Coping with older DCs when pregnant

[Abubu]

Hi,

Has anyone got any advice for coping with older DCs?
My DTS are 2 and a half and really doing the terrible 2s at the moment. I am 26 weeks pg and feel huge, breathless and exhausted already.

I am not a SAHM (work part time) and actually feel less tired to be at work.

I feel like when I am at home with the girls I am so exhausted, I can barely imagine what I am going to be like in the weeks leading up to having number 3 and am actually starting to worry a bit about it. Especially as they seem to play me up a lot more that DH and also make more demands on me.

I don't want to palm them off on family to look after on my day off as I already feel guilty enough about not seeing them most of the working week but can't imagine what I'm going to feel like in another couple of months.

Thanks

i used to put a dvd on for ds1 and ds2 in the afternoon, shut us all in the living room (had a stairgate on it) and then lie on the sofa and doze.

Big sympathies. I had just the one 3 yr old when pregnant with my second child and was absolutely shattered. I also always seemed to feel exhausted and breathless.

I would say get as much help as you can possibly muster together from other people, and then take a 'by any means necessary' approach to getting through the next few months. Whether that means letting your DTs watch more TV than usual to give yourself a break, or extended bath times (I used to plonk my DS in the bath for an hour at a time in the middle of the day just so I could sit on the loo next to him with a cuppa and a magazine) or whatever....just do whatever you have to do to get the rest and relaxation you need.

I'd also stay close to home and sack off long shopping trips or anything that involves trekking about and exhausting yourself.

Do your twins go to nursery at all? Could you extend their hours?

It really is hard coping with toddlers when you're pregnant. You have my sympathies. It's good preparation for when the baby comes, though

Im 22 weeks with number 2 and have a 17mth old DD.
Thankfully shes very good most of the time, but has the odd off days which can be a nightmare.

I try to do lots of activities that include sitting down. A fav of DD is colouring. We sit at the table with her crayons and draw lots of pictures together.
Also have the Night garden stacked up on the Sky plus box which is great for those times when you really just need to sit down for 5 minutes!

Mrs Matties bath idea is one will prob use nearer the end too.

Do they still nap at all? When DD goes for her nap I use that time to flop on the sofa. Constantly thinking of jobs I should be doing but hey!

Lots of sympatyy and also a little glimpse into your future as I am 35 wks pg with two DC (2 and 4) and it is utterly utterly exhausting, especially getting DD to pre-school in the morning and pushing DS in a pushchair/carrying him through the snow - makes me want to cry every time

My only advice is to try and get as much as help as you can from your DP/DH - can he give you a (short) lie-in in the mornings? Go straight to bed for a rest as soon as he gets home. Use the weekends to rest as much as poss and don't feel guilty.

Bath idea also sounds great - plus going to friends' houses so they can help look after your DTs a bit (while you sit down and rest). Do you have family nearby who can help?

A friend who has recently had her 3rd told me that once you actually have your baby it is actually less exhausting, which I'm desperately hoping is true! A bit of a way off for you I know but something to focus on on the bad days.