Fatigue & Pregnancy

What many women remember most about the early stages of pregnancy is that constant feeling of being tired and having zero energy for anything. Your body is changing in many ways to support your new developing baby. Hormonal changes, in particular can cause you to feel sluggish and tired especially during the first few weeks of your pregnancy.

How long will it last?

Each pregnancy is different so it may be different for different people, as well as different between pregnancies. It is not uncommon for your second or third pregnancy to be completely different from previous pregnancies which you may have had. This constant feeling of being tired usually lasts until the beginning of the second trimester. If you’re still exhausted a few weeks into your second trimester or you’re feeling depressed or concerned that there may be something wrong, then you should talk to your healthcare provider about it. It is not uncommon for some women to just have no energy during the course of their pregnancy, usually caused from lack of sleep as you may struggle to find comfortable sleeping positions, but you will also want to rule out any potential underlying causes.

Fighting fatigue during your pregnancy

• Heed your body’s signals. Start by going to bed early and getting enough sleep at night — at least nine to ten hours if you can manage it. Try and make it a habit to take a nap during the day if you do not work, or work half days when and if possible.
If you do work and are unable to take time off, then try and catch a 15-minute catnap – you will be surprised just how much of a difference it will make. If you have an office door, be sure to close it, or else you could get creative: look for an empty lounge or conference room or lie down in the backseat of your car.
• Try to adjust your schedule. If possible, cut back on your commitments at work or arrange to take work home over the weekend so you can cut out early once in a while. Take an occasional vacation day in the middle of the week – or a sick day if you’re not feeling well. If you’re a stay-at-home mother, then give yourself a break now and then and leave the children with someone else so you can catch up on your sleep.
• Make sure you’re eating right. You need about 300 extra calories every day — and we’re not talking about potato chips and candy bars. A healthy diet made up of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, skim milk, and lean meats can be energizing. Junk food, by contrast, actually saps you of vim and vigor. Snack on healthy foods like fruit and yogurt. And cut back on caffeine and make sure you’re drinking plenty of water so you stay hydrated. Nutrition during pregnancy is king!
• Get some moderate exercise each day. You may feel like you barely have the energy to make it through the day, let alone exercise. Even moderate activity, such as a short walk, can actually make you feel better. Take frequent breaks throughout your day to stretch and breathe deeply.
• Hang in there. Soon enough you’ll be in your second trimester and raring to go again. You may even be up to taking in the late show or going on a weekend getaway. Soon enough you’ll be a new mom, looking back on this period of relatively undisturbed nights with something akin to nostalgia. So consider stocking up on your zzz’s while you can.