How am I gonna do this!?

praline

So I am 34 weeks pregnant and have been on bedrest for seven weeks due to pre-term labor/cervix shortening.  This whole pregnancy has been rough...lots of morning sickness, abnormal first trimester screening followed by many tests/ultrasounds (all normal but still stressful) and then the pre-term labor.

Today I went to my OB appointment and I feel like I've run a marathon!  First of all I think I've gained a lot of weight and I feel generally huge.  And I am huge.  Second I guess laying in bed really depletes your energy.  I only have a few weeks to go on bedrest, but I'm thinking...how will I survive labor!?  I'm trying to take things one day at a time and not get too freaked out, but ugh I'm just so worn out mentally, physically, emotionally.

I'll just do it, right?  That's all people can do when they get worn out is keep moving forward so I guess I'll do it.  Anyone else ever have a time they felt completely depleted but had to perservere and if so how did you do it?

DandelionMom

You can do it.  I was on bedrest for a chunk of my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies and was fine during l&d.  Hang in there! 

EMT

Sorry to hear you are having a rough time.  The good news is you are almost there right?  The end is rough but the best thing about pregnancy is the physical symptoms of PG disappear when the baby's out!

I wouldn't worry about the weight either.  It is likely a lot of water weight due to the bedrest.  You will get it off!

praline

Thanks ladies.  Dandelionmom...so you didn't feel just horrible during labor and delivery?  I just can't believe how winded and uncomfortable I feel getting up and going to the doctor.  I've never felt so physically weak.  Maybe with the adrenaline of labor you just move past it?

I do remember even with my DD that I felt almost immediately better once she was born.  I'm going to start reminding myself that this weight is water weight!  That does make me feel better, even though I do think I've gained too much (I never look at the scale when they weigh me though).

DandelionMom

Well, I wasn't going to tell you this bit!  But I did have a hard time getting my strength back after DDs were born.  But during labor, I was fine.  Probably adrenaline, like you said.  And those two labors were inductions so were short (only about 7 hours each).  If they'd been any longer I'm sure I would have needed pain meds.  I felt great after they were born but the next few weeks I was exhausted easily. 

Just take it slow and work to regain your strength.  You're going to be fine though.