What things did you still do at 32 weeks pregnant?

[Marley&Me]

I am unsure if I am overdoing it or just being a sook. What kind of things did you still do around 32 weeks pregnant?

We have been understaffed and stupid busy lately at work. I am still only doing around 6 hour shifts, but lately I have been really sore after about 4 hours. I feel great in the morning, but then my legs ache and my belly starts to have all these weird pains. I had sharp pains today from belly button to right down low.
And yesterday I had to go to Kmart after work for a few things, grabbed a trolley and after about 30 minutes of gathering things I could barely walk. I was hunched over my trolley and walking so slow. I was already tired and a bit sore when I left work, but I had to get some things. It didn't help my closest store is in a major shopping centre. I needed to pee on the way out, but there weren't any close toilets and I just didn't have the energy and was too sore to keep walking and look or some. So I just got in the car and by the time I got home I was almost in tears. I can't do anything any more. No walking lots, no lifting, no bending over, can't even do grocery shopping cos I need help carrying all the bags in

Does this sound like the life of 32 weeks pregnant? Is it really this constricting? Am I overdoing it?

[2CheekyMonkeys]

You poor thing. I remembered having some days like that. It wasn't all the time though. I remember having a full bladder could sometimes hurt and aggregate back pain, cause Braxton hicks. Or maybe Braxton hicks hurt more when I had full bladder. If you are feeling like that the majority of the time you should mention it at your next appointment. I saw a physio for pelvic girdle pain which helped slightly.

[Marley&Me]

Thanks 2CheekyMonkeys Everytime I mention something to my OB or the physio they all say the same thing "Yes it sounds normal in pregnancy" I feel like I'm crazy sometimes. I can't lay down flat on the bed at my OB's office or get back up after scans because the pain in my pelvis is excruciating and it spasms. And the physio lady said it sounded like normal pregnancy symptoms. Once I'm sitting up I'm fine though...

[LionsandBears]

By 32 weeks, I was pretty immobile. I had SPD kick in at 21 weeks and was on crutches not long after. I couldnt push a trolley or vacuum cleaner. I gave up work at 32 weeks as I was too tired and sore. We had groceries delivered or Dh bought them. I had hydrotherapy for pain relief and constant osteo, but they were only temporary.

Have you checked out the SPD thread for tips?

[CinderToriella]

I had SPD with my DD and I got it this time at 16 weeks . I am now 31 weeks ( as you know ) ha .. And I hardly do a thing I can barely walk to the local shop , let alone around my own house ..
Everything hurts , and it gives me a crampy sore belly a lot of the time .. Then the BH kick in :/ ..
I spend most of my time at home with my DD and reply on my DF to do most things .. X
Listen to your body it's telling you to slow down a bit

[LimeSlice]

I was working 16 hours a day up until I was 8.5 months, in a physically very demanding job, so probably not the best person to ask! LOL And I didn't have SPD.

What is your posture like? Maybe have a look at some kind of belly belt, to help. But most of all, listen to your body!!
If you are having issues, go and talk to your doctor about it and get some help and slow down where and when you can.

[PumpkinZulu]

I had SPD, it was awful. DH was studying full time and working full time so most of the time he'd leave the house at 7am and be home at 10pm. I didn't work, but I was running after a toddler, cooking, cleaning, basically looking after DD1's needs alone, as well as maintaining a house, shopping etc. I had no other choice, but I did end up needing to see the osteo 2 times a week by the end.

[CinderToriella]

Yes forgot to mention that just cause I am home I am still looking after a 3 year old , cooking cleaning , washing , all tht fun stuf but Iv had to just cut back and leave some things until another day or until DF comes home as Iv ended up in hospital that concerned with the cramping pain which turned out was all fm my pelvis ..
As hard as it is to step back a bit when you are used to being able to do the things you normally do , you really need to step back and take it easy , remember you are growing a little life in that belly and it can take a lot out of you

Have you considered the possibility that you may not be able to work up until as long as you thought ?

[Marley&Me]

Sounds awful lionsandBears! I'm not sure if i have SPD though....I feel great in the mornings, just after work I am dying.

Cinder, I didn't know you had SPD, I must have missed it! Pregnancy is definitely not fun with problems. Oh now I remember I almost drove myself to the hospital last week, extremely stressed about a particular incident, massive argument with DH and driving home I was having regular BH every 5 minutes all the way home (40 minute drive) So I was freaking out.

Limeslice, you are so lucky!! lol

PZ, I think I need physio, but I can't afford private and the hospital one wasn't very helpful at all.

