to start the cycle again!!! I kinda feel like I'm useless at work, can't do much and frankly just getting to the point when I don't want to do anything anyway.

I've been trying to do as much as possible the previous weeks but now... it is a real struggle tbh. I've given in.

I was shattered in my 3rd trimester, used to come home & fall asleep but was up most of the night with heartburn & ds dancing on my bladder, I took the decision at 32 weeks to get signed off until my maternity leave started.

Def get your iron levels checked! It’s so easy to become anaemic even with a good diet & it really can make you exhausted & very out of breath! I thought I was going mad last pregnancy as I felt like I’d run a 5k walking up the stairs, turned out pretty anaemic! Iron tablets sorted me out & my energy levels were much better (if still reduced just from general heaving a bump around). GPS will be happy to arrange a quick blood test usually or if you had bloods at weeks, perhaps ask your midwife how your iron levels where and if it’s possible you’ve become anaemic!

Mention it to your midwife at your next appt as she might test your iron levels but I'm the exact same, i felt extremely tired and had no energy in the first trimester then felt better in the second but now I feel awful again but also have all new symptoms thrown in there too.. the third trimester is just tough as the baby is really big now and taking up a lot of room that puts a lot of strain on you, just keep thinking you don't have long left now! And also this is the stage where people really want to help you out more as they can see you're struggling so definitely take advantage of that and accept any help you get offered from your partner or family

Yes absolutely normal! If you really are struggling with the day to day though, please see your MW.