3Rd Baby, 3Rd Trimester, Feeling Different

Updated on September 23, 2011
J.B. asks from Marrero, LA
9 answers

Hey mamas,
I am hoping some of you moms of 3+ can help me out. I am 32 weeks along and I am having some major sciatic nerve pain, so if anyone has any ideas of how to manage that, I would love to hear them. As it is I sleep with a body pillow propped between my legs and sort of under my belly and when one side wakes me up and shift everything and flip to the other side, so I wake up a lot :( It's frustrating bc I do have two small children and tons of stuff I need to do and I have to stop and rest and get off my hip a lot, not too fun. The other thing is I feel the baby sooooo low now. I am wondering if this is bc he is my third and my body just doesn't have it to fight back! Like I feel him on my bladder of course but when he squirms I feel the movements in my groin. It isn't pressure, I had that last pregnancy bc of a varicose vein, I actually feel the little punches but like practically in my vagina! I don't remember that from my other two, but of course they were different from each other so I know they are all different but I was wondering if that was multiple pregnancy thing. Anyway any advice on how you got through your third pregnancy while caring for your other kids, your house, your husband etc would be awesome. I do go out on my own weekly but now by the time my husband gets home I am soooooooooooo tired that I don't know if my nights off are helpful or more tiring! Thanks for any advice :D

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G.G.

answers from Austin on

I had something similar. I thought it was my sciatic nerve until my OB sent me to a PT. It was debilitating, I could barely get around. Fortunately, it was with my first child! The PT said it was actually my SI joint that had shifted out of place from pregnancy hormones (not my sciatic nerve). I was in therapy with her the last month of the pregnancy. It helped manage the pain to some extent but not that great. Unfortunately it didn't go away until after I delivered. I hope it is different for you!

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A.F.

answers from Chicago on

I just had my 3rd in may- other kids were 2.5 and not yet 4 at that time. I also got sciatic pain at about this time! My OB had a pamphlet handout of stretches to do to help....they helped but honestly it took about 2-3 weeks and his position changed and it stopped- thank goodness! I felt more pressure down but wore a support belt most of the day to alleviate it. Gabrialla one from Amazon is fabulous and inexpensive - like 30 and I used it my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies not just for running/aerobics, as I am an avid exerciser- but from 7am-6pm daily after I got a lot if pressure down! Best wishes on your home stretch!

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

Pregnancy massage and some chiropractic care. I experienced terrible headaches and that sure helped because I of course I coudn't take any Ibuprofen. So glad you are in the final stretch of your pregnancy! Congrats. It will get better :)

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E.B.

answers from Houston on

I was in an exercise class with my second baby (third pregnancy in three years due to miscarriage) and I SWORE that baby was going to fall out on the floor every time I moved. The doctor and nurse both assured me that it was just my "relaxed" muscles. And it was, she never ended up outside of me until ten days after her due date.
Because I had irregular periods and fertility issues (not to mention two small children at that point), I didn't even realize I was pregnant with the third until I was almost 8 weeks. By the time I got into my first doctors appointment to confirm my pregnancy I was 14 weeks, already through my first trimester! So definitely each baby is way different.
I agree with the poster about pool time. I spent my entire second pregnancy in a pool it seemed. Went through 4 swimsuits that summer. The water supports everything.
Good luck and soon enough that baby will be in your arms.

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S.C.

answers from Des Moines on

Try to spend time in a pool if you can-- it feels so good and takes the pressure off of EVERYTHING. When Isaac was on my sciatic nerve I spent a LOT of timeon my hands and knees or on my knees leaning against the couch -- letting gravity pull him off my nerves!

1 mom found this helpful

T.C.

answers from Dallas on

I feel your pain! I'm almost 38 weeks and found out today at my appt that I'm measuring 42 weeks! Last week I was measuring 37 weeks. I am so uncomfortable.

I have had sciatic issues before - NOT FUN. Make sure you are standing up often and not doing a lot of sitting. Sitting can make it much worse. But I know that is hard to do when you are so tired all the time!

Go see a chiropractor. I've heard the Webster Technique is good, and I think it's especially made for pregnant women. That is the technique someone suggested to me when I was having sciatic nerve issues (carries over into labor for me - awful).

For energy, I wonder if you're anemic. I get anemic at that time too. Floradix is a really good supplement for iron. And, I started eating at on of fruit around 32-33 weeks, and it gave me a lot more energy.

That all being said, I'm so exhausted all the time now that I have no energy...it's tough being prego!

oh, and it sounds like your baby dropped. Often it happens the most with first babies and not necessarily again in other pregnancies. But my 5th baby (current pregnancy), the baby has dropped. It really makes it more uncomfortable! I feel saddle sore on the inside. And it's almost like trying to walk with something stuck between your legs.

Hang in there. I have no advice really - just lots of fruit (seriously), find someone trained in the Webster Technique...and just try and survive. I feel like I'm in survival mode right now too! :-)

Good luck.

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

CHIROPRACTIC! Find a doc in your local ____@____.com - but you may need to try one or two before finding someone great. I have 4 kids and adjusted through all of my pregnancies. My last was 11 pounds and born at home. I got adjusted in early labor and it helped SO much. I've had pubic bone pain (symphysis pubic dysfunction), vuvlar varicosities (that was fun, but kep tunder control with adjustments), piriformitis that was misdiagnosed as sciatica by the MD, hital hernia adjustments to stop the nausea and GERD. I've had it all...and all of it was helped tremendously by my chiropractor.

I just met someone who had pubic bone pain with triplets and her MD told her the only thing to do for it was a morphine patch. Well, the baby on the bottom has more problems that the top babies and guess where that patch was!?!? Her doc assured her it was perfectly safe. I would rather take my chances with a drugfree approach and one that helps my body function better, not just cover up the symptoms.

Also, getting adjusted will help keep that kid in a good position and has made labor and birth so much easier for me. The nerves in he low back send messages to the uterus, bladder, etc.

This is not my chiro, but here is the basic nerve chart to help you see it.
http://mississaugachiro.com/interactive_flash_spinal_nerv...

1 mom found this helpful

M.R.

answers from Rochester on

I haven't had the sciatic, but I did feel like my third was just hanging out there. (Actually felt like maybe he was in the process of just dropping out at my feet--he wasn't.) My doctor's office gave me a prescription for a maternity support belt which wrapped around, pulled my belly up, and took a lot of pressure off my lower groin and my back. They are available in regular stores, but the prescription made it so cheap with a co-pay. It did feel like a ridiculous contraption but I wished I'd gotten it with my second. It helped since I still had to move snow in the driveway when my husband wasn't home and take care of two preschool/toddler boys.

At this point, too, let the house go a bit. I bought paper plates and disposable everything for most evenings or whenever I didn't want to look at dishes. I also just got used to not sleeping well. :(

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S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

I assume you have had sonogram done by now but I had much more of the kicking in the groin and vagina area with my breech babies. Be sure that he baby is not in the wrong position. Then all I can say is with each one the muscles are weaker and the baby is usually lower but it varies from pregnancy to pregnancy. Try to nap in the day if you can, walk, prop your feet up. It will be over before you know it although each day will seem like a month now.

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