Not really, but I wish.
I’ve been pregnant for half the time that we’ve lived in this house. Each morning for the past few months, I would wake up with a running list in my head of all the things I would set out to accomplish that day. I can organize the closet! I’ll upholster August’s bed! Paint a room! Strip some wallpaper! Get my office in reasonable order! And then I’d be all, nah, I should sit down and rest. Maybe go to sleep early. Eleanor has her motto, and so do I.
I am getting things done, just not at the pace I’d like to. Painting the walls black downstairs was not fun. Normally I love to paint! My body isn’t dealing well with this pregnancy though — it has been much harder than it was with the other two — and I don’t think I can make it up and down a ladder again right now. I slogged through and I’m glad it’s finished, but I haven’t been eager to repeat the experience.
I’m so glad we hired someone to do the built-in bookshelves for us, because there’s no way that project would be near completion right now if we’d tried to do it ourselves. I’m too stubborn to hire out for a paint job or small projects around the house though, and too much of a perfectionist to ask Brandon to do it (he has been a huge help with the kids and helping run the house, but I’m the handier of the two of us). Some days I feel like I’m finally getting some energy back, but then I’ll have three days in a row where I’m exhausted and in pain. It’s frustrating because I have all of these ideas inside, waiting to be put into action, but I can’t act on them except in short bursts. Maybe soon? I’m being cautiously optimistic.
Kat S
April 21, 2014 at 2:19 pmhow far along are you now? I’m almost 39 weeks, so I feel your pain :(
Making it Lovely
April 21, 2014 at 2:23 pmI’m not even halfway yet, which has me worried about what the next half will bring. The problems I’m having didn’t start with the other two pregnancies until I was eight months along or so.
Margaret
April 21, 2014 at 2:26 pmYeah. 33 weeks now with my third and it’s rough. I think it’s combination of age (I’m only 30, but that’s different from being pregnant at 25), two kids to keep track of, and the realization that things will get done when they get done. I have weeks where I’m super motivated and others where the toddler is napping and all I can think is how I can’t keep my eyes open. And then I remember that my days of napping are numbered for a while, especially once the 2 year old realizes she doesn’t need them anymore. So I think the moral of the story is to enjoy being able to give in to exhaustion when you can and let go of the list. There will always be things to do.
Making it Lovely
April 21, 2014 at 3:31 pmI’m only 33, but I do wonder if it’s that much of a difference from age compared to five years ago. Are we getting that old that quickly?
Margaret
April 21, 2014 at 7:11 pmUgh. I hit 30 and was all of a sudden falling apart. Maybe it’s that I found out I was pregnant ON my 30th birthday, and I’m hoping some of this stuff resolves itself once the baby’s not literally encamped in my person. But yeah, I think aging *starts* to really happen now. I think the anemia tip below was a good one, and I’ve had unexplained super low blood pressure for the entire pregnancy which makes me very winded very quickly. No jumping around to make things happen. Make sure you’re hydrated and eating iron-rich foods! My midwife mentioned to make sure that iron-y foods were eaten with citrus, which helps the body absorb the iron.
Marcee ... ILLINOIS
April 27, 2014 at 2:31 pmIt is different. Even 2-3 years can make a current pregnancy much more difficult. Time will go by quickly throughout spring and summer. Lots to do to keep busy. Much easier than winter, being stuck in the house, having to wear clothes on top of clothes, etc. I do suggest rest when you can Nicole! Hopefully help is available to take children for a few hours. They will have tons of fun this summer!
Molly
April 21, 2014 at 2:35 pmI’m assuming you’ve talked to yr doctor, but if not, do it! I did PT during my second pregnancy (for hip/sciatica issues) & I was so sorry I hadn’t spoken up during my first pregnancy. It made a huge difference, so please go easy on yrself & ask for help if you can! And the house will always be there, but you won’t always be pregnant. I know it’s frustrating, but going easy on yrself is probably the best plan.
amyks
April 21, 2014 at 2:59 pmHang in there Nicole! You are doing some very important work, growing a baby inside of you, that takes precedence, for sure. :)
marji
April 21, 2014 at 3:03 pmOoh! i never needed it but i have heard from EVERYONE that vitamin B12 shots do wonders for energy and stamina.
i feel the pain in the other way though, i have “nesting” syndrome my entire pregnancy and i end up on bed rest (had my second at 34 weeks cuz my water broke) and on bed rest my mind went crazy with what else i want to do! want ideas? i’ve got some
*painting pictures. rests the body and is very therapeutic
*small crafts to help feel accomplishment without heavy lifting
*drafting blog posts for post baby weeks
i’ve also found that writng lists helps me get past the NEED to do something and puts my mind at rest. good luck!
