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Jess
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| Posted: July 22 2009 at 10:50am | IP Logged
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I am 32 weeks pg and I am completely exhausted all the time. I am usually tired during the 3rd trimester, but this time I am so completely exhausted that I don't want to do anything...at all. I know there is no cure for the tiredness, but does anyone have any tips to give me a little bit of energy? I really just want to lay on the couch all day. We go to daily Mass MWF, but I am about to have to cut back to only Fridays because our 2yr old refuses to stay in the pew and tries to run all over the place. If I try to keep her in the pew she screams and gets really loud so I end up taking her out in the foyer. After Mass I am completely wiped out.
Does anyone have anything I can do to help a little, besides sleep all day 
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Jess
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wife to dh('96)
mama to dd(13), dd(11), ds(9), dd(6), and dd (2), and baby girl born Sept 14!
star cottage
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 22 2009 at 11:06am | IP Logged
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Have you been checked for anemia lately? You might ask if your ob will check your hematocrit (iron levels). Being tired is normal, but if you're melt into the couch, can't even walk to the bathroom without losing your breath, unusually tired, it's a safe bet that your iron stores are low. That was my first thought anyway. My iron always plummets at the end of the second tri and well into the third leaving me exhausted!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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Mimip
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| Posted: July 22 2009 at 6:22pm | IP Logged
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I second the iron thing with Jen. I want to tell you that someone in this forum, no idea who, suggested Shredder Wheat cereal a while back and I tried it and Oh my goodness, what a difference.
I know it sounds crazy that a bowl of cereal could do that but hey, what's the risk in trying 
It has something like 90% of your daily iron need!
I found the post:
Here is the quote from Molly in Virgina's post
Marilyn, I bought the Frosted Shredded Mini-Wheats in the orange box. (Even though it's frosted, I really wouldn't consider it a "sugar cereal", like say, Frosted Flakes.) It's listed as having 90% of our USRDA (which is 18 mg), so at about 16 mg per serving it's a good iron deal. Plus it has 6 grams of fiber per serving so that helps balance the iron . It's also very filling, as opposed to sugar cereals.
I'm supposed to take my pre-natal, plus two 30mg iron supplements each day for anemia. Those supplements really mess with my system, though, so I try to eliminate one or both with iron rich foods. I'm always on the look out for the big guns, so I was happy to find this because I'm not one for liver !!
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Molly Smith in VA
It worked wonders for me so maybe you can try it 
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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Jess
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| Posted: July 22 2009 at 6:58pm | IP Logged
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At my last midwife visit, she said all my labs were good. The time before was when I did the glucose test and they did blood work so I assume that they did the hematocrit test. But maybe not. I usually don't have any trouble with anemia, but who knows, maybe this time. I actually like to eat frosted miniwheats (the generic ones) for breakfast or even a snack. We happen to be out right now but I will get some at the next grocery trip. I am just having a hard time functioning. Our 2yr old is nursing more again (probably because I am laying on the couch so much ) and I think that may be contributing, plus she is really in the into-everything stage so I have to redirect her a lot and I am really trying to avoid the tv (she loves veggie tales, signing time, and winnie the pooh movies). I am also here by myself (meaning the only adult). My dh is deployed and my mom who usually lives with us helping my brother after his car accident, so that could be contributing too.
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Jess
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wife to dh('96)
mama to dd(13), dd(11), ds(9), dd(6), and dd (2), and baby girl born Sept 14!
star cottage
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: July 22 2009 at 7:54pm | IP Logged
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Be sure you're taking good prenatals and eating good meals.. I know for myself late pregnancy I tend to eat less because of less room.. so you might need to think if you're doing that and you actually need more calories and should be adding in more snacks.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 22 2009 at 9:02pm | IP Logged
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Jess wrote:
| I am just having a hard time functioning. Our 2yr old is nursing more again (probably because I am laying on the couch so much ) and I think that may be contributing, plus she is really in the into-everything stage so I have to redirect her a lot and I am really trying to avoid the tv (she loves veggie tales, signing time, and winnie the pooh movies). I am also here by myself (meaning the only adult). My dh is deployed and my mom who usually lives with us helping my brother after his car accident, so that could be contributing too. |
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After reading this, Jess, I'm thinking that you've got to roll your expectations WAAAAAAAAY back. Your goals should be:
:: Decent meals - nothing fancy and convenience foods count if they fit in your budget. Your 12yo can help with some meals - put her in charge of b'fast and lunch. From your throne on the couch  make a simple menu that helps you plan your meals...now is not the time for extravagant new recipes...now is the time for tried and true and preferably super-simple! ...big crock-pot type meals with leftovers, casseroles that stretch.
