When does fatigue start pregnancy

Are you dragging these days? Does a nap sound fantastic right now?

Life can be exhausting at times, but especially when you’re pregnant. It’s totally normal to have some degree of fatigue right now—you are growing a human inside of you!

“Fatigue may be one of the most common first symptoms of pregnancy a woman experiences,” said Kelley Saunders, MD, an OBGYN at Banner – University Medicine Women’s Institute in Phoenix, AZ. “It is very common and quite significant in the first trimester. For many women, this improves in the second trimester and returns in the late third trimester.”

Although it’s common among pregnant women, you may still wonder why.

Why does pregnancy make you so tired?

The biggest reason: It’s hard work making a baby and it can be taxing to your body. “Your body has to adjust to maintain your health and the health of the baby inside of you,” Dr. Saunders said. “The physiologic changes and increased metabolic demand start in early pregnancy and can continue even after childbirth while breastfeeding.”

Beginning somewhere between conception and implantation, pregnancy hormones kick in – affecting your body, mood and sleep. During the first trimester, you may also experience morning sickness, frequent nighttime bathroom breaks and leg cramps, which can leave you feeling pretty tired.

Then starting around your second trimester, you may start to get a little pep in your step. You may start to feel more like yourself again. But don’t be alarmed if you are still pretty exhausted—especially if you have other children to care for. Fatigue is still possible during the second trimester.

In late pregnancy, you’ll most likely begin to feel tired again. At this point, your baby has grown quite a bit and is putting more physical demands on your body. You’re carrying around extra weight and it’s more difficult to get comfortable when you sleep. Add in leg cramps and heartburn, and sleep becomes even more elusive.

When is pregnancy exhaustion not normal?

While exhaustion is a common symptom of pregnancy, extreme fatigue is not normal and may be a sign of an underlying health condition. Dr. Saunders said you should see your health care provider if your fatigue is severe and persistent.

“A sudden onset of exhaustion and continual symptoms may be a sign of abnormal fatigue,” she said. “When fatigue is associated with fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing or an inability to perform routine daily activities, you should see your OBGYN for evaluation.”

Some of the potential underlying causes for your fatigue both during and outside of pregnancy may be due to the following:

• Gestational diabetes: Your body may become resistant to insulin during pregnancy, which can cause you to feel very tired. Other symptoms include extreme thirst and frequent urination.
• Anemia: A lack of iron can cause you to have an insufficient number of red blood cells to transport oxygen to your tissues and can cause you to feel tired, lightheaded and weak.
• Infections (viral, bacterial or fungal): Being pregnant can make you more vulnerable to infections, such as urinary tract infections, which can make you fatigued.
• Thyroid problems: Having too much or too little thyroid hormones can cause you fatigue, along with fluctuations in your weight, irritability and depression.
• Prenatal depression: Feeling tired all the time can also be a side effect of depression. Other symptoms may include sadness, feelings of hopelessness and an inability to complete daily tasks or activities.

If you’re in need of a health care provider or have questions or concerns, you can find a Banner Health specialist at bannerhealth.com who can help.

Have a happy, healthy pregnancy

For helpful tips to boost your energy and stay healthy throughout your pregnancy, check out the following posts:

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There is perhaps no better way to describe pregnancy fatigue than to say it’s an exhaustion unlike anything you’ve ever known. On the plus side, this means that those early months of pregnancy may bring you some of the deepest sleep you’ll experience in your life. Alternately, you may want to hit the snooze button on, well, everything.

But, hey — cut your body some slack. After all, it’s busy baking up an entire tiny human. Still, fatigue is a common pregnancy symptom, so it’s helpful to know what you can expect.

When does pregnancy fatigue kick in?

You may start to feel unusually tired as early as the first week after conception. For this reason, women often cite pregnancy fatigue as one of the earliest indicators that they’re expecting. In fact, per the American Pregnancy Association, pregnancy fatigue is most common in the first trimester. It then tends to dissipate during the second trimester (no wonder it’s called “The Happy Trimester”) and return during the home stretch.

How will you know when it hits? In an exploratory study published by the US National Library of Medicine, 90 percent of 25- to 30-year old women polled experienced fatigue — and this fatigue significantly impacted their ability to maintain their personal and social activities.

There’s a logical reason pregnancy fatigue often plagues women during their first trimester — your newly pregnant body is a swirling vortex of increased blood and hormonal changes. Things like a spike in progesterone levels and your body adapting to its new physical demands can zap you of energy.

In later stages of pregnancy, fatigue may also be exacerbated by a lack of sleep. Between raging heartburn and your burgeoning belly, there are plenty of reasons you can’t get comfortable enough at night to enjoy quality slumber. We’d be remiss not to remind you that roughly 100 of those reasons will be all the times you get up to go pee in the middle of the night now.

What can you do to help with fatigue?

This may sound deceptively simple, but arguably the best way to combat pregnancy fatigue is to get some rest. If you feel tired and have the opportunity or ability to indulge that feeling, take a nap. Spend a lazy day inside binge-watching Netflix. It goes without saying that slowing down can be easier said than done. Still, you should stock up on that super-deep-pregnancy-fatigue sleep however and whenever you can.

You might also have to master the art of saying no. If your commitments — whether they’re personal or professional — start to feel overwhelming, scale them back for the sake of saving your energy. Eating a well-balanced diet, staying hydrated, and incorporating moderate activity (think a 30-minute walk after lunch) can all help you feel more energized, too.

What should you avoid?

While it’s totally understandable to feel like you need to mainline coffee just to stay awake, it’s advisable to avoid caffeine during pregnancy (or at least limit your intake). It’s better to drink plenty of water, instead.

