Straight From the Bottle

I could barely parent while pregnant with my second. My daughter once ate half a tube of rash cream when I fell asleep on the couch because I was so out of it. If I had to work I would have been zombie mama. I think you are doing awesome. Everyone needs to sleep a few (or 10) extra hours every now and then.

You're not alone! I'm 10 weeks pregnant right now and weeks 4-6(ish) were all about sleep. That was followed by a couple weeks that were all about being wildly queasy. At 10 weeks exactly (two days ago and counting...) I kicked into gear and have stayed up from about 8am to midnight! AND I can think about food without feeling ill. It's a whole new world.

I'm a graduate student in an MFA program with a work-at-home husband, by the way. It's a good deal. He takes care of me and our dog and I try desperately to finish my novel.

Exactly the reason we will have no more babies. Not only was I exhausted, I was puking if I was awake. And had a 2 year old to take care of. And my husband works 70+ hours a week. My kid watched t.v. all day long. The minute husband walked through the door I was in bed, and I stayed there until he left for work the next day.

Can't wait to see you in Portland. Hopefully you are awake! I do remember this time in my pregnancy, but it was very foggy. I'm not sure how I made it through my (boring) job; sheer force of will, perhaps. Best of luck.

I wondered how you were going to do this. If you are going to get ongoing morning sickness or fatigue this time, it peaks around week 9. I was comatose at that stage. Next time I'm pregnant, I'll be giving my first child to my mother or my in-laws for a couple of weeks at least because I know I won't be able to manage. I would consider rescheduling your travels even though I know it's probably unthinkable/a total pain in the ass.

Feeling mostly dead is a really good sign for the health of your pregnancy, though! It means everything is developing well. Um, yay.  

Wow, I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one!  I'm in the 8th week and totally exhausted.  I have no idea how women who work full time do it.  (I was afraid I was just getting lazy and using pregnancy as an excuse.)

Maybe you should have a friend or family member go with you on the book tour.  Never be afraid to ask for help!

Well.. it is a first trimester thing... and possible also a third trimester thing. I fell drooling-on-myself asleep at the drop of a hat for three months. Then I was Superwoman for three months. Then I was so large I was exhausted until I delivered.

All I can tell you is REST. Rest whenever you can. LET. STUFF. GO. If it can be let go, let it go. And redefine what can be let go- things you don't think could, can be. Does that make any damn sense? ;)

You are definitely not alone! Oy, I'm 10 weeks, work full time and am not above pulling a George Costanza and napping at my desk (I don't fit under). I also think reducing my coffee intake makes me even sleepier. ugh.

I'm 5 weeks along with my second and am just starting to feel it. Last night, I was in bed asleep about two seconds after my son went down. I haven't shared with my co-workers yet but I may have to just so I can explain why I'm spending my lunch breaks asleep in my car in the parking lot.

I worked part-time in a law office, went to law school full-time and edited the law journal. I got maybe six hours of sleep a night. My husband was an attorney and I could have just stayed home and snoozed but I wanted a career I could be proud of and if I didn't do it then I knew I'd find excuses to keep putting it off. It was exhausting, but I'm glad I did it.

Being pregnant can be a hard gig all on it's own but add a busy toddler to the mix and it can be...well, nuts. My boys are 14 months apart and being pregnant and trying to be fully present and active with my older son was incredibly difficult at times. Parents would just stare (gawk)in awe at us as I ran around the park and went down the slide with him at 9+ months pregnant. Some days I felt such waves of exhaustion that I would fall asleep on the couch while he played around me (yes, he was safely gated in and not playing with matches near the oven). One time, I woke up just as he started eating paper... Honestly, I took the large pieces out of his mouth and said to hell with the rest, telling myself that he'd survive and it could be worse. Now, my guys are 2 years and 10 months, respectively, and it's amazing to watch them together. So worth it, every single, exhausting moment!

i am happy i am not the only one.  i am 5 mo with my second and in the first months i would sneak away from work and nap while my nanny still cared for my son.  even now on the weekends i fall asleep when he does for his nap and sometimes stay asleep an hour longer.  really this is my last one!

I think it sounds pretty normal -- although, I am in the middle of a 'no-nonesense' pregnancy with my first.  I kept expecting the crazy-tired to hit me and it never has (knock on wood).  Let me know if you need a helper in San Francisco -- I'm not working, just incubating at the moment.  Cheers, Stephanie

I'm 7 weeks pregnant (I found out the day after you showed us the pregnancy test).  My husband is currently upstairs giving my 2 year old her bath and I kid you not I actually fell asleep in the chair reading this entry.  Please don't take this as anything but a compliment!  Your writing is so dead on the thought of being tired and sleepy put me to sleep.

P.S. I haven't been able to cook in 2 weeks!!

Tips, let's see...

Since I don't work from home I'd go home to nap on my lunch hour, who needed to eat anyways when sleeping was to be had?  

I think during the 3rd trimester, when the honeymoon is over, I experienced a new kind of exhaustion.  It was carrying around the extra weight and my then 2 yr old's needs that took sheer stamina not to melt into a puddle.  I was the only one Tucker wanted for bedtime routines.

Lean on your mate.  If he doesn't do bath time teach him.  

I think I'm going to buy the book.  Love the opening.  Great work.

Ah, thank you guys. The second trimester is going to the most important time for me to uh, not be asleep so I'm hoping you guys are right! And thank you for buying my book! And please come say hello if I'm in your town for tour. You guys rock!

I'm late to the game now, but I do remember taking the oldest to school and then parking in our driveway with our little guy to take a nap.  (he loves the car).  Things got better the second trimester--good enough to take a trip to Vegas with my best friend--but the third trimester sucked.  I'm short (5 feet tall) and I was huge.  I had only gained 27 lbs the entire pregnancy but people kept on asking me if I was having twins.  I couldn't pick Nate up.  I mostly felt bad about that part.  He wasn't even two when his little brother was born and mom couldn't lift him.  But we made it, and you will too.  I wish I lived on the west coast.  Ever think about coming to Chicago to promote your book????

Forget "eating for two," I'm sleeping for two.  Seriously.  I'm 8 1/2 months prego with my third boy.  I have to have a nap everyday...sometimes well into dinner time, which then involves bologna sandwiches for the boys (ages 5 and 3)--and, I'm a vegetarian!  Lovely.  And the poor 3 yr old...well, I guess he thinks he's lucky because he gets some PS2-time playing Lego Star Wars almost every day when the older one is at school.  My parenting skills have gone down the toilet.  And soon there will be another one of them around.