I need help with this one.....

[popeyesgirl06]

I am 39 and this is my fourth pregnancy.  Its been 18 years since my last and I am noticing great differences between this one and the previous t hree. Not only that I also work full time with this one. Here is my issue....

I am 24.1 weeks and my issue is work. I am on my feet constantly and I know that excercise is good and all but this is constant. I am under more stress and I am unable to complete tasks in other peoples time frames and we are taking on brand new business quickly.

Within four hours of being there I am in a full waddle. Its either the baby is pressing on my bladder causing discomfort, my whole pelvis region feeling as though it will collapse, my back hurts, my feet are killing me, and occasionally those Braxton Hicks are so bad that they slow me to a crawl. I can't say they hurt like a contraction but I can definately feel very tight pressure that can be on the side of discomfort.

Now, when I go to the doctor I should mention this but my appointments are in the late morning before everything catches up with me. I am usually so excited about seeing the baby (ultrasound every month and please don't ask why as I never have) and very comfortable that it doesn't come up. By the time I get to work and there a couple hours I am kicking myself for not having mentioned it.

The most I could be reduced to, hours wise is 8 and thats pretty much what I am doing now and its getting worse on me. Do you think it would be terrible for me to ask to be taken off of work and not be seen as a lazy person. I have worked this job for 9.5 years and I am miserable. I cannot rest or sit until my break time. Then I get one 15 minute break, 30 minute lunch, and a 10 minute break. We have short term disability for this but I guess I just feel guilty because I am constantly being compared to those that are in their 20's having babies and I remember is being alot easier when I was  younger but not so now.

Let me know what you think.

Sue
24.1 weeks
Expecting a girl!!

[denise_m09]

I am 39 y o and pregnant with my 4th child.  although  i am only 8.1 wks pregnant, this pregnancy is already different from the others.  first of all, i don't have pregnancy symptoms(this is a blessing), which i've had with all my other pregnancies.  But, I am constantly tired(partly due to me being type 2 diabetic), i want to eat everything in sight, and i have been experiencing pain in my groin area.  the dr. says everything is fine with me, though. when i had my son(i was 36 yrs old) he had me in constant pain, always tired, and i was just miserable.  

There is nothing wrong with you taking time off.  honestly, if i could take off a month from my job to rest, i would. good luck.

[valleybabes]

OOPS....I think i posted on wrong post . I still think my feelings can apply to this post.  NEVER FELT LIKE THIS WHEN I WAS PREGO WITH MY OTHER TWO!!!!

[valleybabes]

I am so exausted to the point I can't even rest at night and I mean my ribs and hips are killing me.  Nothing freaken works for me and my knees are starting to give way!!!!  Everytime I get up off the couch I hear my bones pop???  Yep and I feel like I'm super old I can't even move fast ....URRRG!!!!!  I will be 32 weeks next week and feel a full nine months already!!!!  I just want the freaken nausea to go away!!!!!!!  And what worse could happen to me now....I have a freaken cold that krept up on me a few days after nausea hit!!!!!!  God I don't know how I am gonna survive this ....all I can say is MISERY HAS STRUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kindergal]

I am 38 (next week) and expecting twins.  I never dreamed I would be so tired all of the time--I am at 20 weeks.  I mentioned my exhaustion to my Doctor---He has a very dry sense of humor and looked at me and said "You are a 37 yr. old woman pregnant with twins.  Deal with it!"  HA!  I told him that was not the answer I was looking for!!  I am a teacher and go back to work in a month.  I am really concerned about it and how long I will make it.  August and September are the two most stressful and physically demanding  months of school.  Currently, I am going through our house room by room doing deep cleaning....I am so tired by the afternoon!!!
Do what you have to do to keep yourself and your baby healthy!!!

[popeyesgirl06]

I know exactly what you mean. Other than on this board I do not know anyone any where near my age bracket thats pregnant or having a baby at this age. If they did, they have no idea what it is like compared to when they were younger.
I feel like such a baby and wish I could sit once in awhile at work but just can't and get my job done. Oh well, I have bittin' the bullet and made the call. I do not want any harm to come to the baby because of a few dollars difference between short term disability and a regular paycheck.
I still feel guilty in some small way but I keep telling myself that what I am doing is for the best interest of the baby and also myself.

[tina41]

sorry i meant 15th week not 5th week :) :)

[tina41]

hi I am 41 and only into my 5th week of pregnancy and i know exactly what you mean. My first and only son is 17 yrs old and now this pregnancy is so exhausting to me and the worst part is I SIT ALL DAY, and i am still exhausted. I feel even more lazy because i know everyone is wondering why i'm so tired when i sit on my a** all day.When i stand i feel like my legs are going to give out and my back and belly cramp, and i just feel so sick all the time. when i had my son i was jogging until my 6th month of pregnancy, this pregnancy i just want to sleep allllll day.I honestly believe it does have to do with my age but i hate feeling so lazy.when i go home I just want to shower and go to sleep, I don't want to cook and clean, sometimes I think wht will I be like in 2 more mos???

[popeyesgirl06]

I called the doctor's office and I am set to go in on Wednesday morning to fill out the paperwork.
Ya know, I can handle the comparisons as it happens all the time what I cannot handle is four  hours into my shift and feeling like I have been there for 10. If I could rest a bit more and not have to literally run around the whole plant all day it wouldn't be so bad or even be moved temporarily to another area where less is expected physically. I was told that would be showing me favoritism. Whatever! Its been done before to others that were pregnant and much younger than myself. I call it compassion but whatever.
I called my fiance' who happens to still be in the hospital (6  wks now) for a work injury to tell him that I will be taking leave from work. I told him that I feel like such a baby and I do because I have been in control of this part of my life for a long time. I actually cried (those pregnancy hormones kill me) because I feel like a baby. He was fine with it but I needed to tell him.
I am sure it will all work itself out. I delivered my third baby 6 weeks early and didn't even work. Although that was 18 years ago I still worry that I am pushing it when my body is telling me to stop and I don't.
I only want for our daughter to stay where she is at until she has to come out because that is what is best for her. I know my fiance feels the same and he knows I will do what is best but that doesn't mean its always easy. I love him so much and he is going through alot on his own. I realize I have to do what is best for me and the baby right now.
If I could feel all week what I do on the weekends because I can rest at will I would work up til' delivery. Monday through friday I dread going to work because I am exhausted and literally feel beat up in no time. I can't do anymore.
Thanks for listening and just knowing that this wasn't me just being a baby helped me make the decision. Work won't be happy but its not like the plant will shut down without me.
Thanks again!
Sue
24.2 weeks with a ((((GIRL))))!

[40smama]

I don't think it's terrible at all for you to ask for time off or to apply for short-term disability.  In fact, I think by all means you should - don't compare yourself to 20 year old women.  That's just asking for trouble and it makes you feel bad.  Every pregnancy's different - in fact, I remember my pregnancies being harder in a way than the one I just finished.  One of the reasons for that is I didn't have to chase after toddlers.  

Ask for the time off, give yourself a break and take care of yourself.  You have to put your health first in order to have a healthy pregnancy and be ready for birth and taking care of a baby.  Your health is the most important thing - way more so than money or other things.  Most things can be replaced but your health can't - good luck to you and your baby!!