Coping with tiredness during pregnancy - especially with a high energy toddler running around

If you are very tired and pregnant at the same time you have my sympathy.When you already have a child running around which requires your full, undivided attention, you just do not have time to get tired or spend quality time for yourself.

I was the mother on a one year old when I found out I was pregnant again with my second daughter. My first daughter started walking when she was 7 months old. By the time she was one I had her broke from the bottle and potty trained because I didn't want two babies on bottles and in diapers. But then back in those days that wasn't nothing new. We even fed our babies table food from the time they were about 2 weeks old, just like our mothers did. (Doctors ideas about raising our babies are so different today then they were then) She was so easy to train it seemed and I was young but had some experience. I was the fourth oldest of thirteen kids so I learned real fast what work was and helped my mother with the younger kids. That meant a lot of doaper changing, feeding, etc. So all of the things I had to deal with on my own didn't freak me out, it just tired me out. I was thrilled when my daughter learned to walk but on the other hand, I was wishing she was back in the crawling stage or just lying there stage.

I was often tired and tried to keep up with the housework, mowing the lawn, shopping, laundry, etc. I didn't seem to find any quiet time for myself. I think in a way it kept me from getting too fat and eating too much but I sure could have used some extra energy. I learned to time my chores, meals, etc. around the baby. I could take a short nap while she was napping or I could take a long leisurely bath. (Calgon took me away)

My children are now grown and I am a great grandmother but I remember those days well. Some days I was totally exhausted and if I had thought about it I would have realized my health was much more important than sweeping the floor every day. I could have alternated my household chores a little more and not done them as often. It won't hurt to put off some of the chores for a day or two. Your health, and the health of your baby is much more important and if you are relaxed and not so tired, you will not get stressed out as much and you will enjoy your pregnancy and your toddler much more. Have fun and enjoy them while you can because believe it or not, life does not stand still and they really do grow up fast. Also give them a lot of love because there are so many unwanted or abused kids that do not deserve that kind of life. make sure yours isn't in that category. No matter how stressed or tired we are, those little ones depend on us for strength and guidance.