Fortunately, pregnancy fatigue typically doesn’t negatively impact anything but your social life. It’s simply your body’s response to the monumental task of harboring a little human in your uterus. So, in other words, it’s normal. However, if you have any concerns about how tired you feel, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor. In rare cases, underlying conditions like anemia or chronic fatigue syndrome could be contributing to your exhaustion and require attention. Most likely, though, you’ve got nothing to worry about (other than figuring out your favorite napping spot).

Written by Julie Sprankles.

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This article was originally published on 8.1.2019

One of the first signs of pregnancy is fatigue. It smacks you by surprise, like the sliding glass door you assumed to be open.

Beginning as early as conception and implantation, pregnancy hormones instantly affect your body, mood, metabolism, brain, physical appearance, and sleep pattern.

In the second trimester, which begins at week 13, many women get a fresh surge of energy. This is a great time to tackle those important before-baby-arrives chores, because as you enter the third trimester, which begins at week 28, that extreme exhaustion returns.

Simply put, you feel tired because you’re growing a baby.

In addition to hormonal changes, physical and emotional changes also lower your energy levels and make you feel fatigued.

Some of these changes include:

• increased levels of estrogen and progesterone (which, by the way, acts as a natural sedative)
• lower blood pressure and blood sugar
• increased blood flow
• disrupted sleep
• digestion issues
• morning sickness
• stress and anxiety
• frequent urination
• heartburn
• back, hip, and pelvic pain

When to contact your doctor or midwife

If insomnia, restless legs syndrome (the uncontrollable urge to move your legs while resting), sleep apnea (a potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts), preeclampsia, or any other condition is hindering your sleep, talk to your doctor or midwife during your next appointment.

Other reasons to contact your doctor or midwife include, if you:

• feel concerned that the pregnancy fatigue is a sign of something more, like anemia, gestational diabetes, or depression
• develop any changes in your vision
• experience dizziness
• urinate less frequently
• have shortness of breath, pain in your upper abdomen, or heart palpitations
• experience severe headaches
• notice a swelling of your hands, ankles, and feet

Your healthcare practitioner can help you uncover any problems and offer additional solutions.

Growing a baby obviously takes a toll on your body. Don’t ignore the signals your body is sending you. Reach out to others if you’re struggling to sleep throughout your pregnancy. Ask for help from your partner.

No matter how tired you get, you should avoid taking any over-the-counter medicines as a sleeping aid.

Most pregnant women should spend at least 8 hours in bed, aiming for at least 7 hours of sleep every night. If possible, try going to sleep a little earlier than usual.

As your body changes, make sleep a priority and follow these tips to combat pregnancy fatigue:

Keep your bedroom dark, clean, and cold

Create the right atmosphere for optimal rest.

In order for your body to reach deep sleep, cover any windows with blackout curtains. Turn off any digital clocks and unplug nightlights illuminating a glow (cover the display with electrical tape if you don’t want to completely turn the device off).

Set the bedroom temperature a little cooler than the rest of your home, for optimal quality of sleep. Eliminate any needless clutter and wash your bedsheets often. Save your bed for sleep, cuddling, and sex.

Take a nap

Napping can make up for any sleep lost at night, due to frequent trips to the bathroom, body aches, and every other pregnancy irritation. Avoid napping in the late afternoon and early evenings.

If your employer frowns upon nap time, find a good spot in the breakroom and put your feet up while you eat lunch.

Eat healthy meals and stay hydrated

In the beginning, pregnancy can also lower your blood pressure and blood sugar, which can make you feel tired. But a lack of sleep can cause your blood sugar levels to rise, increasing the risk for gestational diabetes.

Keep your blood sugar and energy levels balanced by eating often, such as six small meals a day. Frequent meals that are high in nutrients and protein help to combat fatigue.

To avoid nighttime leg cramps, stay hydrated by drinking enough water and fluids throughout the day.

Keep a pregnancy journal or dream diary

Keep a journal throughout your pregnancy. If you’re feeling anxious or stressed, try writing in it.

Pregnant women experience more vivid dreams and better dream recall, due to hormonal shifts affecting sleep patterns, increased fatigue, and repeatedly waking in the middle of a sleep cycle.

Sleep diaries can also be enlightening, providing concrete data about your bedtime, how long it takes for you to fall asleep, nighttime awakenings, awake time, and sleep quality.

Avoid caffeine after lunchtime

As far as stimulants go, caffeine may keep you awake long into the night or cause you to wake more frequently. It can also keep your baby active, kicking and rolling around inside your belly as you try to sleep.

Experts recommend pregnant women limit their caffeine intake to two home-brewed cups of coffee, or less than 200 milligrams, per day.

Pamper yourself

Ask for help from family and friends. Take a warm bath. Ask your partner for a massage. Take a break.

Wear soft, non-restrictive clothing and sit in a cozy chair with a good book and read for a little bit. Light a lavender candle. Play soothing instrumental music. Have a cup of warm chamomile tea.

You get it.

Exercise

The demands of pregnancy together with the weight gained puts an enormous amount of pressure on your body.

In addition to more restful sleep, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states the following benefits of exercise during pregnancy:

• reduced back pain
• eased constipation
• decreased risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and cesarean delivery
• healthier weight gain during pregnancy
• improved overall general fitness
• strengthened heart and blood vessels
• improved ability to lose the baby weight after your baby is born

It can take a few hours for your body to fully wind down after energetic workouts, so plan for any physical activity to take place earlier in the day. If the exercise is light, like yoga, it’s unlikely to interfere with your sleep.

Always check with your medical practitioner or midwife before beginning a new exercise program during pregnancy.

Pregnancy can be a tiring experience — both emotionally and physically. It’s important to remember: You are not alone.

Nearly all women experience more fatigue than usual at some point during their pregnancy. Take it as a message from your body. It’s telling you to rest, and you should definitely listen.