Making it Lovely
April 21, 2014 at 3:32 pmI should be painting more. All I want to do is sleep and read, or daydream about the million and one things I want to be doing.
Ash
April 21, 2014 at 3:05 pmIf you can afford it – hire the painter – then do what you do best – the creative side. You’re making a baby, that takes its toll on your body, so be kind to yourself and get help where you can. It will free you up to forge ahead with all the creative ideas you have.
Rebecca
April 21, 2014 at 3:09 pmI had to quit working halfway through my first pregnancy, I was so tired all the time. With my 2nd, my midwife suggested an iron supplement and it was like I was a normal person again. I also got chiropractic are with my second and that made a big difference. Good luck!
Making it Lovely
April 21, 2014 at 3:33 pmI’m taking my prenatal vitamins of course, but no further supplements. I’ll talk to my doctor. And I’ve never seen a chiropractor before, but if it would help I’d be happy to.
Melissa
April 21, 2014 at 3:15 pmCould you be anemic? I felt the same way during my third pregnancy and my spacing was similar to yours — I found out around 20 weeks that I was anemic. Once I started taking iron I felt much better. Not great, but better. I’m 35 years old and three pregnancies in five years was hard on my body!
Making it Lovely
April 21, 2014 at 3:34 pmI’ll talk to my doctor when I’m in again, which will be soon. This is the third pregnancy in five years for me too (Eleanor turns five next week).
Jen
April 21, 2014 at 3:20 pmI can totally relate Nicole! I’m pregnant with my 3rd, due the end of Aug and I’ve been so frustrated about my lack of accomplishment. I’m 22 weeks this week and still find myself taking lots of naps! My nausea held on well into the 2nd trimester and I am still waiting for that huge surge of energy. We bought an old house exactly one year ago and I’ve been eager to get projects done now that we finally have spring weather, but it just isn’t happening. I keep telling myself it will all get done eventually and the house will always be here. But, I’m usually always busy with a project, so it’s been hard to not feel like myself in that sense. And if you’re having any back/hip issues, I highly recommend PT. I had SI joint dysfunction with my 2nd, and am already taking early precautions with this pregnancy so it (hopefully) doesn’t get too bad. Congrats, good luck and take care of yourself! :)
Erin
April 21, 2014 at 3:58 pmI just had my third six weeks ago, and this pregnancy just about did me in in the fatigue department. I would wake up with this ambitious to-do list every day, but by the time naptime rolled around, I was just sitting. My boys are three years apart (total–the oldest just turned 3 in February) and I’m sure the closeness of the pregnancies contributed to the difficulty. Taking care of two while growing a third is no joke!
Kate
April 21, 2014 at 4:09 pmHi Nicole. You’re not alone. You and I actually have been pregnant at the same time for each of our 3 pregnancies (and my oldest born April ’09 is named August!). This time we moved into our new/old home when I was 2 months pregnant, so I’ve been pregnant the entire time we’ve lived here so far and it is soooo frustrating how slowly projects have been moving along. I’m 24 weeks and still exhausted. Hang in there. We’ll get to everything someday….perhaps when the sleep deprivation wears off. Good luck.
Jenna
April 21, 2014 at 5:03 pmOh, Nicole, I feel for you! My last pregnancy {she’s just over a week old now!} knocked me down like none of my previous ones had. Pain, fatigue all throughout… blood sugar drops {only at the end, thankfully!}…it was tough. And it’s SO hard when you have other children and you have so much you want to do – I get it totally. My best advice is to follow your body’s cues…slow down, take it easy, whatever you need to do. I just kept telling myself that it was worth it – and it was. :) Hang in there! All the best!
Jenna
April 21, 2014 at 5:04 pmActually…I said pain and fatigue throughout, and that’s true, but it was MUCH less during the second trimester. Here’s hoping you get a break too!
