Fatigue is quite typical during pregnancy, especially in the first several months and the last trimester. Fatigue can be overpowering for some women. Others find it to be relatively moderate. In any case, it’s all part of the process of conceiving a child.
Is extreme fatigue normal in early pregnancy?
During the first few months of pregnancy, it’s common to feel tired and even drained. Exhaustion, especially intense fatigue, is a common early symptom of pregnancy that nearly every woman experiences throughout the first trimester. It’s also highly common in the third trimester, with an estimated 60% of all pregnant women experiencing it.
How early does pregnancy fatigue start?
Fatigue can strike as early as the first few weeks of pregnancy. Pregnancy fatigue might strike as soon as one week after conception.
While fatigue usually improves around the start of the second trimester, it commonly returns in the third trimester, but it varies from pregnancy to pregnancy as with all symptoms.
Why Does Fatigue Occur During Pregnancy?
Several physical, emotional and hormonal changes can decrease your energy level and cause exhaustion throughout pregnancy. These factors that may play a role include:
- Back, hip, and pelvic
- Insomnia
- Digestion issues
- Morning sickness
- Increased levels of estrogen and progesterone
- Lower blood pressure and blood sugar
- Stress and anxiety
What causes pregnancy fatigue?
Pregnancy is like running a marathon wearing a backpack that gets heavier every day. To put it another way, it’s a lot of work! Even when you are unaware of what is going on in your body, it is working harder than ever.
Causes of fatigue during early pregnancy
Pregnancy weariness can be caused by a variety of events in the first trimester, including:
- Building the placenta. During the first trimester of pregnancy, your body produces the placenta, an organ designed specifically for pregnancy that provides your baby with the nutrition and oxygen he or she needs to grow and flourish. It’s a massive endeavor that drains your body’s vitality.
- Your hormones. The hormone progesterone, which maintains your pregnancy and boosts the development of milk glands essential for breastfeeding, later on, is mostly to blame for pregnancy weariness. Hormone changes can also produce mood swings, and the emotional roller coaster that is pregnancy can be exhausting.
- Increased blood supply. The responsibilities of producing and pumping more blood to provide nourishment and oxygen to your kid can leave you exhausted.
- Other physical changes. Your metabolism is accelerating, your heart rate is increasing, your blood sugar and blood pressure are dropping, and you’re consuming more nutrients and water – all of which might exhaust you.
Your body will have accomplished the Herculean process of creating the placenta by the end of the first trimester and will have grown accustomed to the hormonal and emotional shifts that have happened, so the second trimester is normally a time of renewed energy levels.
First Trimester Fatigue
Hormonal changes are most likely to blame for weariness during early pregnancy. To transport nutrients to your growing baby, your body produces extra blood. Your blood sugar and blood pressure levels are both lower. Hormones, particularly higher progesterone levels, are to blame for your sleepiness. In addition to physical changes in your body, emotional alterations can lead to a reduction in energy.
You may suffer anxiety about parenthood, fear about the baby’s health, or even conflicted sentiments about your pregnancy, whether it is intended or unplanned. It’s vital to realise that your emotions have an impact on how you feel physically and that all of this is a normal part of pregnancy.
Second Trimester Fatigue
Chances are, your energy level will increase during your second trimester, and you will start to feel more like yourself. Many women use this time during pregnancy to perform vital tasks, knowing that their energy levels will drop again in the third trimester. This period is known as the “happy quarter”. Don’t worry if you continue to feel tired during this trimester. Although it is most likely less noticeable, exhaustion during pregnancy can still occur throughout the second trimester.
Third Trimester Fatigue
You will most likely start to feel weary again in late pregnancy. You’ll be carrying more weight from the baby at this point, possibly having difficulties sleeping, and coping with frequent urination. Here’s a list of strategies to deal with any exhaustion you could be experiencing.
How can I cope with pregnancy fatigue?
- Get enough rest. Pay attention to your body and obtain the rest you require. Begin by going to bed earlier and napping whenever you can during the day. Even a 15-minute catnap can be beneficial.
- Lighten your load. Reduce your social responsibilities and let the housekeeping pile up. See if you can work fewer hours or from home on occasion. If you have paid time off, take a vacation day or a sick day if you’re not feeling well.
- Get parenting help. If you have older children, enlist the help of friends or family to watch them from time to time so you may relax or catch up on sleep. See if you can expand their preschool or childcare hours temporarily so you can nap. Alternatively, check out these inventive ideas from Bump2Baby Scans parents for keeping your youngster entertained when lying down.
- Eat well. Sugary snacks may provide a momentary energy boost, but they will leave you exhausted. In the long run, a pregnant diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nutritious grains, dairy, and lean meats will provide you with more stamina. To stay energized, try these healthy snacks. If you’re too sick to eat properly, do your best for the time being – and ask your provider for assistance.
- Stay hydrated. To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of water and keep your water bottle with you. Caffeine, like sugar, gives you a transient energy boost followed by a crash if you drink coffee or tea in moderation. If you’re having trouble sleeping because of frequent urination, consider drinking less water a few hours before bedtime and making up for it during the day.
- Exercise. It’s possible that you don’t have enough energy to get through the day, let alone exercise. However, if you are able, incorporate exercise into your regular regimen. Getting 20 to 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as walking, may improve your mood. Also, take frequent breaks to stretch and breathe deeply during the day.
- Hang in there. You are creating a person, so be kind to yourself. You may feel like a shell of your old self as a result of pregnancy exhaustion. But don’t worry, you’ll probably feel a lot more energetic in the second trimester. You might feel better than you have in a long time and be ready for a late-night movie or a weekend trek. If you’re in the third trimester, you should expect your sleep to deteriorate once your kid arrives. But the bone-crushing exhaustion will fade, and you’ll be amazed at what you’ve accomplished.
