Final Weeks of Pregnancy

Hi J.,

I have been through 3 pregnancies now and I gotta tell you, this is just the way it is. Unfortunately, there really is nothing that you can do or say to help her feel better right now. No matter what you say to her, she will have a reason why that will not work, and why that is a bad idea. If this is her first baby, the best thing for her to do is to rest as much as possible. I know its much harder when there are other children involved though. The best way for me to rest near the end of each pregnancy was to lay on my side on the couch so my back was against the back of the couch. Then surround myself with lots of pillows until I was as comfy as I could get at 9 months pregnant. The best advice I can offer to you is to just listen to your daughter. Allow her to vent to you and to cry to you and just listen. Do not try to offer advice or try to fix what is bothering her. Just be there for her to "unload" on basically.

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Hi J....Congrats on a new grandbaby! Towards the end of my pregnancy I was MISERBLE!! My feet were so swollen, my back hurt terribly, I couldn't sleep or get comfortable. It was bad. And the thought that I had two or three more weeks of this made me cry. Seriously, I would sit on my couch and just cry. I don't think anyone could have had any suggestions to make me feel better. The only thing that is going to make your daughter feel better is to have the baby and not be pregnant anymore. Just tell her to try to relax and know that it will be over soon and once she sees that baby she will forget the last few months of uncomfort. Good luck to her!

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First of all, you are such a good mama!! She's a very lucky girl to have you, even 10 hours away.
Unfortunately the last month of pregnancy is just uncomfortable and there's not a lot you can do to change it. I took long baths every single night, which really helped soothe some of the aches and pains. I wish I had more advice, but it's just hard on the body. It'll be over before she knows it. I was so uncomfortable toward the end and everyone told me that I would miss it when it was over. I thought they were crazy! They were right.
Good luck to you all!!

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Hi J.,

Congratulations first of all! I still feel those "last couple weeks aches etc..." that you mentioned. I sympathize with your daughter.... She needs to do more walks around the neighborhood and those sort of things to pass the time. I think right now she is thinking any day- it could happen any day!! Instead of waiting impatiently, she needs to focus on the positive- esp if this is her 1st, the quiet house, sleeping when you want (sort of- if work and life allows), a hot shower or bath if she desires, spicey food....maybe get a massage (that is what my friends did for me at this point in pregnancy) She will def need a pedicure....if possible....

All in all, encourage time to pass in a different more positive way... :)

My best to you and your daughter, God Bless.

A.

Here are my two best suggestions:
1) get in water. baths, pools, anything to help her belly float and take the weight off her body.
2) look at 42 weeks as "the end" so that anything sooner is "early" and a surprise! If she gets it in her head that she's got 5 weeks left, it will seem great if she goes in to labor before that:) Average gestation is 41 weeks and 2 days, so she's got a month left to be average.

she can be glad she's not 6 weeks along, like me ;) with 34 more weeks to go!!! she's almost there....

elephants are pregnant for two years.

Send her a care package

Hi J...
I can completely relate...right now I'm actually in my 40th week and I've been feeling "done" for about a month now. It is most important that she just rests as much as she can...don't feel bad about putting your feet up or not doing anything that can wait. Take baths, read, just take it easy. It is also helpful to get online and find others in the same situation if she doesn't have any friends she can talk to. It might seem like it takes forever but it really will go by quickly. She should be at the point where she sees her doctor weekly so she can also get some suggestions from the doctor. Good luck!

Send her to a spa for some pampering. Tell her to keep her feet up and rest as much as possible. Going to a yoga class for pregnant women or doing a video of that kind will help her relax and release stress. And never underestimate the power of a warm bath... Oh, also an aromatherapy eye pillow or bag she can drape across her neck and shoulders is heavenly.

i for sure remember being very cranky, achy, & extremely uncomfortable! (i've had two in the past 2 years)...i found that the last month, i needed a lot of sleep & didn't like to cook at all. so maybe try to visit her & if not, maybe order some meals from make & take places? i'm not sure where you're located,but in the columbus area there are several. or send gift cards or such. i also found that sitting on the couch watching lots of tv helped :o) with ice cream...

Unfortunately as sweet as you are for wanting to make her feel better she is just over being pregnant. There is no comfortable way to lay, walk, sit or stand at this point and you are willing to give your right leg for the doctor to tell you your dialated. At this point the only thing that worked for me (I was 10 days overdue in August with my first)was to go get a massage and a pedicure. At least you feel like you look a little better. I also had my hair done so that when I went in to the hospital I knew at least those parts of me would look decent and it made me relax a little too. I am at 33 weeks with my second now and I had everyone get me Spa gift certificates for Christmas since I will be having a planned c-section and I will want to look and feel the best I can. If you cant be close and help then send her a gift card so that she can be pampered before her big day which hopefully comes right on time and not a day later :)

You got some great advice already, I only have 1 thing to add. The long baths were great for me, and I put epson salt in it to ease aches and swelling. These were the toughest weeks for me- not because of physical discomfort but because I hated the waiting and not knowing how L&D would go, and I wanted to meet my daughter SOOooo bad.

Hi J., reading the other responses brought a smile to my face, and I just had to respond. I had my 3rd 3 1/2 years ago, my little one was 2 1/2, I worked full time waitressing, on my feet about 42-44 hours a week, chasing a toddler when not at work, and I was sick for 9 months solid. My Sommer was born at 5.4 pounds, I kept very little down. Anyway I smile, because I worked until 3 days before she was born, she blessed us at almost 4:30 in the afternoon, I felt like a million bucks. Literally. I ate the hospital dinner, my hubby went to my restaurant and got me a 2nd dinner, ate that, snacked all night long, I am trying to say, just give your daughter reassuarance she will feel better when the little one comes.We went home the next day, about 30 hours in the hosp. and I truly felt fantastic. My body was just tired of being pregnant. I wish I could do it all again, our Sommer passed at 75 days to SIDS, ( not to scare you) encourage your daughter to remember everything about this time, Journal, as soon as that baby comes, the memories will fade, she will forget how uncomfortable she is, I rememeber because my counselor told me to journal.And in the end, it is all so worth worth it. Even in my case, I wouldnt trade those 9 months of being sick, or those 75 precious days, for anything in the world. Let us know what happens! Cant wait to be a Grandma, my step-daughter is 21, and my first born is 18, looking forward to having grandbabies!God Bless, A.