Rachel Angevine
April 21, 2014 at 5:19 pmI am 30 weeks pregnant with my first (at 29), and I can totally relate to everything said in this post (from not wanting to hire out a paint job–why pay someone to do something I can do myself?!–to being the handier and too much of a perfectionist to ask my husband to do projects around the house). I’ve been trying to just power through being tired, but sometimes I just need to take a 2 hour nap on a Saturday. Just listen to your body and take the rest that you need. Things will get done when they can–you aren’t the type to let them sit around for long.
Amy
April 21, 2014 at 7:10 pmPregnancy is physically demanding. Maybe it’s time to accept help in the form of professional painters. It’s not a small job if you’re waking up day after day for months without the energy to tackle painting a room! And I can’t imagine trying to balance on a ladder while pregnant – especially with the tall ceilings in your house.
When I was pregnant, working a full time job with taxing commute to boot, I had to delegate a lot of the more physical aspects of my job. I am in design and product development and rotating out product, packing for meetings and showrooms was regular part of my job. I used to control every aspect of this to the point where I was doing the whole thing myself. Pregnancy put a halt to this and made me a better manager and teacher to my team — and I was allowed to focus on the design aspect of my job (desk work!) with much more clarity. This refocusing and delegating has done wonders for my career.
In this case it will be a learning experience for you to find someone you can trust to do these tasks to your specifications while you focus on decision making and design and smaller organizational projects and crafts. In the long run it’s not going to matter whether or not you yourself wielded the paintbrush, but you’ll feel better if the walls are done and progress is being made on your house and living space.
Seng
April 21, 2014 at 7:23 pmThe fact that you have any energy at all to paint says a lot about ya, momma!!
Laurie
April 21, 2014 at 11:10 pmI think everyone’s suggestions to talk to your doc is probably the best. I thought I would just chime in and remind you to give yourself some slack. Being pregnant is a pretty big DIY project. Pacing yourself is not only OK, but good practice for how project-mode my evolve a little with #3 in the family.
You are a wonderful designer/decorator and what I think makes your home so lovely is that family of yours.
Tiffany Grant-Riley
April 22, 2014 at 5:53 amI hear you Nicole!
I had my second child 7 months ago and that pregnancy was incredibly hard work, start to finish. I did my best to fight against it-we sold our house when I was 3 months gone, moved 4 months in, then at 6 months I styled my last shoot before my leave and it left me incapacitated (well almost, with a 2 yr old!) for two days. I could barely walk after all that crawling and running around. I had spd and sciatica from 16 wks. And boy could I sleep. Four hour naps at a time sometimes-and I hated that because I like to be busy and constant. It was at that point I realised I really had to slow down and just give myself up to this baby before I did myself damage.
Hang on in there and be kind to yourself.
Sarah F.
April 22, 2014 at 2:57 pmI feel your pain. I got pregnant 2 months after moving into our first house, so there went all my plans to fix things up. I napped all the time! I’m surprised we got the nursery done! And now with a newborn things are still slogging along.
I do recommend the chiropractor though. I was seeing one pre-pregnancy after I was rear-ended, and kept it up u til I was 39 weeks. I had hardly any back pain, it was actually improved from the car accident! And a plus was he can write a prescription for massage so my insurance would cover it. I got massages every 3-4 weeks for the whole pregnancy, which was heaven. :)
Jenni
April 23, 2014 at 9:58 amI felt this way during my last pregnancy, so many things to do and so little energy to do them. Theu do get done in the end I promise. There was a spike in productivity for me a few months from the end.
Kristen
April 25, 2014 at 6:46 amI was pregnant with my two at age 37 and 39, and I was so overjoyed to finally be preggers that gave me a lot of energy. That said, I feel asleep everyday at 2:15 uncontrollably. Didn’t matter if if I was in mid sentence, talking to a client, whatever. Obviously, no driving! And I would close the door of my office & sleep for 15 minutes.
Calvin’s Nursery | Making it Lovely
December 21, 2015 at 2:45 pm[…] wanted to be sure to include the the felt flowers that Eleanor made for Calvin, and my motto during pregnancy is in the nursery too. They’re to the left of the changing pad, by the […]