Is it really that bad?

[Hazel]

Firstly, I'm hoping this doesn't come across the wrong way as it's not my intention, it's a genuine concern I have.

I've been dipping in and out of tri 3 for a week or so now and just wanted to ask how uncomfortable it is being pregnant in the last tri.

This is my first so I have absolutely no experience of what it's like to be over 30 weeks pregnant but it sounds awful.

Should I be preparing myself for this and not planning to do anything for the last 10 weeks as I will be almost immobile? I've always been active and it worries me that I will have trouble going out without being in constant pain.

 

[Gilly]

I've also been worrying about this as at the moment I'm only on leave from week 37. It's my first baby too so I hope some other mums will give us some first hand knowledge! But speaking to friends and colleagues it seems to be like there's quite a lot of variety, most people I have spoken too kept working right up to just a few weeks before their due dates without too much problem. Hope I'll be able to do the same!

 

[Suzie and Faith]

Bless ya, we probably make it sound so much worse than it is because we don't mention how great it will feel when we get our LOs!

Some people get a lot of pain, it's harder to walk etc etc and some have no problems whatsoever, but don't worry about it too much
We are all happy to meet our LOs xxxxx

 

[handbagqueen]

I was doing that today too- reading up about poor Geordielass and her back pain. Scared the life out of me cos I'm suffering badly with it now and dread to think what it will be like in the last trimester. I think everyone has it different though so don't panic too much and we'll all be going through it together

 

[Steelgoddess]

Hiya, a bit confused as this has been posted in 2nd tri hon??

Either way I think it differs for everyone but on the whole I know about 95% of women feel terribly uncomfortable in the last month or so but I guess im not the best person as im not there yet eek!

Anyway don't be afraid we will all hold each others hands

 

[Hazel]

It's the last 4 weeks that I'm most concerned about. Should I not accept any party invitations etc as I will probably struggle. MIL has her 50th the week after I'm due so dreading that a bit.

How about driving? Will I still be able to drive right up until I'm due????

Will I get stuck in the bath and have to sit there until DH gets home????

And it will be middle of the summer and it'll be hot!!!

 

[handbagqueen]

Will I get stuck in the bath and have to sit there until DH gets home????

This crossed my mind as I was like a stranded whale in the bath last night but could still heave myself up. I'm sure you'll be fine!

Driving- it depends how big you get, may get too uncomfortable if your bump is too near the steering wheel- plus they advise you to sit in the back if your car has air bags as its safer. Love it- excuse to treat my husband like a taxi!

Weather- yes it will be the middle of summer but this is England we live in! This summer has been forecasted to be hot but with lots of rain inbetween so we should be ok!

Accept invitations but just let them know you may have to cancel at the last minute- i do that even now as i never know if I'll be in agony with my back or feel too tired.

 

[Hazel]

Actually I'm looking forward to the summer as I'll be off work from the 7th of June and my parents have a swimming pool so will be in there LOTS. .

At the moment I've not really got any problems getting around apart from having to shuffle when I get out of bed but it's all part of pregnancy.

 

[Riot_Grrrl]

hiya, i have had three children all with different experiances..on my first i broke my back..well when i say back i mean coccyx but it's still my back and was in agony for weeks, and still in pain with it now 10 years later. On my second from 30 weeks on my pelvis started to split so i had to walk around EVERYWHERE with my hand down between my legs and on my third i worked as a care assistant..lifting, carrying, changing beds 3 nights a week up until i gave birth and my fingerds are crossed for this one too all my babies have been big..biggest 10lb 3oz so i am expecting a 11 lber this time

 

[Sherlock]

Awwww

My personal experience is different from many. I'm 39+ a few now so will give you my rundown.

I'm still walking at least a mile a day, up and down our long private drive, which is a continual gradual hill, getting steeper at the top. I am also walking round various fields, some level, some much steeper. It takes effort and causes back ache going up hill due to bump and gravity. I need to stop and rest on and off so as to not overdo heartrate etc. OK I don't sprint it like I used to, but I certainly ain't waddling either

But I manage it. Daily.

I stopped driving at 36 weeks as it just got too uncomfortable for me behind the wheel because of my bump. Also I was finding I was getting more and more distracted and didn't think I was safe to drive beyond that point. Its not only myself I'd be risking if I did. I can't clutch comfortably because of my bump and the seat causes me to lean too far back and down which is not comfortable.

I was doing gardening last weekend, digging and putting plants in. I also still care for my chickens, carry laundry baskets of clothes, shopping bags etc. I hoover, clean, mop floors etc.

I don't go out too far from home just because tbh. I havn't got the energy to want to socialise either, prefer to stay home as things like eating at a table with friends with a huge bump are just embarrasing. Most food ends up down my front. Thread on this topic here

I go up and down the stairs at least 20 times a day/night. Our loo is on the ground floor so at night I have no choice.

I tried a bath but it was awful. So I stick to showers. Much easier to move around.

