Struggling at 27 weeks (anxiety and tiredness)

[Harlow19]

I feel a bit embarrassed for feeling like this as I didn’t expect to until 35+ weeks but I just have no motivation to work anymore. I’m tired and I’m constantly worrying about baby. I know you can take maternity leave at 29 weeks but something about that makes me feel a bit silly as I would be possibly sitting at home for 11-13 weeks without a baby.

Does anyone else feel like this?

Yes, I feel like this. I’m 26 weeks and just cannot be bothered anymore. I am feeling really tired and for some reason work is making me feel anxious.

I am going off at 31 weeks and have some lovely time sleeping, going in nice walks and prepping for the baby (this is my second). If you want to and you can, do it.

Otherwise, if you are feeling really rough. There is always the option of sick leave.

Hope you feel better soon x

@Sallyh87 Thank you for replying. I just feel so tired and honestly I’m done. I think I am struggling with prenatal anxiety and depression and start therapy Thursday. Along with the usual pregnancy tiredness, it is just killing me. I guess I should do what’s best for me, a lot of my friends worked until 38 weeks so I just feel like I’m being silly wanting to go earlier!

Everyone is different, don’t compare yourself to friends. If taking some time for yourself helps, the obviously you should do it!

Well done on starting therapy. Hopefully it will help. I find the hormonal changes and mental changes in pregnancy very difficult. I think it must impact people differently and not everyone gets it.

I'm 28 weeks and leaving on the 21st Feb. I have a one year old at home and I feel 100% done! But I won't be returning to work so the loss of weeks doesn't matter

Everyone is different and you absolutely have to do what is best for you. I am 27 weeks and doing ok, but in my first trimester I felt horrendous and spent a lot of my day in bed. Other women are fine in their first trimester, including my manager who was a bit further along than me and seemed to manage to work all the time despite being really sick!! I don't know how she did it but I tried not to beat myself up about not being able to cope as well as her, and she was extremely supportive of me and made sure I knew that I did not need to just get on with it. Looking back, I am so glad I listened to what was best for me. I don't think you will regret doing what is best for you, either. I am sure lots of women have lots of time off pre-baby.

Yes im five years older thid time
and tiredness hit at 28 week
every werk seems so long and exhausting
all i can think about is baby being here now time cnt go quick enough.
im so grumpy hormones are killing me slowly

My advice (based solely on my own experience with prenatal anxiety) is to keep working if you can, so you aren't sitting around dwelling on things. My anxiety did ease somewhat in the last 8 weeks or so, knowing baby was big enough to increase the chance of a good outcome, hopefully you find the same in another few weeks and can consider starting leave then if you're struggling. Wishing you all the best.

I'm ready to leave work and I'm only 22 weeks. My hips feel like they're on fire, I feel huge and heavy and old. And I'm constantly exhausted.
Work are amazing and have done everything to accommodate me. I mainly sit behind the till now, but sitting too long makes my hips flare up too 🙄 I want to wait until end of April to go on maternity ( I'm having twins, so won't be going past 38 weeks and am aware they may come earlier) but honestly don't know how long I can go on. Luckily, our holidays restart in April so might take a couple of weeks first.
I'm considering taking the midwife up on her offer to refer me for counselling with my anxiety too.

Please be aware that you have to give 4 weeks notice with your MatB1 form. So if you want to go off ASAP you should hand it in to your employer 🙂 xxx