I think. I've hit. A wall. (LONG)

Mrs.Greg · July 2011

I've felt pretty fabulous up until today, one day shy of 33 weeks. I was beginning to think my body was made to carry twins, I was feeling so good. I've been a little swollen the last few weeks but not terrible and I've been more tired than usual but, again, not terrible. Well, I knew I was in for a long day when I went to put my shoes on before work and they were already tight because my feet were so swollen. They don't usually get uncomfortable until after lunch. My feet just got worse and worse as the day went on despite the 100+ oz of water I drank and the hour I spent during lunch with my feet up on a chair. By the end of the day, they were scary-swollen. I laid down for about an hour when I got home while DH made dinner, the swelling went down some but not a lot. After dinner, I laid down again while DH cleaned up and he and DD went outside to play. As I'm sitting here on the couch with my feet up, they're still a little swollen. Usually they are back to normal by now. And more of my co-workers told me today that my babies look like they've dropped. I made the mistake of telling DH how miserable I've been all day and about the babies possibly having dropped (which he agreed with, BTW) and now he thinks I need to stop working. I've convinced him that stopping work completey is a bit drastic after just one day of misery and he's agreed that I should talk to my office tomorrow about at least cutting back to half days. I'll have to use sick leave or vacation to take the afternoons off, I can't take time off without pay until I've exhausted all of my paid time. I hate do that because that eats into my paid time off after the babies are born. I know I'm being greedy but I have saved up about 22 weeks of sick leave and vacation, I don't want to use it while I'm still pregnant. I'm really hoping I'm just more uncomfortable today because it was probably the hottest day we've had all summer. It's supposed to cool down the next few days. I gotta stay strong for just a few more weeks. I need some words of encouragement, ladies. Please.

ougrad1 · July 2011

You're there hon. You've hit the point where it's time to give yourself permission to slow down. Don't try to be a super hero. Now is the time to slow down so you can cook those babies as long as possible. It won't be long now mama.....get the rest now because you will need it when those babies get here. : )

AGFaso · July 2011

Hun, I dont know if this is going to encourage you....But I think you should really think about stopping working all together. My Dr pulled me @ 24 wks and here I am strong at 37.5 weeks and will prob have to be induced. I've felt great too, just the same like you said. A little tired, a lot less mobile, a bit swollen etc. But you have to count your lucky stars that you've made it this far while working full time!!! It is such a stress on your body! Please consider staying home for the next 5 weeks or so..You'll thank yourself in the long run.

When my Doc took me out @ 24 wks, they used my FMLA right away, they did not touch any of my PTO hours...I would double check w/HR and see if that's the policy for sure. GL

nursemcguill · July 2011

I think it is time. Your body is trying to tell you something! You have made it so far, I had to begin bedrest at 28 weeks. You have done wonderful!! Time to slow down and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and cook those babies!! Try not to worry about money and maternity leave, everything will work out. I promise!! Your job now is to rest!!!

E&RMommy · July 2011

My pre-eclampsia started that way with crazy swelling at the exact same time - right at 33 weeks. I was already on bedrest (had been since 23 weeks). DH helped me put thigh high compression stockings on each morning and the swelling was still insane.

Although swelling is no longer diagnostic criteria for pre-eclampsia, most still consider it a sign. Your doctor should get a phone call if they haven't already.

Hope you feel better soon! I do recommend compression stockings....they made me feel so much better and I wore them every single day until almost one month post partum.

Don't feel bad about taking time off from work if that's what it boils down to. Heck I never planned on being out for 20 weeks. You do what you have to do. We all have our limits.

Temp123197812503460 · July 2011

Ditto everyone else. My dr, who is very non-interventionist, said he thinks stoping work around 30-33 weeks makes sense. The way he explained it is that you are the size of a full term pregnancy at that point and it's just a lot more than most womens bodies can handle. Keeping those babies in there is your most important job now!

JosiePosy · July 2011

Listen to your body. You need to keep cooking those little babies. Every day counts. 22 weeks is awesome. Seriously, use some of it to get your rest. You don't want to kick yourself later for not taking it easy when your body told you to.

Rangergal9 · July 2011

My feet were just permanently swollen from 33 weeks till the end. No amount of putting them up brought the swelling down anymore. I did work until 36 weeks though. I stopped working because my legs became very swollen and it was painful to stand. I definitely just sucked it up at the end since I didn't have any complications, just uncomfortable. It was tough working at the end but I didn't have many sick days and wanted to save as many as I could for when the twins were born. I am glad I worked as long as I did and then had two weeks at home by myself.

Torri106 · July 2011

Im in awe of you that you are still working! Like you i have felt ok until i hit 33 wks. Now at 34 weeks i.am.in.pain. Listen to your body. Does your state have disability? I was pulled out of work at 14weeks and im on Temporary Disability until 8 weeks after my c/s.

klr210 · July 2011

I can totally see how you don't want to make a decision after one bad day, if up until now you've been great. But don't be proud, and as far as using up you're PTO, well in the long run, and IMO it would be more important to keep the babies in a little longer. If you haven't already, I think it would be time to find out your p/t or work from home options so you can weigh what would be best in case it wasn't a bad day.

MrsLnt · July 2011

I agree with the others - listen to your body. I quit to be a SAHM at 31 weeks and it was one of the best decisions I made. I felt like a wuss compared to my boss who worked until 40w (!) with her twin girls and had to be induced, but I knew what my body needed. When my doctor asked me about work and I told her I'd stopped, she said "good" and never once before had she said a thing about me leaving my job.

It would have been nice to make money for a few more weeks, but I realized I only had one chance to cook these babies and get them here safely. Not that stopping work would guarantee that, but I strongly believe that reducing my activity and stress levels for those last few weeks helped tremendously.

22 weeks PTO is amazing and, while it wouldn't be ideal to use 1/3 of it before the babies are here, you'll still have a longer maternity leave than a lot of women in this country. I was offered 8 weeks, unpaid when I was full time and when I went PT at 20 weeks, I didn't even have that option. And I'm a professional with an advanced degree. It's not like I was in retail or something.

erinruns · July 2011

I delivered at 32 weeks but if I hadn't, my doctor was going to write me out on partial bedrest so I could work part time. It really is the point when you have to massively slow down and listen to your body.

jbl126 · July 2011

Like everyone has said, please take it easy now. I only made it to 33w 4d and I wish I had listened to my body more and stopped working or at least only worked half days. And I sit at a desk all day. I was incredibly swollen and just ready. So please take it easy and use your time if you have to. Anything to keep those babies in longer.

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