35 Weeks Pregnant - In pain and Uncomfortable

[OnMyJourney]

Hey! Im 35 weeks pregnant and im at a new level of exhaustion... I just went on maternity leave from work and I feel like I've felt worse being on mat leave, I haven't slept properly in days due to needing to wee, being hungry, baby moving, back hurting, being too hot or cold, there's just always something!

I can't lay on my back, right or left side because I'm uncomfortable in every position I've tried pregnancy pillows, normal pillows, blankets, wedging myself in certain positions, I also feel extremely out of breath if I lay completely flat which is weird, my OH says my snoring is really bad at night too which I didn't snore before pregnancy... anyone else have this or just me?

My back and hips hurt all the time, I waddle like a penguin, my feet and ankles are so swollen, my hands are swollen I had to go to A&E the other day to get my ring cut off because it got so stuck and almost started cutting me.

I'm so excited to meet my baby but it's too early, does anyone have any advice to make any of this more bearable? 😅

I’m so sorry you’re going through a rough patch! I’m about 10wks behind you on our third, so I sympathize. I’m assuming you mentioned the recent swelling/need to get your ring cut off to your obstetrician/midwife? I only ask because while we do certainly get puffy it’s drilled into our heads that swelling that suddenly pops up can be a concern…

As to the rest, I’ve found that taking a sturdy bed pillow out to the couch helps a lot. I’ll sort of curl up and half lay/half sit up against the pillow with the rest of me stretch on the couch. It’s helped with acid and my pelvic pain isn’t necessarily mitigated by it but it DOES distract me from the pain. Beats tossing and turning in bed. And it’s a little easier to lumber out to the bathroom each time, since I just have to slide my feet onto the floor vs climb out of bed.

I hope you feel better!! Hang in there - it’s worth it!!!

Lack of breath I remember towards the end. There’s just not enough lung room as everything felt so squished! I was uncomfortable but it’s not long now.

if you are swelling did A&E check/ have you been to see your midwife to get blood pressure/ urine sample checked? Whilst I was HUGE I don’t remember being swollen as such and it can be a side effect of pre eclampsia.

Some water retention and swelling is normal but having to have your ring cut off is a sign you should get checked out by your midwife, GP or hospital - i.e.preeclampsia - it could all be normal - better to get checked though imho.

Op the end of pregnancy can be as rough as the start! I was very similar. Are you on aspirin for the swelling and are they monitoring that as I think it can be a warning sign for eclampsia. Hopefully not the case though!

I had really bad pgp, I went for physio through nhs who offered me crutches and in the end up paid for private physio which was really helpful, gave me exercises to strengthen the muscles that were under pressure. I used a support band around my bump and cut down my driving. Basically anything that involves opening your legs (getting out of the car, the way you sit, etc etc) can exacerbate it. So they'd be able to give you some tips on that. Usually it goes as soon as baby arrives but it took me a while so it was good to know what I needed to do.

Keeping well hydrated can help with swelling. I found a cool bath in the evening was great for taking swelling out of my legs and feet. I also snored loads. I told dh that was because I was very busy growing a small human and he stopped complaining! I had so many pillows in the bed trying to get comfy but see being on the other side I swear the lack of sleep prepares you for the constant night feeds etc. I'd just nap when you can so you're getting bits of sleep here and there.

I was very religious with eating well and taking multivitamins because I felt very tired when I stopped. Might be worth asking them to check your iron levels as they can get low if you're really bone tired. I'd also recommend continuing the multivitamins after baby arrives to build yourself back up.

One thing I found helped me when I couldn't sleep was saying to myself, ok I can't sleep but at least I can rest. So I'd maybe do a guided meditation with Bluetooth headphones in bed or just try to be calm and still and accept that my body was resting even if I was awake which is still something. Step back from the housework and get someone else to take on more for you so you aren't standing cleaning etc.. also hoovering/mopping/ pushing anything like a trolley will flare up pgp. So avoid avoid avoid! You're so close now!

@Workingitout1@larkstar that’s where my brain went as well - glad I wasn’t the only one ❤️

It is tough at this stage, but like others have said, rest as much as you can, slow down and delegate as much as you can.

Laying flat also makes me breathless (I'm 37 weeks now), so I can rarely do it anymore. Going on side gives me pain and baby is wide awake at night, so the nights are a struggle. I cope by taking a long morning nap till midday at which point baby is fast asleep and I have the entire bed to myself too so I can get into a much more comfortable position!

I think I'm starting to get water retention too (or it's extra fat!) ... I think if you can maybe get a massage? Try and find someone who can home so it's relaxing for you. I've also stopped driving and just want to rest as much as possible for the next few weeks.

Also, as it's not my first I know this painful stage is easier than post-birth when there's pain and severe sleep deprivation. So that is what is keeping me going (despite the severe pain!) 😊

Thank you all for your suggestions I will definitely be trying a few of those!

I have been to my midwife and she has no concern about preeclampsia, my blood pressure is pretty normal and she found no issues with my wee and I don't have any other indications that it could be preeclampsia but I suppose that could change at any minute so I'll keep asking every time I see her! Hoping it's just normal water retention swelling! I also was taking baby aspirin pre pregnancy due to me having PCOS and it's supposed to be helpful when trying to conceive, annoyed I stopped taking it now

I think the point about an iron deficiency could be one for me to get checked out, I have quite a few symptoms of anaemia, I'm exhausted, craving ice, lose my breath easily and my nails keep snapping, I think I will follow up with my midwife about this and try to add more iron into my diet.

I really am struggling to sleep, my OH brought me some more pillows which I've been using to wedge myself and try and get myself comfy which is working but I do now have like 8 pillows just around me lol, I do feel bad though as my partner keeps sleeping on the couch and getting back into bed in the morning, he gets so uncomfortable as all my pillows take up so much space and I think where I'm tossing and turning it keeps him awake, he'll sneak into the front room to sleep and try and sneak back in before I wake up, I don't think he's noticed that I know he does this but I feel so bad! He really does look after me and he works so hard, and he does most of the housework at the moment and I'm doing next to nothing l, so I feel dreadful that I can't even let him sleep 🥲 he says he wants to do it all and he really doesn't mind but I still feel so bad!

Hi Op

I’m 34 weeks and I also had trouble sleeping in bed due to horrendous hip pain. For the past few weeks i’ve been sleeping downstairs upright on my sofa with pillows and haven’t been in pain at all.

Interestingly being upright has also meant i haven’t had to wee as much either during the night!

Solidarity! 3rd trimester is shite!

im 38 weeks today and from I'd say 34 weeks, my god have i felt awfull, i cant sit,stand,walk,roll over, breath or anything!!! I've not slept at alllllllll for about 6 months and the pressure in my lower abdomen is awful!!! I think its normal, all i can say is take each day as it comes!

I'm 34 weeks and feel your pain!
It's this week I really started to struggle and be out of breath.
I've also got carpel tunnel for past week so my hands are in agony.
My feet and hands are also swollen 🤦🏽‍♀️
I found that normal pillows didn't help me at all and only leaning on my left side against long pregnancy pillow was only way I could get comfortable.