Tips for surviving the third trimester?

[demandypants]

So I made it to 30 weeks (woo!) and that alone has been a bit of a mood booster.  I cannot complain because so far this has been an uneventful pregnancy. But the pelvic girdle pain, heartburn, constipation, and general exhaustion is really wearing on me.  Some days are better than others. But knowing that this could go on for another 8 weeks is pretty intimidating. Any tricks or tips on staying positive and managing the side effects would be appreciated!

Also, how long did you carry your twins? What were the circumstances under which you went into labor (if you don't mind sharing).

[trafficgirl]

I went to 37.5 weeks, when I had a scheduled C-section to get the babies out of me!

I was pretty miserable the last trimester. Unfortunately I don't really have any good coping strategies - I just did whatever made me comfortable. Which was often not a lot.

I'm sorry, I know that's not helpful. Try and hang in there!

[linz]

My water broke at 33 weeks. It was a fluke as I had an easy pregnancy with no complications. My Dr said it was just a risk with twins so don't let that scare you as I know plenty that made it longer.

As for pains - Tums were my bff. The heartburn sucked and I got it every night so I just made sure to have them on hand and it would go away. Sleeping was the worst for me as I could never get comfy. I pretty much came home from work and laid on the couch all evening and would rest. I also saw a chiropractor from early on. If you don't have one I'd recommend it. I went weekly to help with the pelvis pain. My back never hurt but she also adjusted that so it could have been prevented by going. I did have a belly band I wore if I wasn't wearing pants. I lived in maxi skirts and dresses and sometimes my belly felt super heavy. I just dressed comfy. I wore flip flops every day to work and sometimes leggings which I'm not supposed to. Oh and constipation - Miralax. Collace didn't work for me. I mixed this with OJ or apple juice in the morning which hid the taste and it worked great.

[persa]

Nov 17, 2014 11:53:00 GMT -5 demandypants said:

So I made it to 30 weeks (woo!) and that alone has been a bit of a mood booster.  I cannot complain because so far this has been an uneventful pregnancy. But the pelvic girdle pain, heartburn, constipation, and general exhaustion is really wearing on me.  Some days are better than others. But knowing that this could go on for another 8 weeks is pretty intimidating. Any tricks or tips on staying positive and managing the side effects would be appreciated!

Also, how long did you carry your twins? What were the circumstances under which you went into labor (if you don't mind sharing).

Ah hon, we know how you feel. I'm barely ahead of you at 34 weeks so I'm still in the tunnel but seeing the light at the end of it.

I stopped working at the end of my 32nd week because I couldn't handle the physical part of it anymore. I have to wear the support belt every day, it's my best friend. I'm sleeping with a snoogle and my H sleeps in the guest room, lol.

My reflux is bad too and now I have indigestion again. I'm taking daily pepcid and popping Tums like candy, so much so that I'm worried I'm going to get kidney stones. I haven't moved to a PPI yet.

Constipation and hemorrhoids, I started taking the occasional miralax with tons of water. I got some preparation H wipes for my itchy bum.

I'm getting almost weekly massages at this point. I'd probably choose my massage therapist over H if someone put a gun to my head.

It's rough. See my "twin pregnancy is no joke" post from several weeks ago

[persa]

oh, i guess I didn't add anything positive, lol.

For me the positive is that I've made it this far, since prematurity was a major concern for me. Also the fact that I'm even pregnant at all keeps my mood elevated somewhat since it was something we wanted for so long.

Big hugs, feel free to vent anytime

[demandypants]

Nov 18, 2014 0:05:57 GMT -5 persa said:

oh, i guess I didn't add anything positive, lol.

For me the positive is that I've made it this far, since prematurity was a major concern for me. Also the fact that I'm even pregnant at all keeps my mood elevated somewhat since it was something we wanted for so long.

Big hugs, feel free to vent anytime

Sometimes it is just nice to have someone to commiserate with!

I have had heartburn from the start, so I am well beyond tums.  I was taking zantac twice a day AND a few tums between.  So I decided to give Pepcid a try to see if that offers me any more relief these last few weeks.

Weekly massages sound good. Perhaps I will splurge for those while I wait.

[marissa]

I puked about 20-30 times daily from week 7 until week 12 when I started on home iv therapy and it went down to about 15-20 times a day until I had my twins at 32 weeks and 4 days. I went on bedrest at 18 weeks when my cervix started shortening. I had a cerclage at 21 weeks and when into preterm labor at the same point. I was in and out of the hospital from week 7 until I had my twins for the HG and the preterm labor. I ended up being admitted at 32 weeks where they said I was going to stay until I had the twins. My water broke 4 days later. The day I was admitted I showed signs of pre-e. I swear the only issue I didn't have was gensational diabetes. It was a shitty pregnancy and one I didn't want to repeat. Lucky me it was worse HG wise with my youngest :/

[fryjack2]

I made it to 33 weeks. Hospitalized just shy of 32 weeks for severe pre-e and IUGR.

My back pain was awful. It was in my midback along my bra strap line. Nothing helped. Sitting, standing, lying, nothing.

I had nausea the whole pregnancy and reflux as well.

