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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Slowing down during pregnancy

10 replies

isthisallwehavetooffer · 25/09/2023 22:58

When did you all start to take it easy in your pregnancy?

I am having real trouble with this and I keep
Pushing myself to do all the things I was doing before pregnancy and then I start to not feel great 😵‍💫😬

My husband is also struggling with this and keeps giving me jobs to do and pushing me to do what I was doing before pregnancy. I feel like, he thinks it will be good for me to be business as usual.

I am 24 weeks tomorrow.

How do you slow yourself down? How do you tell your partner you need to slow down?

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LittleMrsPretty · 25/09/2023 23:00

Is this your first?

i took it easy throughout my whole pregnancy with my first but it was during covid. Your husband needs to do more, or pay for a cleaner.

I would like tips on how to take it easy with a toddler to look after when I eventually get pregnant with No2z

choccyo · 25/09/2023 23:03

You need to just listen to your body and do what feels right for you, everybody is different.
As for your husband - tell him to strap a watermelon to his belly and tell him to go about his day "business as usual". What a fool.

Juicyjuicymango · 26/09/2023 04:05

Well my partner doesn't tell me what to do or 'give me jobs to do'

Are you employed by him?

Just do as much or as little as feels comfortable for you. If you need to rest then you need to rest. And you tell your partner you need to slow down by saying 'i need to slow down' when he's the one growing the bay from scratch then he can make the decisions about what he does with his body.

snoopy18 · 26/09/2023 06:31

Take it easy and listen to your body & mind.Your partner shouldn’t be expecting things off you anyway! So cheeky.I don’t have as much energy this pregnancy as I did with my first.Anything you can get help with do it - cleaner / batch cooking or things like Gousto / your partner cooking & cleaning etc. Conserve your energy for once the baby is here because it’s going to get hectic & exhausting!

Hungryfrogs23 · 26/09/2023 06:35

I think it's probably different for everyone and different for each pregnancy.
One of mine I got SPD and was quite sick and I had a blood clotting issue so I struggled with breathlessness a lot. The other 2 pregnancies I sailed through and never really slowed down at all. The most important thing is just to listen to your own body and what it is telling you.
Your partner doesn't sound very understanding of what your body is doing.

hopefulmum46 · 26/09/2023 06:37

I'm only 12 weeks but I've been having to take it easy for the last 6 weeks as been so exhausted and suffering from hyperemesis. Key is to listen to your body, if you can manage to do everything you used to without it wiping you out, great, if not, tell people you need help.

ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere · 26/09/2023 06:56

Just do what you can.

I was tired for the first 3rd, fairly normal for the middle third, then the last third I gradually got slower and slower at everything from walking to doing my shoes up. Jobs like putting together ikea furniture would take a whole day, as any bending over/exertion meant I needed to stop for a bit to recover.

Don't feel in any way guilty about that - you have a baby slowly filling up your insides - all the organs and muscles being pushed out the way and restricted - of course you're not going to be working at full capacity!

Daveismyhero · 26/09/2023 08:13

I've really struggled with this. I tried to keep going as normal (dog walking, riding horse, swimming and doing household stuff as well as decorating) pushed it too much and ended up signed off work as my body just couldn't take it. For the last 2 weeks I've been unable to do anything other than maybe a 30 minute walk around the block and it's really getting me down. Better to listen to your body and ease off gradually rather than push to the limit like I did. Im 28 weeks now and hoping to go back to work this week but will he taling it easy

LavenderSweetPea · 26/09/2023 09:12

Be honest with your partner and very clearly say "I'm struggling" don't beat around the bush negotiating to do less tasks or a shorter walk or whatever it is he's expecting of you as he might not understand exactly why. Tell him that the level of activity/chores/whatever you have been doing is starting to take a toll on your physically and you need to start taking it more easy in order to be able to keep going over the long term - you've got a long way yet until you're due and you don't want to burn out too soon.

If he pushes back with 'its good to keep active etc' just tell him bluntly rest is important too, and you've not been striking the right balance.

if he still doesn't listen, agree with PP to clingfilm a watermelon to his belly (and a couple of large grapefruits or something to his chest while you're at it) and send him on his merry way to clean the house.

Hufflepods · 26/09/2023 09:25

I didn't really make any active decision to "slow down" in either of my pregnancies. At the end of my first pregnancy we were renovating so I was painting, sanding, laying flooring etc all into the last few weeks of pregnancy.

Now I have a toddler so there isn't really much slowing down as obviously business as usual largely needs to happen for them.

What sort of things is your husband pushing you to do? Is it that you don't think you should be doing it due to pregnancy or you actually don't feel up to it?

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