Only 3 weeks till due date and struggling - Is this normal???

[cupcake78]

Is anyone else out there the same!! 1st timer and I am beginning to feel like it is me just not coping very well.

I am shattered and EVERYTHING aches from the top of my back to my purple swollen feet. It takes me ages to get out of bed or a chair and then walk, a mixture of getting my balance and hip, groin, back and bump aches. I sware an extra step is being added to our stairs daily without me knowing about it.

Getting nightmares/very vivid dreams every night and waking up at 2.00am, not being able to get back to sleep till 5-6am. Trying to nap during the day but feel like I am getting nothing done. I seem to be very emotional and touchy about things that usually wouldn't bother me.

Nesting instinct seems to have passed as the house is now clean and the nursery done. I am so ready for this baby to come now!!!

If I am like this now where will I get the energy for labour??? and how will I cope once baby is here!!!
(I wish he would hurry up)Any tips on helping to get him out.

It is entirely normal, don't worry. This is why you are constantly being told to rest!! Sleep when you can, don't stress out about not doing "enough". You are preparing your body for childbirth - eat well, relax and rest - those are your primary responsibilities at the moment!

Good luck for when it happens!

Sounds completely normal to me! I was fine when pregnant and kept saying I didn't know what all the fuss was about etc and then I hit 37 weeks pregnant and time just stopped moving! Your post does take me back! I remember doing hundreds of soduko pzzles every night from 1.30 am onwards!

The thing that helped me was ironically enough having the kitchen redone. I was able to take out all my aggression on the numptyheaded kitchen fitter, and so was relatively Ok with everyone else. Oh yes, and it was about this time that I reversed our car into a wall - at speed!

Good luck with the birth and afterwards! You will be fine once the baby is here, it is just a different world. Make the most of the time now and fill the freezer with food - best thing I did.

Oh darling you are soooo normal! Sorry, I know you want someone to say, no, definitely not right, you shouldn't be suffering so much - but no, I'm afraid we mostly feel like that!
Big hugs, it's not long. I see it as nature's way of getting you so desperate for labour that you stop being frightened of it

Please Please Please Please I can't go overdue. I have been warned but trying not to think about it.

It is good to know that this is normal. Everyone in the unpregnant world expects me to be really excited and doing all the housework, going out each day for nice long walks while I still have my freedom etc etc. How quickly they all forget.

Ummmmmm, its not really like that.

Entirely normal. The only reason I am not completely passed out on the sofa is because we have decided to put in a new kitchen before this baby comes (4 weeks to due date).

Rest as much as you can. You can't bank sleep!

Once baby is out, your pregnancy aches/pains should disappear

Yep, sounds normal to me! Two weeks before I was due DD seemed to have a growth spurt and I felt really uncomfortable.

I know you must be sick of hearing it but take it easy and make the most of quiet and resting. Choose a film to watch everyday. If you wake in the night maybe read for awhile or have a glass of milk/bread and honey. Thats what I did and weirdly found that waking myself up and doing something made me fall back to sleep quicker.

Dont worry about the labour, the adrenalin will get you going. DH was far more knackered after I gave birth than I was! And I hadnt slept in 36 hours...

Take care of yourself! xx

Hey Cupcake 78,

I am a first time mama too

It must be entirely normal- tell me it is. I am like that now and I have another 5 weeks to go.

I am playing on it a bit with DH with the housework and cooking and general emotional needs, I figure I have carried this wee one for so ,long now I deserve it !!

Just sit back and take it easy, you'll have plenty of time for the usual more energetic stuff once your baby comes.

Maybe treat yourself to a nice pregnancy massage or a pedicure - make yourself feel a bit special

Cupcake - you are not alone. I think a big problem is that we have spent to many weeks/ months preparing for the arrival of the LO, since we have finished all the cleaning/ sorting/ building / nursery stuff....it is now a waiting game. With the exception of cooking a little more food for the freezer, I have nothing else left to do! and now i wonder.....what now? i plan to nap/ read/ go to the cinema/ get my hair done/ have a makeover.....lots of me time!!!

So good to hear I am normal. Just discovered I have developed another unpleasent symptom of pregnancy. They seem to be getting more embarassing the nearer to my due date.

I've got 5 weeks left and am starting to feel the same, it doesn't help having a 2 year old to run after either. You will get through it though, its a case of having to.

cupcake - I've got three weeks too and I'm shattered too, totally running on empty. To top it all I'm getting a cold Oh and the nursery is no where near finished, dh spent four hours setting up his computer last night instead of doing some sorting or taking stuff up to the loft He's on a stag weekend this weekend and is out tonight and tomorrow night. He's issued a demand saying I'm not to start to make up the cot (it's still flat packed) so not only am I tired my blood pressure is going up ten points each time I look in that room!! He won't do anything but won't let me do it either! GRRRRR! So... I'd say, put your feet up and relax, you're in a great position, enjoy the last few weeks!

MrsMar, I know just how you feel. I've got 7 & a half weeks to go and half our house is still a building site.
We're waiting for new windows to be fitted. They were supposed to be here a month ago, then they said last week, then they said this week, and they still haven't turned up. I've just been on the phone to the window company having a bit of a rant again.

We also need hallway, stairs, kitchen & baby's room to be plastered. But the delay with the windows means the plastering has had to be delayed. Joinery work is also delayed due to this.
After the plastering has been done, it has to dry out, then the decorating needs to be done. Then joinery work (doorframes, doors & skirting boards etc) then new flooring / carpet.
We haven't been able to buy cot etc for baby, as there's currently nowhere to put it, so there's still that to do too.
It's never going to get finished in 7 & a half weeks, and I just want to cry.
DP said if the house is still in a state when baby arrives, we can stay with his parents for a few days. Nice of them to offer, but staying with the in-laws just after giving birth is NOT what I want .

Feel better for having got that off my chest!