3rd trimester very difficult (physically)- is this normal??

basil2 · March 2014

Just wanted to get a sense of whether what I'm going through is normal. I'm currently 31 1/2 weeks with mono-di twins. This is making my first pregnancy seem downright easy.

First time around I went past 42 wks (needed a Csection because they could never get me into labor, but was otherwise uncomplicated). Our son was 9 lbs 12 oz. I didn't feel great, struggled with edema toward the end- but otherwise did quite well (I was exercising- swimming/walking decent distances well into my 42nd week).

This time around I'm really struggling not to feel like a giant couch potato/beached whale. I backed off from running/cross-country skiing earlier in this pregnancy (that didn't bother me, I was expecting it to some degree), but I'm having a hard time swimming or walking- I'm able to do the activity- but then I'm a complete basket case the entire next day. The last time I swam was a few wks ago- I did 30 minutes of the breast stroke and the next day I felt the same way I have in the past after a really difficult marathon training run.

The harder part is that I'm extremely fatigued/tired. Last night we were eating dinner and by 7 PM I was so tired I felt ill. I went to bed at 7, slept reasonably well until 7AM, still took a nap this afternoon, and am not exactly bursting with energy. (Granted I was up a little later than normal a few nights this week, but really 12 hours in bed and I still need a nap??).

I've spoken with a few of the OB's I'm seeing and they're all reassuring that this is typical twins pregnancy sort of stuff. (I did figure out I'm a little more anemic than I ought to be- but I've been taking iron and eating a ton of red meat and the mild headaches I was having are now better.)

I am still working my regular schedule. This time there's a 2 1/2 year old at home. We also took on some major house renovations to try to accomplish them before the babies arrive- so I'll admit I've had a lot going on.

Is this normal??? (I'd feel better hearing that other people have had the same experience.) Thanks.

legaleagles · March 2014

I posted a very similar post about 3-4 weeks ago when I think I was about 31 weeks or so and just couldn't imagine how I would make it to 38. I'll be 34 on Tuesday and I will tell you it is normal, but doesn't get easier. I'm almost 34 weeks measuring 40/41 weeks. I delivered DD at 40+3 but never measured more than 38 weeks with her and she was only albs 6 ounces. These boys are measuring combined to way over 7-8 lbs right now, plus two sacs, two placentas - even though I'm gaining less weight it's a ton of stuff all in your abdomen. I'm exhausted all the time. I really hit my wall by around 3 pm most days. Next week is my last week of work, thank god.

But yeah, it is physically so much harder this time around and having a toddler doesn't help. We were moving when I was 37 weeks with DD and had no difficulty moving/unpacking/decorating. This time I can barely do any household chores, have a hard time doing much of anything.

Totally normal and you're not alone. Just get as much rest as you can.

Wishing35 · March 2014

Sounds normal to me! I can't even imagine swimming laps when I was pregnant. Listen to your body, take it easy and sleep as much as you can. Towards the end at night it was very hard for me to sleep even if I went to bed early you still wake up a million times!

KatieGummow · March 2014

It's normal! But make sure you keep a positive attitude about it. I have to remind myself not to feel bad for myself often, and when I get a bad night's sleep I break down. At 33 w the boys were measuring 6.5 and 5.12 lbs, so felt much like you're feeling. At my 35w appt (I almost started crying and was so disappointed I wasn't going into early labor) my OB told me that everyone regardless of the number of babies feels the same way I do at 35 weeks and told me to take Benadryl to help me sleep.

Now I am 36+ weeks and feel pretty good after she told me to suck it up, and I realized how much a positive attitude makes such a big difference. Now I don't even want to be induced if I make it to 38w. This is my first pregnancy so I don't have a comparison. But keep your head up! You've totally got this!

pillowass · March 2014

Totally normal! I also had an uncomplicated 1st pregnancy where I felt really good and strong until the end. With the twins I hit a wall around 25-28 weeks. I had to psych myself up to leave the house for any reason - after 30 weeks I could not have walked around the block without help. I am a really active person in my non-pregnant life and the lack of mobility really took a toll on my mental health, but you really need to try to hang onto that perspective and think about how many women who had PTL or bed rest would trade places with you in a heartbeat. That's what kept me sane toward the end - just knowing how lucky I was.

On the bright side, the feeling of not being pregnant any more after you give birth is downright euphoric and will help so much with your recovery! (This was my experience anyway) Hang in there!

MrsP419 · March 2014

I am not even 28 weeks and I feel like for any amount of time I spend doing any activity, I need to spend 2-3 times that recovering and resting. Whenever I walk for more than five minutes my hips and pelvis work, and I am sore all over when getting up after sitting for a while. I have a 2 year old and 4 year old who I stay home with, and while they definitely let me rest, having to bend up and down picking up after them or picking them up wears on me. I am genuinely nervous about how much harder it will get over the next 10 weeks, but many of my friends assure me it is doable and worth it!

Mrs.Guz · March 2014

Yes, totally normal. My pregnancy was easy (relatively speaking) and complication-free and i had a hard time up to the very end. I would just spend many nights crying because u was so over it. Achey, exhausted and miserable.

