STMs: how are you feeling?

laurenlalap

I remember my first pregnancy being rough physically with the morning sickness and exhaustion, but my god, I truly don't think there is anything more difficult than being pregnant when you have a 2 year old.

I can't believe how exhausted and moody I am. I feel really guilty when I know my son can sense my frustrations. He's in the throws of his terrible 2s now and it's really taking a toll on me. 

My husband is good but he honestly doesn't get it. He doesn't understand how I can be so tired.

What's also scaring me is I'm thinking this is NOTHING. It will probably be easier being pregnant with a 2 year old than having a newborn with a 2 year old! 

Anyone else feeling this way? 

Katemr1146

Yes. Right there with you.

seven6five

God yes. DS is only 11 months though. I'm so not ready for the rollercoaster about to hit me.

atcwag

Yep...it was better for a few weeks and then bad again. DH is getting the brunt of my wrath and I feel badly about it. 

blessdtxas

Agree! It is challenging for sure. I took the ease of my 1st pregnancy for granted. Round 2 is way harder. I've heard that you don't realize you have another baby coming until 37 weeks and so far its true wth me. I haven't done anything to prepare for this baby bc I'm so busy with my 18 month old. Eventually I'll get it together or at least get some newborn diapers.

I'm also hoping that I'm a much more relaxed mom this time around. I have some experience and hope it will be an easier transition. I've heard the second baby really isn't too bad. Making through the newborn phase will be the hardest imo. I am really excited to see DS with his little brother. 

MrsBigTime

The overwhelming fatigue has lifted in that it hits at about 6 pm instead of 10 am, so that's a plus. 

I am so, so tired too!

Im in the throes of a 3.5 year old attitude roller-coaster, which is exhausting in itself!

hellopartyof5

OMG yes.  This is the most frustrating time.  Thankfully DS seems to have started to prefer Dada, because he's more fun (cue tears).

SandNStarsNJ

ABSOLUTELY the same... My DD is two tomorrow, so I'm in about the same boat and my patience is really not holding up tremendously well when paired with how much more tired I am than with my first pregnancy. And my DH gets it a little, but not in the way that I most need him to, which is "figure out all the things I've been doing for two years with our first kid before the second one comes on in."

And, admittedly, I feel for my students the most (HS teacher) on the patience front, but they seem understanding (and oddly enthusiastic).

Greencows4812

Third baby and the body aches are all ready getting bad. I find myself getting frustrated more easily with my kids as well. I'm not so worried about transitioning to three kids, but I'm worried about recovering with two toddlers and newborn. 

hollowway

My DD is 2.5, she'll turn 3 the day before my due date (how's that for timing)... I also work 12-16hr shifts on my feet all day at work. I don't want to cook or clean when I'm home. I just want to sleep. But that obviously doesn't happen with a toddler. I'm supposed to be trying to potty train DD, but can barely potty myself half the time. 

MrsBigTime

I met a new MW at my appointment yesterday and one of the first questions she asked was "how's work going for you? Are you needing to cut back to shorter days?" (I'm a nurse and woke 12's) I told her I wasn't ready yet, but I don't think I'll make it to 36 weeks like I did last time. On the days DH and I both work, I wake up at 4:45 to get me and DD ready to leave by 5:50 so I can drop her off at daycare and go to work. DH gets off at 7 am (if he's lucky!) and sleeps until about 5 pm, and then goes to get DD. We meet in the middle on my way home and his way to work and say a quick "hello" and swap DD. I get home about 8:15 pm and barely have energy to let the dog out and then go to bed. DD and I are both snoozing (usually together in my bed because it's just easier) by 9 pm because I just don't think I could survive being awake for one more minute! 

I sure hope DH isn't on nights when I go back to work after this baby, because the thought of doing something similar to this with 2 kids is exhausting to even think about!

LadyHook

Another exhausted toddler mama here. DS is 17 months as of yesterday and is a complete joy right now (i.e., not giving me too much 'tude yet) but is a boundless ball of energy and I'm finding it hard to keep up! I feel like I fall into bed every night and am asleep before I can even properly arrange my pillow fort.

I work fulltime during the week but on the weekends I have to plan ahead to make sure I get breaks, even just to sit down for 10 minutes, by asking H or my MIL to take over the constant chasing. If I don't, I end up nauseated and with an awful headache by the end of the day.

TwandaFTG

There is way less "I am tired so I'm just going to curl up on the couch" and way more on my feet chasing a wild 20 month old.  Physically, I have felt better but I guess it is because I don't have time for pity parties.  And so far this kid has not been prepared for because we have everything. 