:: Clean clothes - kids can wear clothes more than once!!! Put up a hook in everyone's area in their rooms to hang clothes on when they're clean and can be worn again the next day. Get everyone 2 small round clothes baskets (I got mine for $1 each...one is for bringing dirty clothes to you, the other stays in place in the room to collect more dirties) - write their names on the baskets with a sharpie. Everyone is responsible for bringing dirty clothes down, checking their own pockets, sorting and you can wash. After washing and drying, sort the clothes into the individual children's baskets as it comes out of the dryer. Children are responsible for folding and putting away - older kids here help the youngers.
:: Healthy Mommy and baby - lots of rest for you, lots of water...stay faithful to your prenats if you can keep them down, pay attention to your meals!!!! Are you eating well? My motto when I am pregnant is "I AM PREGNANT, THEREFORE I NAP." Liberal use of the television and learning videos and documentaries, history programs, nature study documentaries, public television are all FAIR GAME for you!!! If your 2yo likes signing time - cue it up and close your eyes for a minute!!! Task your 12 yo with grabbing a basket and gathering up some picture books from around the house that maybe haven't been read in a while and plop that basket right next to your nest on the couch!
:: Safe baby zones - Is there a way you can put up some gates and gate the 2yo either into or out of certain rooms? It would be great if you could just barricade her in the living room with you...you take up residence on the couch, and let her play with just a few safe toys and cue up the DVD player every now and then. Could you temporarily rearrange some furniture?
Everything else...and I mean everything...is gravy!!!
If you've noticed a significant drop in your energy levels lately, if you are craving ice or dirt, it would be wise to get your iron levels checked to see if anemia is factoring in.
 to you Jess! You have a lot on your plate all by yourself!!! I'm sending prayers your way!!!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Booksnbabes
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| Posted: July 22 2009 at 10:35pm | IP Logged
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Quaker Oat Squares have 90% of the DRV of iron too, and they're not nearly as sugary as the mini-wheats!
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Jess
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| Posted: July 23 2009 at 9:13am | IP Logged
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See ladies, this is why I come here. You always have such great ideas.
Jennifer I love your motto! Yesterday I tried 3 different times to get the toddler to nap with me and she would nurse and get real still and then sit up all of a sudden and say 'let's get up!'  We were even in my cool dark room.
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God bless,
Jess
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mama to dd(13), dd(11), ds(9), dd(6), and dd (2), and baby girl born Sept 14!
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: July 23 2009 at 9:26am | IP Logged
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The baby-safe zone was a life saver to me during those days when I didn't have any older kids. It was a bedroom. I lay on the bed, shut the door and she just played. There was nothing OUT that I cared about and it was completely safe, in the common event that I would doze off.
You can also rotate your older kids ..... the 8, 10, and 12 year olds can be "enlisted" ....for 30 minutes each (minimum....probably even more) a couple times a day...which would give you 90 minute rests twice/day. Completely reasonable. Or at least be in a lazy-boy with an older around so they can "fetch" the toddler and intervene when nec. I always announced....."OK, I'm in the lazy-boy for 45 minutes and I'm NOT getting up. Madeleine and Erika-you're in charge!" They knew what this meant (defined ahead of time)....and they were 5 & 6 at the time with a 3 and 1 year old in the room.
This is part of being a family....stepping up to the plate to help each other out! And, then do something "*nice* for them to show how much you appreciate it. Nothing big....a card or a nice dessert.
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KC in TX
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Or, Jess, you can drop your kids off at my house sometime next week and sleep all day long!
After your baby shower Saturday, go take a nap. We'll take care of the kiddoes.
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Jess
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| Posted: July 24 2009 at 1:42pm | IP Logged
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Thank you KC
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God bless,
Jess
+JMJ+
wife to dh('96)
mama to dd(13), dd(11), ds(9), dd(6), and dd (2), and baby girl born Sept 14!
star cottage
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anniemm
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| Posted: July 24 2009 at 7:01pm | IP Logged
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Oh I am so glad to find this thread. I'm 37 weeks and just dragging...until I read this, I forgot that my midwives mentioned that I was borderline anemic. So, I think I'll try the iron thing and see if it helps me endure for the next month (I'm counting on a month since I'm always late! ).
Ok, off to take a nap.
just kidding
sort of
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Andrea
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Topic: third trimester exhaustion
