Question for those who were active in later pregnancy

[JamieJay]

What were you still doing at 34 weeks??

I've been pottering in the garden this weekend, mowed a small area of lawn, planted a couple of (small) plants and spread some bark over a bed. Also planning on painting another coat in the nursery this evening if I'm up to it.

Am taking regular breaks, not doing anything that feels too hard, getting DH to lift things and drinking plenty / staying in the shade.

DH is nagging me that I'm doing too much and should rest but I say I'm okay as long as I listen to my body - which is fine, no aches or pains and baba is merrily bouncing about it there.

Anyone who was still doing these things in later pregnancy or is my DH right (please god no - will never hear the end of it )

Your hubby is being an arse, albeit a sweet arse! I feel more physically capable now at 36 weeks than I did at 6! Seriously! Of course I get tired, but I've fewer aches and pains and don't feel so "vile" - also more of a zest for life if that makes sense. I've not got a very big bump at all so I'm obviously very lucky in that respect.

If you want to do it, enjoy it - I'm sure come 4/5 weeks time you'll be on the sofa scoffing hobnobs like the best of them!

Thanks Skihorse - you're right about the hobnobs, once I've stopped work (37 weeks) I'm planning on doing nothing but relaxing!!

Bump size does seem to make a difference doesn't it - mine isn't that big either

wen I was having acupuncture my acupunctiurist was heavily pregnant. She would climb up on the table to get the pins into my head!

I found I didn't feel physically compromised by my pregnancies until I got to beyond 40 weeks. At which point there was a lot of pressure in my pelvis and I was waddling as I walked. But, like Skihorse said, I certainly felt a lot better and perkier at 20-40 weeks than I had pre-40 weeks.

My due date was 7th January and on 31st Dec/1st January I went to a party and stayed up well beyond the call of duty.

Went to an interview in Brussels at 35 weeks -- not sure I'd be up to it now I'm 38 weeks; have spent much of the last week lying down because sitting up is unbearably painful.

I was at the gym at 34 weeks. Stopped at 36 weeks and 38 weeks for each one (babies arrived following week so was forced into slowing down).

Do what feels right for you unless a midwife or doctor has told you to do something differentlhy. Advice from non-medical people, however well-meaning, can be ignored.
I was hauling trolleys and holdalls of clothes around for my market stall up until about week 38, doing aquarobics until wk 40 and went to a day long party on my due date .

I agree with SGB. I did a spinning class the morning I gave birth and felt physically fit, well and energised totally in the last trimester.
You know your body better than anyone else. You just listen to it and let it guide you.

Thanks guys, nice to have some more examples for DH.

To be fair to him he has been fab the whole way through this pregnancy in letting me do what I want and is only trying to look after me - I was quite ill at 30 weeks with a UTI and elevated blood pressure (back to normal since) which I think freaked him a little bit.

Off to plant some more lavendar

Keep moving, I think your DH is just fretting (why do they start spouting old-lady advice when they fret?!). I'm 35wks today and my Mw actually told me to increase my cardio from one workout/swim a week to 2-3, as long as I am sensible about drinking lots and not overheating... Obviously that medical advice was for me not you, but there doesn't seem to be some kind of 'slow down because you have to' rule. Maybe 'slow down because you want to' is fine, but you don't have to

I am not doing any formal exercise at all (and feel a little guilty) but i am doing alot of gardening..... picking up dog poop, planting things, watering, moving garden furntiure etc. I am 39 weeks this week. DH thinks I am doing too much also. I find that I am good for a few hours, then I rest for the remainder of the day and the next day too. If I hurt, I stop. I am not moving fast, but I am moving.

If you feel OK, do it.

But get him to write this down "that I'm doing too much and should rest" and give it to him to read out when baby is 3 weeks old and you're knackered from no sleep and are trying to cook the dinner.

It's definitely fine - just make sure you're not getting tired before the birth.

I went to a pregnancy physio class and there was one couple there where the man was wanting the physios to tell his wife to stop doing anything (she was 36 weeks at that point) and she was getting really cross with him in a quiet way. Unfortunately for the guy, the physios were on his wife's side and kept on telling her how great it was that she was staying fit and active!

Put it this way - if you had other DC (presuming you do not?) you would be very active picking them up, running after them, crawling about etc right until the last moment.

I dont think what you have described is abnormal at all - but do what your body tells you to / lets you

Thanks for the further messages, have had a good afternoon and really chuffed with the front garden now.

Been lying on the sofa watching re-runs of CSI:NY for the last couple of hours to rest

Hoping to keep going for as long as possible as 'formal' exercise hasn't really been on the timetable recently

I was swimming half a mile a day at 42 weeks and doing a spot of Xmas shopping with DS1 !!! I felt the worst between knowing I was pregnant and 14 weeks and fully of energy after that.

With my first, I was still active untill I dropped, I felt great!
I walked everyday, painted the house. mowed the lawn. Went walking for hours. Sex all the time!!
This time has been totaly different. I have done no exercise, and hardly any walking.
I did have a slipped disk at the begining though.
I really want to get active again, but seem to get really out of breath quickly this time.
Not to mention my back still being a bit dodgy!
I have tried painting this time, and been cleaning like mad - but my back is in bits by the end of the night!
39+2,so hopefully not long to go
So - each pregnancy is different I suppose, do as much as your body will allow!
If you need to rest, then do it. You won't get chance when the baby is here !! LOL

I was still out running at 34 weeks with both mine. Do as much or as little as YOU feel comfortable with - You are the best judge of what you're capable of.

I was going to the gym until I went into labour. As long as your are comfortable its fine.