35 weeks and so fed up!

[Ccjjc]

I’m a FTM. I’ve just turned 35 weeks with a 96th percentile baby and I’m so fed up. I’ve been tested for gestational diabetes (twice because I was so paranoid they’d got it wrong) but don’t have that. But I’m huge. I’m just under 5ft 2 and the discomfort is absolutely horrendous. I can’t sleep at all and I mean not even grabbing an hour a night. I’ve tried every pregnancy pillow going. I’ve also got swelling in my legs, knees, feet, wrists and fingers. Again got super paranoid about pre eclampsia, especially after having higher blood pressure readings than usual. Again that’s been ruled out (for now, but I’ll be asking again.) I know most of this is normal in 3rd trimester but I feel helpless. I can’t even imagine going to 42 weeks potentially - another 7 weeks away? I don’t think I’ll be able to move.

Also made the huge mistake of planning the baby shower for next week and I’m absolutely dreading it! (It was planned back in October when I naively thought I’d be fine. Can’t cancel as have family coming from 350 miles away who’ve already booked hotels)

To be honest this is just a moan. Why is this so hard? I really wish I was enjoying just a bit of this but it’s been tough since day 1.

Why is it so hard? You're growing a baby! It's hard for most people (maybe everyone?). I've done it 3 times, hated every single one, the whole way through. I had severe sickness and varying levels of pelvic girdle pain with all of them. The awful sleep prepares you a little for life with a newborn (or well beyond, in the case of my youngest who is 1.5 and still doesn't sleep).

I don't say that to put a downer but just to say that it's totally normal for pregnancy to be really hard, uncomfortable and horrible. It is however a necessary means to an amazing end, or rather, actually a new beginning - your beautiful baby. It is so worth it but that doesn't make it any less awful when you're in it! But it will pass and soon be over and you will be with your lovely baby.

Have you been swimming?

i loved swimming in those final weeks. So nice to feel weightless

Im convinced i bounced the baby out by jumping around in the pool in my 39th week

With my second pregnancy I had GD and excess fluid and felt I was going to burst! I'm 5'3 and remember a man doing an ultrasound saying I will be very uncomfortable and struggle as I had a short torso so the only way for the baby to sit is outwards rather than sitting longways inside me, which made sense and felt validating but didn't help!

I agree with PP I loved swimming this time round and dragged the family every weekend for some relief! If this is your first baby try rest as much as you can, try find a lymphatic drainage massage, jump on a ball, use cooling sprays. Good luck, you will get there before you know it