New Mom Vibes

Pregnancy Fatigue

From the very beginning of conception, your body begins to work the hardest it’s probably ever worked to grow and develop life.  With this demanding feat, women can sometimes feel a sudden wave of exhaustion takes over their entire body during early pregnancy. Did I get enough sleep last night? Do I need more coffee?

If you’re finding it hard to stay awake throughout the day and can’t wait to lay your head on your pillow in the evening, then sure enough, you’re experiencing pregnancy fatigue.

What is pregnancy fatigue

With your body having to go through significant changes in a short amount of time, pregnancy fatigue can be any form of extreme tiredness that a pregnant woman may have, mainly during the first trimester.

Sometimes, pregnancy fatigue is one of the first pregnancy symptoms that many women experience. Fatigue can make it hard to get some of your daily tasks done without the strong feeling of wanting to lay down and rest.

What causes pregnancy fatigue

There isn’t really one set cause of pregnancy fatigue. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration when thinking about this exhaustion that pregnancy is causing you.

Rising hormone levels, specifically progesterone, are normally the main culprit for making you feel sleepy during early pregnancy. Hormones rising quickly can also cause mood swings that put you on an emotional roller coaster which can cause a decrease in energy.

Low blood pressure and an increase in blood can also make you feel tired. Pregnant women have an increase in blood volume to flow to the uterus.

Many pregnant women’s iron levels are lower as most of the nutrients go to your baby first, and then to mom. One of the symptoms of low iron is fatigue. Your doctor will most likely let you know about your iron levels through your blood work in early pregnancy.

Other pregnancy symptoms can disrupt your sleep at night which can increase fatigue. Let’s not forget about the dreaded morning sickness in the first trimester. Nausea and vomiting can zap your energy. Having to frequently get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom can prevent you from getting enough sleep at night.

When does pregnancy fatigue start

The American Pregnancy Association explains that pregnancy fatigue normally starts in the first trimester. Many women begin to get their energy back in the second trimester although some women may feel tired throughout the entire pregnancy.  Fatigue usually creeps back in around the third trimester as it gets closer to the due date.

How to fight pregnancy fatigue

Feeling exhausted throughout the day can be hard on you both physically and mentally.  There are some ways that can help you manage pregnancy fatigue.

• Ask for help-communicate with your family members and let them know how exhausted you are. Your spouse or other family members may need to pick up some slack on tasks so you can get some rest
• Eat healthy food-Eating healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables and nuts can help you maintain your energy. If your fatigue is linked to an iron deficiency make sure you eat foods that are rich in iron such as dark leafy green vegetables.
• Get a little exercise-although this is the last thing you’d want to hear, moderate exercise will actually give you more energy. Some light exercises include going for a walk, light jog or yoga.
• Drink water-since your body is working what seems like 4 times as hard as it normally does, make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day.  You may want to slow down on the water closer to bedtime to help with the frequent urination.
• Take a nap-your body is telling you to get some rest.  If you’re home with other kids, try to take a nap when your kids go down for a nap. If you’re at work, sneak away to your car for a quick 15-minute nap.  Any bit of rest will help.
• Adjust your sleep schedule- many women find that getting 10 hours of sleep helps with extreme exhaustion.  Go to bed a few hours early so you and your baby can get the much needed rest.