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01-22-2013 at 10:55 AM
soxvyanks
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Joined on 02-27-2006
Peabody, MA
827 Points
soxvyanks is not online. Last active: 05-17-2013, 2:45 PMNewbie

STMs - Hints on keeping energy up?

Hi Ladies -

I am just about into my 3rd trimester and I am having some serious issues keeping my energy up.  I have lost focus and it's just hard to stay on track.  Some background which I feel like may be contributing is the fact that DH right now is currently unable to help much at all as he is laid up after having ankle surgery 4 weeks ago.  I am currently working full time (Exec level job), have a 4 year old and am taking care of all household duties - laundry, trash, cleaning etc.  Also add in helping him, food, bathing, changing sheets, etc.  (Though it has lightened up substantially in the last couple of weeks)  Usually hubby and I split 50 / 50 and he takes care of most if not all the household duties.  Picking these up has started to really wear on me and 

I want to hire a housecleaner, but I am stalled a bit because I have to do the initial clean before they were to come in.  I have lowered my standards to the point where I can't actually take how low they are!  I didn't have high standards before, but all bets are off now. :)  

Where I do know I can control a lot more is what I eat (and I'd love to sleep more but that really isn't an option.

Any suggestions?  

THanks in advance, I really appreciate any and all suggestions!

 

 
01-22-2013 at 11:01 AM
Spacebunny...
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Joined on 02-19-2010
orange county, CA
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Spacebunny19 is not online. Last active: 04-14-2013, 8:18 PMSilver

Like you, when I was prego with DD#1 I was working long hours (and in my case, visiting my mom in the hospital afterwards as she was getting chemo for leukemia).  So getting "extra rest" wasn't an option for me either :(

Here are some things I did that seemed to help:

-Eat frequently.  I had GD by this point with DD#1 and the GD "diet" required me to eat a lot of smaller meals.  That actually really helped with my energy because I would always be mixing a protein (cheese, nuts, etc.) with something else (like dairy--yogurts, a glass of chocolate milk (i had sugarfree syrup :) etc.)  I also drank a lot of smoothies for my snacks because I could dump in protein powder or peanut butter and make a shake with fruit, milk & protein or sugarfree ice cream & peanut butter.  It helped keep my energy level up because I wasn't ever eating a big meal--I really wasn't allowed--but eating a lot throughout the day.

-Drink a lot.  Mostly for me it was water (see GD) but while it kept me running to the bathroom it also kept me running and not dragging.  

-I was (and am again) anemic.  Taking the iron supps really helped with my energy, too.  Ask your doc if you are anemic or borderline anemic and/or if you could/should take an iron supp for the energy.  It certainly seems to help me.  

Good luck and hang in there! 


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01-22-2013 at 11:18 AM
sensoregur...
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Joined on 12-15-2004
Minneapolis, MN
4,136 Points
sensoregurl is not online. Last active: 01-30-2013, 11:18 AMBronze

Are you sleeping well? I find that even though I'm burning both ends I'm not sleeping well - unless I get in some exercise during the day. Get a prenatal fitness dvd and try and do it a couple times a week. It helps me keep my energy up. Not that chasing/playing with a 2.5 year old doesn't help.

Sorry you can't even get to the point of getting help - do you have family around who can help? Hire a sitter for a night a week so you can have some down/cleanup time? Good luck, 3rd tri is so tiring without all that you have going on!


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01-22-2013 at 12:38 PM
TMWarren85
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Joined on 07-04-2012
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TMWarren85 is not online. Last active: 05-03-2013, 2:52 PMBronze

The end of the 2nd and early 3rd trimesters were the hardest for me as far as energy goes. I started picking back up around week 31, and then kicked it into high gear at week 32 and at my last appointment my OB asked about energy levels and I said pretty good. She said something about your blood count starts to even out around 32ish weeks and a lot of women see increased energy. 

Sleep doesn't really do much for my energy levels, I take two Tylenol PM every night so I'm not up at 2am wide-eyed; I am still working (managing multiple projects) and I have a 4 year old so that doesn't cut it for me. If I nap I'm more exhausted so I (gasp) have a caffeinated beverage halfway through the day if I need to get past the 2pm bubble.

I was totally planning on having a housekeeper come while we were in the hospital because the only cleaning from weeks 26-31 was by my DH while I was passed out on the couch. But now I'm a mad woman when it comes to spring cleaning (I organized my laundry room and linen closet the other day) so I may pocket the cash and spend it on a pedicure or something... 


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01-22-2013 at 1:24 PM
SouthernMo...
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Joined on 06-20-2012
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SouthernMom70 is not online. Last active: 01-24-2013, 12:47 PMNewbie
If you can afford to hire a housecleaner, do it. Right now. Today. Quit stalling. You are pregnant, have a child and a husband who is incapable of doing housework. Nobody is going to judge the state of your house, especially not someone you're paying.

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01-22-2013 at 7:32 PM
soxvyanks
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Joined on 02-27-2006
Peabody, MA
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soxvyanks is not online. Last active: 05-17-2013, 2:45 PMNewbie

Thanks for all of your feedback.  I am definitely going to hire the housecleaner, but they don't organize your stuff they clean it, and we aren't at that point yet.  Hopefully by next week.

I appreciate all the feedback.  I am going to try your suggestions, thank you all again.   

 
01-22-2013 at 11:19 PM
kgs0505
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Murrieta, CA
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kgs0505 is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 8:53 PMSilver
Just hire the housecleaner. Setting the date for the first clean will get you to do the organization. I didn'tdo as much as I wanted, but they did a great job. They come back tomorrow for a regular clean and I can't wait!

TTC since May 2006. After 3 failed Clomid cycles, 2 failed Injectibles/IUIs, 2 failed IVFs and 1 failed FET, we movied on to adoption!
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