I'm only 5 foot tall and petite so I think my body had a hard time with twin pregnancy. I didn't gain much weight but my body felt every pound that I did.

Tips for staying positive?

-be thankful that they are on the inside keeping you awake and not on the outside keeping you awake because once they get here it will be even more exhausting

-distract yourself with something. I did a lot of nursery prep and buying baby clothes. And playing scrabble with H.

-You will forget this discomfort soon. I'm 2.5 years out and I was just thinking about all the pregnancy and post preg stuff I went through and I had forgotten so so much of it.

-get massages. Even if its from your H.

-go on walks. It will help.


Good luck!

[persa]

demandypants, how's it going?

[demandypants]

Hey persa, thanks for asking. I am doing well. 32 weeks yesterday! Heartburn is better controlled and that helps tons with my mood. Sleep is still hit or miss but I can deal with that a bit longer. We have our 32 week growth u/s this morning and I am taking DD since school is closed for the day. I feel like the end is within reach, and hoping they wait until after Christmas to arrive!

How are you doing?

[persa]

Glad to here you're doing ok. Heartburn-wise, I don't know why it took me so long to realize this, but I do so much better if I take my pepcid in the morning instead of in the evening. I still have to take tums all day but it's better overall. Good luck with your US!

I'm doing well, just trying to get stuff done and get ready for them. I'm 36 weeks so it could really be anytime. I had some random contractions last night so it at least got me to start packing my hospital bag, lol. I had already installed their car seats in the minivan earlier in the day.

I have my last growth US and also my BPP this wednesday as well as my regular OB appt later in the day. They've been pretty big so far so I'm thinking they'll be close to 7 lbs at this visit since they were almost 5 lbs at my 32 week visit! I make big babies apparently (DD was 8#13oz)

[demandypants]

Dec 1, 2014 13:23:18 GMT -5 persa said:

Glad to here you're doing ok. Heartburn-wise, I don't know why it took me so long to realize this, but I do so much better if I take my pepcid in the morning instead of in the evening. I still have to take tums all day but it's better overall. Good luck with your US!

I'm doing well, just trying to get stuff done and get ready for them. I'm 36 weeks so it could really be anytime. I had some random contractions last night so it at least got me to start packing my hospital bag, lol. I had already installed their car seats in the minivan earlier in the day.

I have my last growth US and also my BPP this wednesday as well as my regular OB appt later in the day. They've been pretty big so far so I'm thinking they'll be close to 7 lbs at this visit since they were almost 5 lbs at my 32 week visit! I make big babies apparently (DD was 8#13oz)

My u/s went well. I hear you on the big babies.  they estimated our boy was 5lbs 12 oz and the girl was 4lbs 11oz!  I know they loose some accuracy as the pregnancy goes on, but still I have a couple of biggies too!  (DD was 8lbs 4oz at 39weeks)

I was taking two pepcids a day, and still needed tums. I just started prilosec, so hopefully that will get me through the last few weeks a little more comfortably! That and swearing off tomato sauce

You are so close to the end!!! hang in there, looking forward to hearing about your delivery!

[vtdiamond]

Glad things are going well demandypants, the last few weeks were tough.

They predicted all along our DS was bigger then DD, and he did end up being 2lbs bigger at birth - they were 7lbs 4 oz and 5lbs 3 oz.

I survived the last month of pregnancy by working from home 4 days a week which helped a lot so I didn't have my long commute.

Hope your last few weeks go well, I just kept reminding myself the longer I kept them in the less chances they had for NICU time. I had my planned c/s at 37+1 weeks and they had no NICU time.

[persa]

demandypants, Holy big boy! Mine at 4#14 at 32 weeks was 60th percentile so your big fella must be way up there!

[demandypants]

Dec 2, 2014 11:55:45 GMT -5 persa said:

demandypants, Holy big boy! Mine at 4#14 at 32 weeks was 60th percentile so your big fella must be way up there!

They said he was >95th percentile. So yea... I am happy to be tall and have more room based on how big he is alone!

[nikki25]

First, congrats on making it 30 weeks!! By about 24 weeks it was getting very, very difficult for me to walk long distances. I was able to secure a parking spot right next to my building which helped lessen the walking. In my case, I already had pretty severe back issues due to a rod on my spine so the twin pregnancy definitely exasperated it. I had a single DD prior to the twins and my back held much, much better with just one.

I was hospitalized at 25 weeks due to complete placenta previa and was able to hold off on hospital bed rest until 33 weeks exactly. It was an emergency C-section but I knew that it would probably happen as such and am thankful I was 50 ft from the OR.

The twins were in the NICU a little over a month as 'feeders and growers.' They have no significant health issues and are gigantic 10 month olds now. Being pregnant with twins is so incredible tough on your body. Ugh... the pelvic pressure is horrible, the back aches and everything else. I took medication to help with my back pain and zantex daily for the heartburn. Hang in there!!!

[CloudBee]

Drink lots of water to keep swelling down, and keep your feet up when you're sitting, if at all possible. I would even prop my feet up on the bench opposite me when eating in a booth at a restaurant.