Last 7 Weeks of Pregnancy

Hi B.,
Have you tried reading at night or listening to a relaxation cd at bedtime? These two ieas really have helped me. I only have one son but these are two ways I have dealt with some anxiety.

Take care,
C.

Take deep breaths, you've managed to love and care for three already, you're a pro at this. Billions of women over millions of years have been able to do this and most of them had to do it all on their own. You have older children who can be given chores to help you, you have a husband you can fuss at to help you. You can do this.

I hope this helps.

I did this too with baby #3--keep saying All is Well, and I would pray for everybody I knew, and lots of people that I didn't know. Somehow, getting sleepy is a natural result of praying...and if you don't get sleepy, at least you did something good with your time. Norman Vincent Peale has a wonderful book called "Thought Conditioners" and that really helps--check Peale Center. The lack of sleep is a major contribution to depression, so talk with your doctor...if you do go on a medication, make sure the staff in the delivery room know as some babies have a very slow start and they need to plan for it. I went through a very hard time by myself, with my husband gone in the Navy, and I had very unsupportive care in my OB group. I avoided all the negative people, and mentally decided that I had just gained a lot of weight, because that didn't have an end date. (The good news for me was that I had a girl after having two boys, but she had colic for about four months, and she is all grown up and a wonderful person, but there are times that I think I was allergic to her.) The last few weeks can be incredibly hard, and it makes it harder if you thought you would deliver early. I think knowing you are pregnant so early makes it last longer, too. Hang in there. It will be over soon. Practice hindsight. What will I wish I had done with my time, instead of what I am doing with it? Good Luck.

It is an emotional time - hormones are every which way - I cried every day the last time (I was 38). The fears, nerves, and anxiety can be overwhelming. Here are 3 things to consider:
Is there someone you can talk with, to just let it all out? (husband, mom, best friend, pastor, OB, or ...? )

Sometimes there is comfort in knowing that many have been in your shoes, and you are not alone.

The best advice I can give, is to pray. When you turn it all over to the Lord, you will find peace, and be able to handle the day, and the night.

Advice for a soon to be mother of four??? Here it is in a nutshell...I have 5 children myself...I felt that same way when I was pregnant with my fourth baby. Taking Benadryl to help you sleep isn't the answer...here's what helped me, talk about it. To your husband, a friend, a relative...start walking in the evening(with someone) it will help with the labor and delivery and will tire you out for the evening ahead. Try small naps during the day, warm milk, and chamomile tea...chamomile is a natural calming herb. Lavendar helps as well. Don't worry...4 is a breeze...you should be confidant in your "mothering" by now. You can do this!!!

Welcome to a nice cup of tension tamer tea, and a decided attitude to say a few prayers and give your blues up to Creator. Just keep saying it is in your hands, with your help I can do anything.
Read the most boring book you can find and force yourself to focus on it until you fall asleep. I recommend anything by Charles Dickens.
Everytime you start to worry just give it up to the Creator again.

I don't know about the anxiety, but ask your doc about sleeping aids. I know you can use something like Benedryl (I get generic) but my doc also prescribed me something at the end and I used it for about a week. Word of warning - they can be strong! I used to wake up to pee, stumble across the room to the bathroom and once actually fell asleep on the pot!

Your hormones are all over the place right now, so some moodiness is to be expected. But, it sounds like you might want to be on the lookout for Postpartum Depression. It can actually begin before the baby is born.

I would talk to your doctor about how you are feeling. Also, if you are a Christian, you can put together some encouraging scripture to read before bedtime and meditate on the Lord, reminding yourself that He is in control of all things and wouldn't give you something you couldn't handle.

You're almost there! You can make it!

God bless,
A.

Talk to your OB. I was happy as a lark all through my first 2 pregnancies, but during my third was a different story. I was severely depressed, antsy, anxious, you name it. I would cry for no apparent reason. My OB put me on effexor at that time. It helped tremendously. I quit taking it about 6mo after he was born and have never had to take it since, but I know it helped. It may have even saved me from having post-partum depression.

You will begin to feel like yourself in about 18 years. lol

Hi B.,

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Those last weeks seem like forever! I think you're feeling more then the normal end of pregnancy anxiety's.

