38w and in need of some hand holding ❤️

[Glasgirl92]

FTM 38+1 today and feeling a bit fed up. I’m so so grateful for this pregnancy but my parents have been up for Christmas with a horrible cold so I’ve been waiting on them and cleaning up after them pretty much all week. I love them and am glad I’ve got to see them but feel exhausted from their visit and have now I’ve developed their cold. I was sleeping poorly anyway and am so uncomfortable but now it’s even less as I feel so dreadful!

I was hoping for a spontaneous labour with a water birth (happy to go with the flow as I realise you can’t control these things) but now I feel like if labour started now I would be so exhausted I wouldn’t cope without an epidural (which isn’t the end of the world but wouldn’t be my first choice). I’m also just pretty miserable as I’ve finished work and am quite bored but also feeling rubbish 😅.

I was just hoping that someone could reassure me that they’ve gone through similar and it was all ok and that it will be over soon! Or maybe tell me to pull myself together
😂 - I’m not used to spending this much time in bed!

Hope everyone has a lovely 2026!

Ah what a shame. Don’t worry. Rest up for a couple of days and recoup your energy. Hopefully baby won’t decide to appear early and you’ll be strong and ready for them when they come. Tbh even if they do come today adrenaline will totally kick in. I’m sure it will be fine. Just hunker down for a few days and stay warm. Hope you feel better soon & good luck xx

My in-laws came during my first pregnancy at 37 weeks and they were all smothered with coughs and a cold and stayed for 2 or 3 nights - I was not happy! Baby didn't appear for another 4 weeks though so it was all forgotten by then.

The average arrival date for a first time birth is 40+5 so you might have a while to go yet. Try to get lots of rest after their visit and I'm sure you'll be back to yourself soon and will be glad to have gotten some winter sniffles out of the way before baby comes.

Thanks for all of your kind messages and reassurance, I got a better night’s sleep so feeling a bit more positive today :) Not sure I can wait until 40+5 though 😂

OP I remember vividly feeling the way you do, just after Christmas when pregnant with DS, who was eventually born late January at 40+8. I was exhausted, sore, grim, utterly done with being pregnant, but so not ready for the giving birth bit!

My advice - Get plenty of rest, listen to your body, and do what it needs you to. Maybe find a simple hobby to pass the time so you don't feel like your rest time is wasted. I took up knitting, so I was sitting resting quite a bit in the last couple of weeks, but it felt productive and helped pass the time because I was making a lovely blanket for the baby.

I'm not going to tell horror stories about birth or the newborn days, but it's fair to say you won't be as well rested after the little one comes along, so make the most of it now!

I've always found I've had a surge of energy once labour starts and maybe you will too. But I remember that feeling well. Being exhausted, fed up, and quite lonely. It will pass eventually. For now, rest up. Eat well, bath, have some moments of self care❤️

You poor thing, those last few weeks are tough. I was 2 weeks over with both mine so I know how you feel!

I would suggest taking this time to do all the lovely things you won’t have time for once baby arrives. Eat snacks in bed and binge a series, go out to your fave restaurants, declutter anything you want sorted. I loved spending time faffing in the nursery and getting all the little odds and ends in place.

When I was pregnant with my second, my first was still so small so I couldn’t do all the lovely “me” things I did first time round. I know it’s hard to be patient but this time is precious too - the last few weeks of just you and Bump and having Baby all to yourself. Try to relax, pamper yourself and enjoy it x

I was induced at 37 weeks due to liver issues and extreme fatigue where I could only be awake for an hour or so at a time and slept about 18h a day. I had 2 lots of paracetamol during the induction and just gas and air during the labour. I was able to sleep through the labour and rest as I needed. I lost the ability to stand at some point. The midwives manoeuvred the bed for me to be in a quite upright position. I only had a graze and didn't need any stitches.