Q&A: Why is my third pregnancy harder on me than the others?

So sorry to hear that this is harder than expected for you. If it is any comfort, I do hear this a lot from patients. One factor is that you are older, and your body has been through two births before. Sometimes a "belly belt" can provide support to help with the fatigue of carrying around the extra weight, with abdominal muscles that perhaps are not as toned as they were the first go round. A bigger factor is that you have two children at home, so I doubt you are putting your feet up at the end of the day like you might have when you had fewer responsibilities.

Of course there are also medical issues that might be making you feel poorly. Thyroid disease is common, and can make you inordinately fatigued. Depression can also lead to fatigue and feeling overwhelmed. Since I don't know you, I can't assess the support you have at home, and other factors in your life that may be stressful.

Talk to your doctor or midwife about how you are feeling, so you can be assessed for medical conditions that may be playing a role. Try to rally some support so that you get a little time for yourself. Maybe seek out some mind-body activities like meditation or yoga, which can give you a sense of peacefulness to counteract the stress. And at least remember that pregnancy doesn't last forever!