Due soon and utterly fed up!

[ChairmumMiaow]

Hi all,

I'm 38 weeks today, and am already completely fed up. I'm on maternity leave finally, but not feeling up to doing much more than cooking the dinner (DH does everything else without complaint thankfully, so long as he gets a decent dinner!).

Nothing's actually wrong, but its general lack of sleep (so uncomfortable in bed that I just don't want to lay around), hugeness and swelling in hands, feet and ankles.

I'm trying to do what I should - getting a little exercise even though the bump feels heavy and uncomfortable, putting my feet up to combat the swelling sometimes, and having my knees lower than my hips the rest of the time to encourage the baby to stay in a good position.

I am so bored of TV and just feel useless. Add to that the fact that I just really want to meet my baby and you've got a whole lot of frustration!

Does anyone else due soon feel like this? What are you doing to make yourself feel better?

I hate the last couple of weeks especially the time I went 10 days overdue.

However, being uncomfortable and vast doesn't mean you can't get out and walk. It gives you something to do and may well speed things along. We own a dog so I had to keep walking for an hour a day right up to days when my babies were finally born, so I know it's possible! It may also help you sleep and improve your circulation.

I also cleaned things, sorted laundry cupboard and put things like photographs in order. Once you get stuck into something you'll find you have more motivation.

If you can garner the energy to cook more, you could freeze some dinners for post-baby convenience. It's a bit of cliche but it is definitely worth it.

Mumsnetting is also good - you can ask us to check your hospital bag, what things to put on your post-birth shopping list etc.

And when I did watch TV I would kneel on the floor and rest my elbows/upper body on a footstool as I found it more comfortable.

And good luck for an on-time baby!

yes, very good idea to get some brisk walks in daily. What about swimming? I found swimming such a relief! I would ask for a Noodle as well and cycle round the pool like a mad thing

Nap when you can, sleeping on your left side if poss, as long as you can get comfy. Grab as many pilows as poss and make a sort of nest so that you can rest on your front, with bump settled into hollow between pillows.

Get an indian head massage one day, have lunch with a friend another day, browse the shops with mum/sis/bf another day, plan for a special massage from dh another day, and whatever else you find relaxing/enjoyable. Plan a little 'treat' like this for every day for the next FOUR weeks.

Keeping gently active, well fed and watered and rested, and most of all relaxed is my tip

Get out at least once every day. Perhaps go to the cinema or something that you enjoy but realistically won't be able to do for a while. Meet friends for coffee or lunch? All that stuff.

Hang on in there, the last couple of weeks are rubbish. I'm there too so I can feel your pain!!!

Good ideas thanks! I do try to get out every day, even if its just a 20 minute walk with husband and dogs (I couldn't manage an hour at the moment!) or popping into town just to get a little bit of food shopping.

Having a treat every day sounds lovely, but there's no way I could afford most of those things! I do have a lunch with my ante-natal group mums planned for Friday though :-)

I shall attempt to do some more useful things around the house - maybe freezing some dinners as suggested, but standing up for an hour or so is not very comfortable so I'll have to see how I go!

Well, the treat every day doesn't have to involve money, as long as you plan something nice that you can look forward to, you know something simple but special...

amd don't forget to focus on the next FOUR weeks (term is classed bewteen 37 and 42), if you focus on 40 weeks it makes any time over that even harder to bear! (I've got the T-shirt, dd came at 42+1 scan edd)

also I can't recommend the wightlessness of water strongly enough! 2, maybe 3 times a week at a basic pool, not a fun pool.

stay strong

I shall have to put my thinking hat on then!

Swimming is unfortuantely out as our local pool is closed until march, and I don't drive to get to one further away!

thats a bit pants then! what about long soaks in the shower?