Feeling Down - 32 Weeks

[PeachyGreen]

I hate to sound miserable and mopey as I know how fortunate I am.. but I am finding this last stretch of pregnancy extremely hard. I’m awake from around 3am each morning and unable to nod off again, going into work from 8.30 - 6. I’ve spent the last few days crying and feel so down. No matter what I do or who I’m around I can’t seem to pick myself up again. Did anyone experience anything similar towards the end of their pregnancy? It seems like severe exhaustion and anxiety rolled into one

See your GP to discuss how you are feeling and get some reassurance about how you are. Get the GP to sign you off work for a week and get some rest, eat well, perhaps walk or sit outside. If you don’t feel any better go back to the GP.
do you have a friend or relative you could talk to about what’s worrying you?

Hi @JussathoB , thank you for getting back to me! My plan is to speak to the midwife next week when I have my next appointment. I think the exhaustion + work is really taking its toll. I’m fortunate with having lots of family and a supportive partner around me. I feel bad taking time off work - which is my main issue. I’m also due to work until I’m 37 weeks so I still have a few weeks left.

I wouldn't wait if I were you.

I'm distinctly clumsy when I'm both pregnant and exhausted, so you do need to take care.

I'd take a couple of days off self-certified to try and knock the insomnia on the head if nothing else. I've done well out taking a day off when the sleep deprivation gets too much.

Hi @PeachyGreen - my DD is four weeks old and I felt exactly as you describe towards the end of the pregnancy. It was so, so hard and I do think you might need to take a few days off work to shore up some energy for the weeks ahead. Try to see it as an investment if you feel guilty about it - take a little bit of time now and you'll perform much better for the remainder of your time at work!

Once you finish up at work you'll feel a huge weight lifted off your shoulders. You'll be knackered when you have your newborn too, but it's a different kind of knackered - you're not trying to function normally and work so it's a bit easier as there's nothing mentally taxing, you just need to exist, feed the baby, change the baby etc.

Something worth considering is finishing work earlier than planned. I understand this isn't ideal - the way I saw it was, every week I took off before the baby was born was a week of time at home with my baby "lost" at the end of mat leave - but actually you could be champing at the bit to get back to work. Time with the baby is precious, but if you do feel truly awful now, it might be worth taking some time to yourself and finishing work sooner.

Thank you @RedPandaFluff & @thecatsthecats . I’ve just spoken to the doctor who has advised listening to a sleep hypnosis app to help me drift off. They’re unable to help with the insomnia or suggest anything unfortunately. I’m trying to hold out at work for as long as possible as I’m only taking 8 months maternity leave, so it would be amazing to be able to spend all of this with the baby 😩. I’ve asked work if I can work from home tomorrow and I’m doing 1 day a week at home currently. Those days are quite nice because I skip the commute and can relax as soon as I finish. It’s really hard. Im hoping I feel a bit better when the baby is here but I’ve never felt exhaustion like it !!

Totally understand you want to spend as much time with the baby as possible, and therefore you want to keep working as long as you can.

Would it be possible for you to request 2-3 days of working from home per week? Sounds as if that eases the pressure a bit. I work from home and grew to love my lunchtime power naps