34 weeks - mental health, tiredness and work

[Dramaqueen14]

So I’m almost 34 weeks and feeling absolutely exhausted. I’m not sleeping well (awake from about 1 until 4 every night), and My anxiety which I’ve been dealing with most of my adult life is quite high and I’ve been teary and panicky the last couple of weeks. This is making work quite difficult. I work full time though in an office and am working from home a couple of days a week.

I only have 2 weeks to work though I’m really struggling to be focussed and complete my work. Does anyone have any advise to get through the next couple of weeks? Am I just overreacting a bit? X

Absolutely not overreacting! I was 34 weeks on Wednesday and I was meant to be finishing work (also in an office!) next Friday but finished 2 weeks earlier because I was absolutely exhausted, struggling with SPD and just a bit of an emotional mess. Are you in a position to move your end date slightly? Please don't be too hard on yourself, I've really struggled with my mental health throughout this pregnancy so can honestly empathise. You're doing much better than you think and just hang in there, it's not long now x

I was meant to go off at 37 weeks I moved it forward to 35 weeks I couldn't cope anymore, best decision I could have made. Gave me a chance to properly rest which was good as we had a traumatic birth. Do what is right for you

Hang in there. I've just finished work at 38 weeks. I had to get signed off at 33 weeks for 2 weeks due to catching a flu like cold and being exhausted everyday. It's pregnancy & trying to juggle a busy job! Finished work earlier if you can or work from home more often (I did for the last 2 weeks which helped a lot). Won't be long and you can relax at home looking forward to babies arrival. Food luck x

I'm finishing at 36 weeks (this weds). I've felt the same since 34 weeks. I've had to take a couple of days sick as I was just not coping (literally could not get out of bed one day).
I've pushed on to 36 weeks but only because work understood and my workload was pretty much halved. If I had to work full pelt I definitely would have started maternity earlier.
Do you have any holidays you can use?

Hi OP, similar situation. I’ve always suffered anxiety. I’m a dental nurse and I was meant to be finishing work next Friday but we had some issues and was meant to have a c section this week, so I informed work and finished last Friday. I was exhausted aswell, really struggling to focus at work. The sleep deprivation already is insane and I think it’s worse because it’s not like I’m tending to or feeding baby in the night, because she’s not here yet and I’m still led awake until the early hours.

My anxiety has really started to heighten now I’m at 34 weeks and know that baby could come anytime, literally as I’m having weekly scans to figure out the best time to get her out.

If you’re really struggling at work I would suggest speaking to your midwife or GP about getting signed off for the last little bit, it will automatically trigger your maternity leave now. You’ve got to look after yourself at the moment, even more so when struggling with mental health.

I’m always a message away I you want to have a moan about the joys of anxiety, in general and being pregnant! 😁