I'm sure you have a lot on your plate with 3 kids and their schedules.You are probably so busy during the day that you don't have time to think straight until you finally try to relax. This will contribute to your apprehension & feelings of being overwhelmed & inability to sleep at night. Rest is very important during pregnancy, which you are not doing enough of! Not getting enough rest also makes it more difficult to feel like yourself.

I think it's important that you talk to your Dr./MW about how you're feeling, and your inability to sleep. Sometimes just talking to someone can be helpful. They assume all is well unless you let them know otherwise.

I hope you feel better soon! Hang in there!!!

I wish you the best during the rest of your pregnancy and with your growing family.

K. :-)

This sounds hormonal. It might be part of that nesting syndrome. I tried keeping my schedule consistent. I also changed some of my eating habits and didn't eat meals or snacks after 7pm or so. I started a calming routine. I would do yoga for pregnant moms, meditation, drinking warm milk, drinking chamomile tea. I would also try talking to someone. Perhaps schedule time with friends a couple days a week for maybe just an hour or so at a time. You could try seeing a counselor. Many counselors offer sliding scale payments.

I would try journaling your thoughts to put them into perspective. You can do a task list and think about things that you can do to work towards those goals. Often pregnant women worry about everything during a nesting syndrome. I wondered if I would have enough money, the house would be clean enough, bills, thought about meals and how to stay up with breastfeeding, making baby food, incorporating learning into playtime, finding good daycare, etc. My mind just rambled on with everything. By writing things down and talking them out with friends/counselors, it helps to release that stress.

I suggest talking to your OBGYN. Perhaps these are early symptoms of post partum depression.

You didn't say how old your other children are, but I was 2 mos. shy of 40 when my 4th was born. My other 3 were 9-14. Needless to say, we got a Christmas surprise. I worried about being too old. And let me tell you, you'd be surprised how many other older moms you will see in Kindergarten and preshool. Yes, there will be many younger, I realized what a change when I went on my first field trip for preschool, and one of the moms had her thong above her jeans! But it has worked out. You have alot more in common with the other moms, because you are all raising the same age child. And you learn to laugh at it, like my youngest started Kindergarten when my oldest was a soph in college! I don't know if this has you worried at all, but I just wnated to share my story. And if you need to talk, feel free to e-mail me. I too wondered about how my new child would fit into my family. And it does work out!
R.

I would definitely mention this to your doctor. If it's going to be a while until your next visit...call your doctor and let them know what you are dealing with and see if they can get you in.
This could be the starting of depression.
My doctor mentioned to me that several women develope depression while they are pregnant and don't realize it and it can get worse after delivery.
I had post partum depression after both of my children.
TRUST ME...I know how bad it can get!!!!!
***With my second child, I was prepared for the worst and started on meds. while I was in the hospital...I still got the depression but I don't think as bad as it could've been.
There might be some meds you can start on now that won't harm your baby...but you'll have to discuss that with your doctor.
I'd talk to your doctor now so you will be able to function once the baby comes. :)
Good Luck To You!!!

I encourage you to reread Carla and Jessica P's advice ... theirs seemed the BEST!!!! Right on the mark. I think someone also mentioned, journaling/writing down your thoughts. This should help you to see areas you are worried about and address those. If you want to talk, email me :-D

When I started feeling anxious at the end of my pregnancy, I took a bath with some vanilla bubble bath scent (from Bath&Body) - the water temp wasn't too hot but still wonderfully soothing. That definitely helped physically. Spiritually, I would meditate on bible scriptures - I did a lot of reading in the Psalms which did wonders for me. It just really helped me relax in my mind. Music always helped me too. Whether some upbeat music or soothing music. Sometimes it helps digging out those good old songs that you listened to when you were a teenager or a young woman. Maybe look at some old photo albums before you go to bed and revisit some good memories. Or maybe some good books might help. I was usually not into romance novels but found that some of the Christians romance novels focus on some good solid principals and the happy endings were always a pleasure! I'm sure your life is hectic with 3 kids and the 4th on the way. I don't know how old your other kids are, but maybe you can find some little time niches during the day where you can treat yourself to something. Maybe stash a yummy treat in your closet that only you know about... :) And last but not least, eat healthy. No caffeine, chocolate or fast foods. Unhealthy foods can definitely have an effect on your state of mind. Hang in there. 7 weeks will be go by in a jiffy. You can do it. Keep your mind busy in the evening: reading, meditating, etc. Don't let your mind wonder to negative things. You can do it!
Blessings,
N.

