when did you start slowing down?

[chiwifey]

I'm 20 weeks pregnant with the twins and have a 2.5 year old. I've been hanging in there but all of a sudden I feel like a train hit me if I'm up doing anything for more than a couple of hours. I did just return from a very relaxing vacation where 3 other adults helped me take care of my toddler so maybe I just need to get back into doing it all myself again. I just feel exhausted and huge. 

So when did you feel start feeling like you were really slowing down? 

Did any of you start getting help at a certain point in your pregnancy if you had a toddler at home?

Thanks ladies! 

[SassyPants150]

I am a super active person. I am a fitness instructor so I'm used to constantly moving and accepting slowing down was a big challenge for me. At around 30 weeks was when the gradual downhill slope began of slowing down. I started reducing my schedule around that time.

At 36 weeks I have nearly come to a halt. It is so hard to function. I am wearing out after just minutes and breathing is a challenge. DD is a 3 year old handful and I am to the point that I wish someone else was here to cater to her. She adds to the exhaustion big time. This is my last week at the gym so until my scheduled C/S I will probably be in tears. I may have he go to the ILs for a few days next week if the babies haven't arrived.

[Deleted]

I just hit 29 weeks Monday and I would say the last two weeks or so have been rough for me. It could be because we have had really active weekends (I'm a grad student so my "job" is not physically demanding and I work from home most days) but now it seems like even going to the store and running errands kicks my ass. I had my baby shower Sunday and I'm STILL exhausted. I'm sure it's different for everyone, but I don't foresee me getting any energy or physical capability back. Today I started having awful lower back pain and I feel like my legs are going to give out.

So, basically, 27 weeks onward has been downhill for me.

[anotherdreamer]

I'm a SAHM and my DS turned 2 just as I entered the second trimester with the girls. He is a very "high spirited" child, and keeps me busy. I honestly had to take it slower around 20w too, and by 24w I was still getting around but it was getting harder. At 28w I was in L&D with contractions 2-3min apart from dehydration due to the stomach flu (DS, DH, and myself caught 2 colds and 2 stomach bugs within 1-2 months- it was intense). After that I had to slow it down a lot, just walking around the grocery store would trigger contractions. At 35w things intensified. The last two months were the absolute hardest. I still did things with DS and got around, but it was harder and we had to modify what our "normal" looked like.

I never had any help with DS, other than DH. He came home at lunch and helped, and when he came home after work. DS watched a lot of TV, he also spent time coloring and we read books. Basically, I found activities he could do while I was benched on the couch.

Don't feel like you need to suck it up though- that is the worst thing you can do with a multiples pregnancy. You need to listen to your body. Stay as active as you can, but if your body is telling you to slow down- then SLOW DOWN.

[elvenqueen]

I'm not yet 24 weeks and I'm starting to prepare myself for the slow down, starting with listening to my body. Yesterday I was tired after lunch, so I napped (perks of freelance slacker work). I went for a walk with DH that I'd normally be able to handle, and I was knackered halfway, so we stopped. I'm just starting to make the switch to online grocery shopping now, too, as I know that will get harder every week.

I think every woman will be sleeping girly different with hitting their wall, so just make sure you are listening to your body and easing off as things get harder, not after they do.

[blueberries8]

I would say I hit a few walls. I definitely remember that around 20 weeks I felt like I did at the beginning of 3rd tri with N. I had a babysitter pick N up from daycare and entertain her for the evenings when H works late. Originally I'd also be at work while the babysitter was there, but by 20-24 weeks, I was coming home earlier and using that time to lie down. I really wasn't able to do much active parenting...I was using all of my energy just to get through the work day and H was definitely doing the bulk of the parenting in the evenings and on weekends. When I was alone with N, we would do quiet activities - more Sesame Street YouTube videos than I care to recall! Around 30 weeks I hit my second wall and from then on I was even more sedentary and on modified bedrest at home (briefly hospital bedrest after PTL at 31 weeks). I think there was a psychological element to the second wall, though - that I was scared of pushing myself. Once I reached 35ish weeks I was more inclined to push myself.

[beachy]

Ill be 27w tomorrow and still feel pretty good. I have an almost 2 year old at home though and I work from home, so I don't really have much of a choice. I still go spinning a few days a week and haven't had to give that up yet, but im sure that will be my first sign of hitting the wall. I defintely do crash at night though once DS is in bed.

[purplegaloshes]

I definitely noticed a slow down around 19-20 weeks in just general fatigue. I am a FTM so I don't have the challenges you all have when I get home, but I imagine that would have a big impact. I've found that doing simple things to conserve energy, like sitting when a seat is offered me during the workday instead of trying to be tough and standing, really helps me to get through the day. I did go for a walk on a trail I used to regularly run with my old running buddy last week and thought I was going to either die or go into labor right there in the middle of an open space preserve. Lesson learned--I'll be doing short laps closer to home between now and August.

[sugar4bri]

I would say around 28-30 weeks I started to feel it at work. I went out on maternity leave at 33w. I feel like I've really hit my wall two weeks ago (~36w). Nothing is comfortable anymore . I'm just so over being pregnant right now. I don't know how women do this with other kids...

[julie216]

chiwifey, I'm 27w2d and I would say that I felt like I "hit the wall" around 23 weeks. DD is 18 months and a very active toddler. I work from home 3x a week and go into the office 2x. I find I am more rested on the days I go into the office! Running after a toddler isn't easy under normal circumstances, but doing it while pregnant with twins is a hefty challenge! DH is great on weekends and when he gets home from work. I'm still trying to wrap my head around 3 under 2! Yikes!

[sunnyb]

Seriously, this week. I'm currently 30w6 days. I'd say I started to feel like I got hit by a 2x4 on Saturday, so 30w2d.

Also, to you all with LOs at home, you're awesome. I'm seriously on the recliner after work until I get in bed.

[chiwifey]

Thank you all so much for your responses!

I just returned from my first MFM appt and he said that starting at 20 weeks the pregnancy starts reaching it's toughest times and that I should really be listening to my body and taking it easy. So I'm going to make sure that I am napping/resting each day during nap and hope that helps me bounce back in the afternoons. My MIL is only 10 mins away and always willing to help so I may take her up on that sometimes too.

Take it easy, mamas!

[sunnyb]

Apr 22, 2015 12:52:16 GMT -5 chiwifey said:

Thank you all so much for your responses!

I just returned from my first MFM appt and he said that starting at 20 weeks the pregnancy starts reaching it's toughest times and that I should really be listening to my body and taking it easy. So I'm going to make sure that I am napping/resting each day during nap and hope that helps me bounce back in the afternoons. My MIL is only 10 mins away and always willing to help so I may take her up on that sometimes too.

Take it easy, mamas!

Definitely take her up on the help!!
Hang in there