But I am uncomfortable when sitting down and resting. I know no relief then tbh. I spend most of my time when sat in my computer chair perched on the edge as its the only seat in the entire house I can get remotely comfy in. Sleeping hurts as my hips ache in the night (both sides, even if not laying on one of them) and I get servere leg cramps when sleeping that often cause me to wake with a small scream of pain till I can hoist myself out of bed and stand on it.

But overall I am active, mobile and still doing loads. And I don't plan on easing up either

 

[Chrissy1]

This is my first pregnancy too and I'm too scared to even read the posts in 3rd tri in case it scares me too much!!!!

i've decided that I'm just going to have to accept whatever pain or discomfort I have because there's nothing I can do about it and just get on with it.

I'm not due to finish work until mid September so I'll be working all over summer.... so to be honest if we have lovely warm weather I might just be getting a few bad backs or pregnancy niggles that require me to spend the day sunning myself in the garden purely for medicinal purposes though!!
Although I have tried to look on the bright side by thinking that if it does happen to get really hot this summer at least there's air con at work so I should be comfortable while I'm here!!

I've seen my two best friends and my cousin all go through their pregnancies and they all couldn't be more different. One was so big and it so much pain she could barely move in the last 6 weeks, my other friend was out shopping and really active right up to the day she gave birth and the other one had pain on and off all the time and went from one extreme to the other so I really don't know what to expect!

I'm getting back ache already so I don't suppose it will get any easier as I get bigger

 

[Hazel]

Cheers girls.

I was just wondering how it would be towards the end. I suppose when I look in tri 3 people aren't going to be posting about how wondeful they are feeling as they don't want to rub other peoples noses in it.

I'm not one to give in so I think I will be active up until I give birth. I really don't want to lose the use of my car though but I will have to see how it goes.

Right, better go and mow the lawn .

 

[abcd1234]

I personally dont feel tooo bad, i'm suddenly more tired, and witgh a bigger bump it is more uncomfortable sleeping, BUT her kicks are bigger and more obvious from outside, and i can feel her little feet when she scraps them across my side, she never stops and i like knowing she would most probably be perfectly healthy if she came now.

I did think a few days ago... I wann go back to being about 22 weeks, when i was comfy, but then i realised how close i am to having her and it aint so bad. I can still walk distances, just much slower then before, and i dont waddle. my feet arnt swollen, my back doesnt hurt during the day and my baby never keeps me up at night.

I think i have it good

 

[Mildly]

It'll be interesting to see how we all cope with third tri I'm hoping (fingers crossed, I not jinxing it) to carry on my twice weekly swimming right up until near the end. I think most things depends on how big I end up and how much fluid retention I get - I read about poor Tilly's feet and felt so sorry for her!

I also intend to live off ice lollies in the summer and still take the dog for a walk everyday providing the temperature is comfortable for the both of us. I've been walking round the zoo today and am a bit shocked at my sore feet. But then I don't think they are pregnancy related, I suspect it is because I was on them for 5 hours straight without a break - I'm more used to sitting at my desk for most of the day at work.

 

[aramintalovegrove]

personally my first I had no problems at all but every pregnancy is different and I have a feeling this LO is going to be a whole different kettle of fish!!!

The thing to think is its not perminant and you get bubs at the end of it so even if it is bad you will forget it quickly...promise

 

[Redshoes]

Personally I never felt unable to do anything in 3rd Tri with Isaac, I found being pregnant very comfortable, I had some discomfort with my round ligament, but I bought a support band that took the edge of it and found I was able to do whatever I liked, just a bit slower so as not to pull anything. I think the truth is you just don't know, but just think about it sensibly and don't plan any major hikes or furniture moving, although if nesting takes hold that's easier said than done Very best wishes, you will be fine, just take it easy and ask for help if you're tired etc

 

[Bagpuss17]

I only made it to 35 weeks first time around but I didn't find it particularly uncomfortable.

I noticed that I felt more tired from 32 weeks onwards but I was still at work up until my waters broke at 34 weeks. I was due to finish at 36 weeks.

I had another week before I was induced, I felt absolutely fine. I'd got used to my big bump by that stage. That said I wasn't particularly huge though, that helped.

I did suffer with spd but only overnight, otherwise I felt well.

 

[Lindsay]

Hi hun, it's not all bad in tri 3. When I was PG with my son I worked up till I was 38 1/2 weeks PG and looking back now it was hard but I wanted to have the time off with LO once he was born. At the time, I got on with it. I found it really hard walking any distance - I walked like a snail, got out of breath easily and my legs and ankles swelled up but I can honestly say that I didn't ever think that it was really bad, I got on with it knowing that I was getting nearer to meeting my LO.

I remember one day going round to my mum's house to pick her up to go shopping and she looked at me and started to cry she was so worried about my legs being swollen she thought that I had pre-eclampsia and made me go to the MDU on our way into town.

Don't be worrying hun, I can't wait to be in tri 3 again

Xxx