How do you cope unfit and pregnant

[3rdtrimesterwoes]

this may be long so I apologise! I have just hit 3rd trimester and I just can't cope, I am so miserable and uncomfortable.

Long story short, about 18 months ago I had a MMC, at 15 weeks I haemorrhaged and it nearly killed me, I lost over 2.5L of blood required multiple blood transfusions etc. It took me about 9 months to recover. I decided there and then I was done and would have no more kids. 2 months later I found myself unexpectedly pregnant, to be honest I was in denial, and refused to address it because of what happened before. Fast forward to now, everything has been ok I'm 28 weeks. Prior to that I had also had pneumonia (relevant later)

I suffer with HG, with my daughter it was manageable it was severe nausea rather than vomiting, with my son I was hospitalised multiple times as I was just too sick, with this one it was manageable but
severe nausea, to keep it at bay the only thing I could do was carb load so I gained weight really quickly, at least a stone in the first trimester, I was already a bit over weight (5'6" size 14) on top of that I got 2 nasty chest infections back to back with I suffer with worse due to the pneumonia, I literally lost any ounce of fitness I had in that first 12-15 weeks as I couldn't get up and move.

So now I'm 28 weeks, I've gained too much weight, I have heart burn continuously, and my lungs just feel like they can't get enough air into them, I feel the most unfit I've been in my life, I can barely walk from room to room without feeling like I'm going to collapse. I'm swelling in the heat, my joints feel pushed to the max (arthritis) I'm just so unbelievably miserable with it all and don't know how to cope, I can't sit down, I can't stand up. I can't even eat a salad because my heartburn is so bad. I don't really know what I want but if anyone has any ideas or little known secrets of how I can help myself please share with me. I've mentioned to the midwife already who just sort of chuckled and said I'm not that big and not to worry, it'll come off after pregnancy, which is fine, but I just feel like my body is under so much stress right now. I have a different midwife next week and will mentioned it again. The thought of 12 more weeks of this

Sorry you're struggling OP. It sounds like you had a really difficult time before and during this pregnancy. It also sounds like you're midwife was a bit blasé about things you're genuinely concerned about. Do you think it might help to talk through with someone like talking therapies? I had help from them in my third trimester with DC2 after some really tricky life events and it did help. I'm currently 39 weeks with DC3 and really sympathise, it's bloody hard work!!

Re this pregnancy, could you try and go for a short walk each day? Whatever you can manage, 5-10 mins might make a small difference to your sense of wellbeing or just standing out in the fresh air even? Is there a local pregnancy yoga class you could join? I found that really helped wellbeing and physical aches and pains and it was nice being around other pregnant women who get it. Yoga can really help with breathing and learning breathing techniques too.
I definitely find white and beige carbs pretty bad for heartburn. Eating little and often definitely works better for me atm rather than trying to squeeze in bigger meals. Also, Gaviscon tablets (rather than liquid) really help me. They're more expensive but worth it i think!
Not sure if any of that is helpful. It's tough, it will end, but it's so tough and I really sympathise.

I would contact your GP and ask to be prescribed omeprazole- it is for acid reflux which should really help the heartburn.

It sounds like you've really been through it this pregnancy. Just try and do little bits of walking here and there, and see if you can find a nice warm swimming pool that you could bob about in. Do as much or as little swimming as you feel able to- the water takes your weight and i found it took the pressure off my back and hips which I badly struggled with in my first pregnancy. A water noodle helps make it easier to just float about. There was a pregnancy aqua yoga class in my town which I joined but I can imagine they may be a bit niche.

Really hope you can find some relief soon!

Thankyou, I am under the perinatal mental health team and they are great. I'm starting a talking therapy next week, which I think will be great. It's just the physical side of it, I still do the school run twice a day walking about 15
mins each way so that's about an hour walk a day, I definitely don't want to give that up, I'm just finding myself going slower and slower 🤣 and wishing there was a bench half way! I will look into yoga, I tried pregnancy pilates but I just couldn't do it, that's how unfit I am, I was just so out of breath after a few minutes!

Thank you, I'm going to speak about the heartburn next appointment which is mid next week. I kept thinking about swimming; but not looked into it properly, maybe being in a cool pool would also help with the puffy feet too! It's almost warm enough to get a paddling pool out and just sit in that 🤣 I keep fantasising about it!

If you're struggling to move I'd start with chairobics. It basically involves sitting and doing simple exercises: leg lifts, arm curls, stretches and a few weights. They're soft exercises designed to burn calories but not pull anything.

I've found drinking milk helps with my heartburn.