Because of the great strain placed upon their bodies during pregnancy, many people experience fatigue and exhaustion, generally during the first and third trimesters. Hormones and sustaining the growing baby inside are generally the main reasons behind this.
What causes it?
The first trimester can be exhausting — surging hormones impact your appetite, digestive system and sleep. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms reported by pregnant people, so if you’re struggling to make it through the day – you’re not alone. You may not notice your pregnancy in the mirror quite yet, but your body is growing a fetus and placenta and increasing blood volume by 30 to 50%! That’s pretty amazing progress in just a few months.
By the third trimester, exhaustion is often caused by the physical strain of a full-term pregnancy. Not to mention how difficult it can be to sleep – dealing with insomnia, discomfort, frequent bathroom trips, and maybe even a late-night dancer!
Tips?
Getting any day or nighttime rest you can, maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet, and exercising when possible are great ways to help combat fatigue. Even short walks and stretching can help your body manage fatigue. Because these symptoms are so common, you may feel like they get brushed off by your OB provider. But if fatigue makes it difficult to function or care for yourself and others safely, let them know what’s happening. Certain treatable conditions can cause extreme fatigue, and your healthcare provider should be able to address your concerns.
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Sources
- Sir John Dewhurst. Dewhurst’s Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 8th ed. Keith Edmonds. John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2012. Print.
- MS Kramer, R Kakuma. “Energy and protein intake in pregnancy.” Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (4):CD000032. Web. 2003.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “First trimester pregnancy: what to expect.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 4/22/2014. Web.
