Is it normal to feel THIS awful?

Hey all,

I have basically had a textbook twin pregnancy and made it to about 34 weeks feeling pretty darned good. I thought I'd be able to keep working to the end and generally be up and about until these babies are born, but that did not work out. So now, at 36w1d, I feel just awful. I can't sleep well (I wake up to pee every couple hours), which makes me feel totally loopy and out of it all day. I can barely concentrate. I don't really feel comfortable driving on my own at this point. My back hurts, my pelvic area hurts, my left wrist hurts. The babies move around so much that it's pretty uncomfortable, sometimes distending my belly more than it should probably go. I am really not used to feeling like this - I'm generally a very upbeat and energetic person. And I feel like this came on so fast!

Everyone tells me "you're so close", but now I'm so freaked out b/c I feel like by the time the babies do come, I'll be so over-exhausted that I won't be able to handle them! I'm terrified that if I'm this tired now, how am I going to deal with the nightly sleep deprivation that the actual babies bring!?

Anyway, I know that no one could possibly understand like you guys.

Thanks for reading (I hope that made some sense)...

AJ
uncomfortably awaiting b/g twins...

 

It is normal. I worked until 35 weeks and at 36 weeks could barely stand up by myself. I actually got stuck once halfway up just crying in pain. You are close. As far as when you have them - exhaustion is relative. There's a lot of adrenaline at first that helps you through the hospital stay. No matter how much sleep you are getting or not getting now, you're going to be tired when they come home. So don't worry too much about the sleep deficit now.

Best of luck! And, for me, after I had them I felt SOOO much better - even recovering from a c-section I was more comfortable than I had been pregnant - so there's that to look forward to.

 

Before I even read your post, I thought to myself "YES!" Sorry. It is pretty awful these last few weeks. I also worry about how exhausted I am ALREADY and I don't even have babies to care for yet! But I agree with pp...the adrenaline will get you through and you'll be able to squeeze in some naps because you won't be so stinking uncomfortable anymore. I can't wait to meet my girls, but I am almost more excited to sleep on my tummy again!

Hang in there!!!

 

I, too, saw this post and thought--oh, that is SO me, and I'm just 32 weeks. Although I cannot (yet) offer you any consolation, I want you to know that you're not alone

Hope you feel better soon! Hang in there!

E-girl

 

Right there with you girl!


Molly
36 weeks 1 day

 

I feel the exact same way! Everything hurts, and I have to wake up about 4 times a night to pee. Also when I wake up the babies are protruding out of my stomach, my husband says it looks like something out of "Aliens." My feet are swollen and my hands hurt from carpel tunnel. The babies are so low I feel like I might go to the bathroom and see a hand or a foot!

 

Misery does love company, I suppose, b/c I feel a bit better now! I remember reading about this stage when I was earlier on in pregnancy and thinking "whatever, I'll be fine..." Ha.

For those of you that have other kids to take care of through all this, I can't even imagine. You are amazing.

RHC - the alien comment is so true. Half the time, part of my belly is sticking out inches further than other parts. It's downright freakish...

Faerieprncs - You are SO close! I can't even imagine making it to 38 weeks at this point. You're my hero.

I hope you're all right about the adrenaline post-birth, b/c otherwise these babies are going to have to fend for themselves on the outside.

 

sadly, it sounds pretty normal :hug:

Congratulations on 36 weeks!!! Feeling good up to that point is pretty awesome :good:
Hang in there :hug:

 

I remember the time vividly and my twins just turned 4! Near the end (I want to say around 36 weeks but can't remember exactly) my ob said I could take Tylenol PM at bedtime....every night if I wanted to! I would take it around 9-10 pm. I still would wake up for potty breaks, but I'd go right back to sleep instead of spending an hour trying to get comfortable, an hour sleeping then getting up to pee and starting all over again. I went from maybe 4 broken hours of sleep a night to a solid 6 or more with only the quick potty breaks awake. I hope that helps! Take heart that you are not alone and you won't feel like this forever!