Muscatmommyof4

I'm a F(4th)TM and I'm super tired,moody and sick! I don't know how you mamas are doing it with toddlers I'm done and my kids are 10,8&5 and pretty independent. I don't remember pregnancy being so miserable last time. My poor DH is even saying how bad it is and he's not one to give sympathy! 

mrsmoose5

I'm so glad this thread was started — glad I'm not the only one! DS is 16 months and is currently transitioning from 2 naps to 1 and it's a nightmare. This is definitely a great age where he is so happy and fun, but chasing him all day is SO exhausting. I can't take my eyes off him for a second ... I know everyone says that about toddlers, but seriously lol. The nap transition has his sleep all screwed up. Some days he's only napping for an hour during the day. This morning he woke up at 4:15 a.m. and would not go back to sleep. I'm exhausted and my patience is definitely getting super short.

erniebernie1

So exhausted with my 15 month old and working 6 days a week to save up for maternity leave. Feeling bad about not having much energy to play with my son, even though he doesn't give me much choice, he cannot do independent play at all.

Rosie720

It's definitely better now that I'm in my second trimester, but I'm still exhausted.  I work from home the majority of the time and it's nearly impossible to get work done when my 19 month old is awake, so I end up working late at night or in the middle of the night.  DS typically wakes at 6:45, so I send him out to DH who will give him breakfast while he is getting ready while I sleep.  I have gotten in the bad habit of letting DS watch some tv in my bed after DH leaves so I can rest a little longer.  I will fall asleep when he takes a nap on most days.  Luckily, he's been taking a 3 hour nap most days which gives me a decent stretch of downtime to work or rest.  DH is a teacher, so he typically gets home about a half hour after DS wakes up from his nap.  I am counting down the days until he is done with school for the summer though.  I will be so happy for the help and to get myself back on a normal sleeping schedule.

mrs_hoyahoo

I' ve been doing okay, but am pretty much asleep by 9 pm. So thankful my 2.5 yo has a 7:30 bedtime. 

I've definitely been relying more on his TV shows than pre pregnancy though. 

elsie2014

YES. I'm exhausted. We've had a lot of life transition on top of everything (my husband just got a new job and we moved last month to a new city). But being pregnant with a 20 month old who is just starting to get into her 2 year old attitude and fit throwing phase has been almost more than I can handle. Definitely way worse this time around! 

SamanthaSue222

I have a 13 month old who is sick with strep throat right now, and got me sick as well, all while daddy is out of town for work. Therefore it has been a very tough week. I'm getting to the point where it is difficult to pick him up and hold him for long periods of time, and he isn't walking yet, so when he is sick he just wants to be carried everywhere. I'm exhausted and hungry! All. The. Time. 

LikeICantEven

Yup. It's easy to forget I'm even pregnant at times with my 22 month old. He is a non-stop mover and shaker too, from morning until night. My husband is in graduate school on top of working 5:00am-2:30pm so he does pretty amazing with what he can while trying to maintain his sanity. It helps that we know we are in this together. He takes him every weekend morning so I can sleep in, takes over night duty if DS wakes. 

It's bizarre to be halfway though the pregnancy just about and still be in awe of the fact I'll have hit the reset button all over again right before Thanksgiving. THE RESET BUTTON.

I JUST finished nursing my toddler, here we go again!

rchef21

Thank you for posting this!  I'm glad I'm not alone!  My first pregnancy was a BREEZE!  But, I was 28 yrs old, not sick at all and SO grateful for being pg!  I didn't have any other responsibilities other than taking care of this little human inside me.....  I wasn't crabby or moody, I was happy!   Now.....6 years later..... I've been such a NOT FUN person to be around.  Lordy!  I feel so bad for my DH!  He's been great, but has told me a couple times, I'm not a fun person to be around all the time... My 5 year old... Well, he loves me no matter what...  

I HATE how moody I am.  It has gotten better in the past couple weeks, I'm hopeful that it will continue to get better.  This maybe our last baby we have and I want to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy.

sea628

This post is so reassuring - thank you!!! I have a 2yo ds and I'm suddenly exhausted. I'm sleeping 8-9 hours at night but still wanting a nap in the afternoon. I'm ready for some energy to spike back up, but I'm not sure that's going to happen :-/

AmyReneT

Yup, DS is 7 months and crawling, climbing, and falling every second of the day. I am lucky I have a desk job during the day but at night and weekends it is non stop go go go. I'm lucky DH has loads of energy but I hate that I can't keep up!

clyons2008

TIRED! part of that is growing another little human and the other part is running around after a very high energy almost 4 year old.

Thewizardofrhythm

Yes. Thank you for saying this. Its so hard. I have found myself fantasizing about the bliss of napping whenever i wanted last pregnancy.