Is it normal to not have time to feel pregnant with your third child?

[hattyyellow]

I'm only 6 weeks pregnant, so I know it's early days. I do feel shattered by the evening and by the afternoon and get occasional twinges of nausea.

I kind of feel like I don't have time to feel pregnant - I have twin daughters who are 2.8 and I also work half the week and then there's the mountains of washing etc to do.

I'm currently pitching for a new contract for an extra day or so per week (I'm self employed. DH thinks I'm taking on too much but I do feel like I'm resting - I put my feet up while the girls have their lunchtime ceebeebies hour and I'm sat at a desk the rest of the week which is probbaly less tiring than chasing around after toddlers.

Do other people with toddlers already find they don't really have "time" to be pregnant?

Is this the reality of second time pregnancy or more, that you just have to get on with things and fit in resting when you can? Last time around I was aware of every twinge, every day!

I feel like I should be, I don't know, sitting communing with my unborn child and planning menus based around super foods rather than carrying screaming toddlers in and out of the car and planning work meetings!

Any reassurance? Will my babe come out stressed as a very stressed thing? Am I risking my pregnancy?

I get a lot more twinges at night, almost as if the baby is getting on with growing whilst I am lying down!

We do need the money of me taking on extra work, but I?ll be lucky enough to be mainly working quietly from home.

Any reassurance/advice gratefully recieved!

I'm pg with my third and I totally forgot that I was until it became obvious from my vast belly. I did things like apply for a job that I would never have been able to do. Maybe I was in denial.
The upside of this is that it flies by.
The downside is that it flies by... I've got three months to do and I realise that I have in no way prepared myself mentally or physically or materially.
I don't think you'll be doing any harm to your baby at all. You're not doing a physically demanding job or struggling with a terrible commute. I didn't feel mine move until well over 20 weeks and I think this was due to not concentrating on trying to.
Benign neglect can start in the womb evidently and is probably a very good thing.
Pol

Thanks Polly - I think I am worryingly hot on the benign neglect! I'm a third child and my mum said I was just fitted in around the others..

I was commuting a long way through my last pregnancy so working from home does seem easier!

Snap, am in exactly the same position as you. Am 8 weeks pregnant with number three and have never been busier. I have a 3.5 year old and a 2 year old, plus I work sort of part-time freelance from home. I just requested more work recently, totally forgetting how restricted I am in terms of time and energy!
Not feeling v pregnant except for the absolute exhaustion, which is hard to deal with. Plus, can't face cooking so my poor DDs are eating a lot of sandwiches, grilled chicken and raw fruit! I'm buying ready meals for the first time as I can't face doing anything more than shoving a frozen lasagne in the oven.
Am hoping I'll have more energy in teh second trimester and then I can get a bit more prepared.
Am a big believer in benign neglect, luckily!

yes yes yes

I think it is a Good Thing: you don;t have all that stressing over stuff and calculating whether you are 5+4 or 6+2.

Also, being at work while pg is great - sitting down and no toddlers to heft around

Thanks all this is really reassuring! I've been toying all day with wondering whether to test again as I was so concerned but I have that level of "background want to lie down now tiredness" which is strangely comforting.

The flying by pregnancy sounds great- last time around I enjoyed it, now I'm happy to be pregnant but would be quite happy if I could somehow have a full term baby after 3 months pregnancy!

And we are relying on ready meals too some of the time - and I'm sure will continue to do so once this new babe comes along!

Cheers all

Hi Hatty

I am in the odd position that I am pg with my third, but my other two are older now 7 and 10, so sometimes I am running round with them but others it is just like being pg the first time as I have most days to myself as they are at school and I only work 2 days.
But I also think my body is used to it and so I dont feel every small twinge like I did the first time.
BTW I am 6 wks too.

It's completely normal. The only reason I knew I was pregnant with the DTs was because I was so ill the whole time so had a constant reminder. With DDs1&2 I never had time to feel pregnant. I only "enjoyed" my pregnancy when the others were in bed or at school and I could feel that new life kicking inside me!

I frequently forgot with my third and even now he's four months old and so placid i've been known to leave the room to go somewhere and my friend says 'is Tom ok there' and I realise i've forgotten him!

Thanks all I really appreciate it. Have joined the DEcember antenatal club which has helped. Am bizarrely excited whenever I feel queasy as it feels like a good strong symptom !

Had a lie in this morning which was nice, even if I don't have time to feel pregnant during the week it's nice to enjoy the attention at the weekend!