I think my body is telling me to slow down, but I can't stop work cos I need the money and the rest is just every day life. I lift all sorts of things all day in every day life and I walk all day at work, home, shops. It's just basic life, and I can't even do that! Just doesn't sound right to me KWIM?

[ladybirdflies]

I think your body is doing a pretty good job at what it needs, never mind what other women were/are doing, your body sends signal that are especially for you. Comparing yourself to others may make you feel bad or make you push yourself harder, just listen and go with it. I am 38 weeks now and I feel physically better now then I did from 20-30 weeks, instead of fighting how I was feeling I went with it and I think the extra rest then has given me the energy that I have now. I have three children and a crazy nesting urge that can't seem to settle, but as soon as I get a sign of tiredness or pain I stop and rest.

[~Hestia~]

With my first pregnancy I stopped working at 30 weeks, I remember feeling like I could have stopped much earlier. I found walking difficult and got extremely tired easily. I'm sure I could not have managed the grocery shopping by myself. I could barely hold on for the loo and was waking all through the night due to pain in my hips.

But with my second I was completely the opposite. Even though I was home with a toddler, I felt like I always did. Every pregnancy is different!

ETA - was just thinking, DH and I took a little trip when I was about 32/33 weeks pregnant with our first little guy. We went on a bushwalk type thing where we went down a massive staircase to a waterfall...I realised once we got down that I was going to struggle getting up! It took us absolutely ages!

[Liviam]

I was working 4 days a week (as a midwife), studying two days a week which involved following up with other pg women as case studies. I was renovating our unit and I then moved houses. That was with my first pg. I finished up at 38 weeks.
Second pg I chased my toddler and worked 3 days a week and finished work at 37 weeks.
Third pg I had two kids, worked 3 days a week and finished work at 36 weeks.

Everyone is different though.

[Joeve]

Everyone is so different. I worked part time past my due date. I felt ok and was on my feet. As you know my biggest problem was vomiting not the physical side such as swelling, sore back etc. I think if you are asking if you are doing too much you probably are.
I remember one day at 38 weeks wheeling the wheel barrow out and raking and shoveling horse poo from the paddock and I don't feel I could do that today lol!
Rest if your body feels like it needs rest. I think you have had lots of other stress lately with moving so maybe that's all been a bit too much.

[Marley&Me]

Thanks for your replies ladies. I am still working 5 days a week, but my longest shift is 7 hours. I like to work, I don't particularly want to stay home for 4 weeks before the baby comes. What will I do? Under normal working conditions I think I could easily stay longer, but unfortunately work atm is very stressful. Understaffed and the staff we do have are unreliable. I live in fear of getting a call on my day off to come in and cover a shift! Plus the home stresses are mounting by the day.

Joeve, I bet you are glad your vomiting days are over! I have felt pretty fantastic up until recently. You are right, I think it's the stress that's causing it more than anything

[J.Bear]

Tasha, I was told by my midwife that rest is important in case u go into labour, u need to be well rested. Can u reduce your hours?

[Aussiegirl777]

I stopped working at 32 weeks and I had a nanna nap for 2 hours every day for the last month.

I remember in the last month that I couldn't push the trolley through the supermarket for the whole shop because it was too tiring so I used to leave out the last two aisles. lol.

DP did my vacuuming for me and I basically just lazed around and tried to enjoy the last month of being pregnant.

Don't push yourself if you feel over-it. Can you get someone to do the shopping for you? Enjoy that last month of your pregnancy, I loved the final weeks even though it was very draining.

[Melbournemumma]

With my first I remember that pushing a trolley would cause terrible braxton hicks so I waited for DH to come home to do groceries. I was working full time but I was in a job where I sat most of the time.

Could you maybe look at asking your boss to get you a high stool so you have something to sit rest on whenever you can? My chiro also suggested tying a scarf under my bump to help support it but you can get special bands from physios too. The scarf helped heaps when I was at home.

Apart from that rest when you can. Most of those things sound normal. Pregnancy can take a huge toll on our bodies, especially if your belly is larger.

[Saffy]

Can you buy groceries over the internet? Then they deliver to your door. Groceries are hard work.
I finished work very early so can't comment, but I understand financially you need to work, just don't work too hard when you are there!
I lounged around a lot in the last trimester as I knew I would be busy when the baby came.
I wore the SRC pregnancy shorts which helped with support in the pelvic area.
I was still going to the gym and quite energetic at 32 weeks but hurt my coccyx at 34wks so was basically out of action after that as I also had some pubic bone seperation, everyone is different.
ps I found heaps to do at home before the baby came- cooking and freezing food for after the birth, decluttering our house, baby clothes shopping, catching up with friends, etc,etc :-)