 

AJ, it's totally normal. :hug: :hug: I'm sorry you aren't comfortable, but it's all worth it. :grouphug:

 

As I was reading your post, I thought "this is the exact break-down that I had last Saturday night!" I'm sorry you are going through this but glad to hear that I am not alone. I told my husband that I has so worried I would be SO sleep deprived before they came that I wouldn't be able to function. I'm glad to hear that there is an adrenaline rush that kicks in! Good luck to you--you are almost there!

 

Yes, as soon as I read the topic I was like, this is exactly how I feel. I too thought I'd make it all the way but was put on bedrest at 27 weeks. I'm totally miserable now since I've been on bedrest. I feel like I've lost all my muscles, it hurts to get up and even to get down. I'm also up all night long. My belly is just rediculous to look at, can we say aliens?? HA! I'm also too sick of what everyone is saying "you look like you're gonna pop" or "any day now, huh?" or my favorite - "I know exactly what you're going through" oh no you don't, you haven't been pregnant with twins... is how I'd love to answer that one. I just thought I'd let you know that everytime I get really down I just go sit in the girls future room and imagine them here and it seems to help... Good luck!

 

Wow, you guys have me freaked out. I'm only 11 weeks and look what fun is coming my way!

 

I am right there with you too girl! Except I cry at the drop of a hat too. The wiggles in the belly have really gotten to be a lot for me. I try to rest, but everything is uncomfortable. My favorite place is my big bathtub. I take at least 3 warm baths a day and read a magazine or just relax. I also treat myself to a weight watchers chocolate ice cream bar when in the tub. It's my only comfort for now.

Hang in there, I need to tell myself that too!

 

I can't thank you guys enough for commiserating with me. Looks like a lot of us are really close. We can do this! And hopefully we get the recognition we deserve. Maybe in the form of jewelry and gifts. Or babies that sleep through the night from a very young age, better yet.

Our motto: Hang in there!!

AJ
36w4d!

 

I am in the same boat but only 21 weeks lol. Between my bathroom breaks and my son crawling into bed with me I barely get any sleep at all. The babies favorite time to kick me is at 3am so they usually have me up then and when I fall back asleep I am up at 5am to eat most days.... I am still working though but barely. I have already phoned in sick twice this week because its just to much.
Congrats on making it so far and just remember you really don't have that much longer to go and you are tough and can hang in there until they make their first appearance!!! It will make it all worth it.

 

I informed my husband ages ago that jewelry is not optional, it is a REQUIREMENT!! He better not turn up at that hospital empty handed. Hee hee!!

 

This post comes at just the right time for me. Thank you! It's good to know that I'm not alone.

I'm having such a bad weekend. I am uncomfortable sitting, standing, laying down, walking, and I'm not even 33 weeks yet. Yesterday, I was also an emotional wreck. I hate the self-pity I'm feeling, but I can't help it. I hate the limited mobility, the intense pressure on my abdomen and pelvic region, the varicose veins on my legs and the unmentionable places, the swelling ankles, the numb arms and hands when I try to sleep.

I know it's for a good cause, and I cannot wait to see my baby girls, but oh man has it gotten tough quick . . .

 

It's totally normal. Once the babies are out, your body is no longer sustaining them. So, you will not be tired. You'll have more energy right away. Having a c-section, though, will make it uncomfortable (painful) for longer afterward, but it won't be the same as the babies inside, if that makes sense. Congrats on making it to 36 weeks :clapping:.

 

I wrote a similar post a few weeks ago. Physically, I had a pretty easy pregnancy until about 35-36 weeks when I felt like I hit a wall. Until then I was pretty much doing most of what I had done pre-pregnancy, but for the last 2 1/2 weeks I really limited my activities. I can tell you that after I gave birth, I felt great. I had been so uncomfortable at the end that after my c-section I felt comparatively fabulous.