Sindorella · March 2014

I am 31+4 and just this last week or two have really felt the pregnancy get soooooooooooooooo much harder. Physically, emotionally, all of it. I had such easy pregnancies with my singletons and I thought I was having a really easy twin pregnancy and then BAM. It's like I got hit by a truck. I am super grateful to still be pregnant, I have a watched 5 of the women from different groups I am in that are also pregnant with twins give birth so early and have so many complications. I want to stay pregnant as long as I can to give these babies as much of a chance to come straight home with me as possible. But... I am struggling, I am miserable, and I am trying really hard not to let it get to me. I cut back to three days a week at work in April which I am looking forward to SO MUCH (I work from home with my two toddlers here with me) and I really hope that helps. I would say sadness, anger, and exhaustion are my most common emotions right now. I cry a LOT. I can definitely relate!!!!!

carrotcake06 · March 2014

Yes, normal. But still incredibly frustrating. I had an easy singleton pregnancy where I was active right up until the day into labor and felt great the entire time.

The twins' pg kicked my ass and it frustrated the hell out of me. I would do really simple things and pay for it later. I also kept up a regular schedule, working FT and dealing w my then-3yo and the seemingly simplest things would exhaust me.

I hit my wall around that time - 31ish weeks. It sounds like you're there. As hard as it is, take it easy. It's okay. This is really tough and not comparable at all to a singleton pg. It really is hard at the end.

Labyrinth3000 · March 2014

Totally normal. I was near immobile after 30 weeks because of soreness and fatigue. I felt a ton better after the girls were born even with the cesarean recovery. Being able to take full breaths is a big help! Hang in there. You'll bounce back quickly.

sasky · March 2014

Totally feeling you. I'm 28 weeks and pretty much any kind of activity (walking, grocery shopping, even just standing for a while) knocks me down hard. I can't imagine picking up young kids! I feel generally ok while I'm doing the activity, but that evening and into the next day is so so painful.

I have a 4 year old and he goes to daycare full time and I work from home, so I'm really lucky that I get a lot of chance to sit and lay down.

One thing that bothers me is that there are a lot of kids and babies in my friends and family, but no twins. Most of them don't understand the extent of how damn hard it is. So they expect me to participate or go to more events than I could possibly handle. (You'll only be 32 weeks at that point, you could definitely come!). It makes me feel like a big wimp, but I try to talk to them about it and they do try to understand.

basil2 · March 2014

Thanks everyone! It makes me feel so much better to hear that this is normal. (When I'm feeling really worn out I can't help wondering if something is wrong with me etc.) After a long night sleep Friday and a lot of rest yesterday, I definitely felt way better today- we'll see how long it lasts.

whitehousem · March 2014

I'm actually glad you posted this and I was able to read all the responses. I'm 32w and stopped sleeping much a couple of weeks ago. The rib pain is unbearable at this point. I have had a pretty good, active pregnancy but I WAY overdid it this weekend. DH and I spent all day Sat painting our upstairs. It was 7 hours of bending, squatting, climbing, etc.. I have felt like death for the past couple of days bc of it. Finally switched to our spare bedroom last night that has a memory foam mattress topper and that helped me sleep better. I think it's time to relax a little and not push myself so hard. I have a 22mo old at home so that may be easier said than done! Hang in there, mamma, you are NOT alone.

whitehousem · March 2014

Just read a post on my BMB where everyone is complaining about how uncomfortable they are and how will they possibly make it to 40 weeks. I had to bite my tounge and leave before saying, "at least you only have ONE baby in there are are not measuring 9 weeks ahead!." Lol I wonder if the triplet mommas feel the same way about the twin mommas when we complain.

sasky · March 2014

Amylou333 said:

The third tri was pretty tough and at 32w I sobbed to my Dr and told him there was NO WAY I could make it to 38w, not at all.
But obviously I was just being dramatic and I delivered at 37+4

I have imagined myself doing this very thing as I get further along.

ckred27 · April 2014

My last couple months were miserable! Way worse than my singletons. Exhausted all the time, hip and back pain, heartburn, Braxton hicks, all sorts of stuff

LegalLadyBug · April 2014

I'm 30w5d and I'm miserable. It hurts to walk, I'm like an extreme waddler. My ultrasound today showed both babies are 4lbs each and head down, A is still jammed up against my cervix. I have so much pain in my pubic bone when I stand or walk. My OB told me that was normal and to take it easy. DD was 8lbs 5.5oz at birth and even with the open abdominal surgery I had with her I never had this type of pain :-/

Manada · April 2014

Wow - I just wanted to say, to all of you - both thank you for this thread, and the reality check of what the summer will be like for me during 3rd Tri (hopefully we make it that far!) is a wake-up call.

I'm really going to have to do some thinking about what will be reasonable this summer in terms of working, visiting, and generally doing things. Something tells me I will be home bound for much of it.

kiwi443 · April 2014

Totally normal. I was absolutely exhausted and had difficulty even walking without pain by the time I hit 34 weeks. I remember crying because I was hurting, couldn't sleep well and just felt generally miserable. It was very different from my singleton pregnancy.

It sounds like you are used to being very active and I'm sure it's difficult to become more sedentary, but listen to your body. If exercise leaves you feeling very fatigued, it might be time to stop until after the babies are born. You will be able to get back in shape, but right now the most important priority is carrying those babies as long as possible.

Hang in there. You are so close!

JenyB6 · April 2014

So glad to hear this. This pregnancy has been so hard since the beginning. My first 2 singleton pregnancies were a breeze compared to this one. I am only 23wks and have had days where I have just had a breakdown about how I will I be able to make it through this. Glad to know that I am normal.

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