Hello B.;

Did you experience these symptoms with your other pregnancies? I assume you didn't, and that is why you are concerned. Regardless, it sure sounds like this is hormonal in nature just the same. I hope you have mentioned this to your O.B. so that he can assess the situation because you may have problems with postpartum depression once the baby is delivered. This can be helped via medications but your doctor needs to be given a 'heads up' so he can prepare for the condition if it happens. Have you or anyone in your family had clinical depression issues? It sounds like this could also be the case for you.

Did your physician prescribe Benadryl for you? I am rather surprised because when I was pregnant with my three children, none of my O.B.'s would prescribe hardly any medications at all for me for fear of harming the baby. Perhaps however, this isn't one of them because I know some people have to take it due to allergies. You probably should stop taking it anyway and ask for something different if it would be safe. Remember too, that being pregnant the third and fourth time is not the same as the first because of added responsibilities. I know - things can seem overwhelming at times. I was 38 when I had my last child.

pfg

I felt the exact same way! The last few weeks of pregnancy I could not sleep and I felt overwhelmed and just wanted to cry all the time. Night time was definaltely worse than the day time. I didn't feel better until I gave birth to my daughter. I got worse and worse the closer I got to the end. But it will be over soon. Just tell yourself that you have a beautiful baby on the way and it will all be worth it the moment you see that baby. Just hang in there and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel! good luck to you and God bless!

I did the same thing with my daughter (second child). My dr. told me to try to "rest" about an hour before I was ready to go to sleep and to take Unisom. I used to take the Unisom and then turn on the little light on my nightstand and read for a little while and before I knew it, it was morning. I have also been told to drink some warm tea before bed. My Mom gets this kind called bedtime tea and likes it and I know that there are a lot of different kinds out there that are suppose to help you relax before bed. Good Luck and I'm sure you'll be feeling like yourself in no time.

B.,
I am sorry to hear you are in a rutt. Try to be patient. I STRONGLY urge you to mention the anxiety & what sounds like depression to your doctor or midwife. If you're already feeling this way you may have a really difficult time with post-partum depression. If you've had it with the previous kids you are more likely to have it with this one. But if you haven't had it before, that doesn't mean it can't strike. You will feel a lot better at least knowing & then making a plan of attack! Good luck B.. Please let us know how it all turns out.
A.

I was exactly the same way! It's perfectly normal. I don't think I slept more than a few hours at a time for the last two months. By the time I finally got comfortable, my mind was racing a million miles an hour. If it were me, I'd stop taking the Benadryl. Call your OB and express your concerns. They may be able to give you something to calm you down at night so you can get some rest. I don't know if you can meditate or not. When I was falling asleep, I would have to just try and relax the best I could. Take nice soothing deep breaths and imagine all of your muscles relaxing, starting with your toes, moving up to your calves, thighs, etc. I found that it helped to keep the baby still and it did help to clear my mind. I was still only getting a few hours of sleep at a time, but at least I was sleeping! Hang in there! You've done this before and you can do it again

I would urge you to speak to your doctor about this as soon as possible. As I understand it, symptoms of postpartum depression can start to creep up even before the baby is born. There are medications that are now considered safe to use while pregnant and breastfeeding. Of course, there are always risks involved with any medication, but it is a matter of weighing the risks vs. benefits. I have a history of depression and opted to go off my meds for my pregnancies. It is not easy though. I plan to start up again as soon as the baby is born to hopefully ward off postpartum depression (which I didn't do with my first two children because I didn't realize I could take the medication while breastfeeding). I can sympathize with you--good luck!

You are not alone! I did the exact same thing. Talk to your doctor and be on the look-out for post partum depression. Even though you've never experienced it before, you could be beginning to suffer from it now. Your doctor can help. Don't think that you just have to suffer through. There is help. I hope you have people that will help you with everything a new baby and 3 others require! It can certainly feel overwhelming! Rightfully so.
Take care of YOU, B.. You will be a happier, healthier Mom for your children. Hugs-Jan