So Tired!!!!!! - Salt Lake City,UT

That was totally me. My first, I didn't have any side effects except for unusual food cravings but my second, every one including exhaustion! It never went away either. I actually went home at lunch for naps. I never found a way around. I am so sorry. I have heard though that for some, it goes away after a few months.

I did the power nap thing in my first trimester. Its amazing how much good 20 minutes of sleep can do. I was lucky and my husband works at the same company and had the same lunch time as me, so he drove me home and I slept on the couch while he let the dogs out.

Yes.yes.yes. I was wiped out for the first 2 mos or so, and I'm a college instructor, so keeping it together was tough. Everyone told me it would get better after the 1st trimester but I was sceptical. Then it just stopped (along with constant nausea)between 2 and 3 mos. and then I felt great for the rest of the pregnancy. For now, rest as much as possible. but know that it will end. Really.

I went through this for the 1st and 3rd trimesters while still working full time. If you can close up your office I found a 20 minute power nap in the afternoons at my desk with a pillow did me a world of good. When the office wasn't an option my car worked well too :) Trust me though, it will pass.

Of corse! Totally normal- think of it this way: Your body is BUILDING an entire other human! have you picked up the "what to expect when your expecting" book? it is wonderful! I would highly suggest it because it's perfect for these kinds of questions throughout your entire pregnancy. It's very worth it and its less that 20 bucks.

It's totaly normal. Your body is working hard to get ready for the baby, creating more blood and getting nutrients to the fetus. It will get better but I remember being very very very tired in the first tri-mester.

The first trimester is the worst. Yes, you are tired throughout the pregnancy (and after!), but what helped me, was smaller meals throughout the day. Lunch was my downfall because I would eat lunch and then crash about 2 or so. I didn't want to eat and spoil dinner, but if I didn't, I wanted to curl up under my desk. I started bringing a bunch of things...a sandwich (or main lunch), a piece of fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, a cookie (or two), etc. After eating breakfast, I would usually go about an hour or two and need something else. Then lunch, and then more food. The grazing really helped me. Although I didn't get the "typical" morning sickness, I would occasionally get nauseated, but I found that by always having something in my stomach, it went away.

Also, see if you can get out and walk abit too.

totally normal. I always just try to take as many cat naps as possible. I even remember running home on my lunch break taking about a 1/2 hour nap then making a sandwich and eating it in the car as I drove back to work. It will get better just try to hang in there.

I'm 8 weeks tomorrow and feel the same way you do. I've found a small cup of coffee or tea is helpful for me. If I'm really dragging I try to eat a healthy snack (fruit or granola bars) to give me some energy. You are not alone. It's amazing what is happening inside our bodies and I pray it subsides soon. Get some rest.

Ugh....I am right there with you! I am almost 7 weeks, and I am SO exhausted every single day at the exact time that you are. Unfortunately for me, this is how every one of my pregnancies has been. My biggest pregnancy complaint has always been about how exhausted I am the entire time.

I don't have any magic answers. I do have a couple of suggestions though. First of all, make sure you are getting enough sleep at night. If you normally sleep 8 hours, try going to bed an hour earlier to get nine. Also, are you sleeping well at night? I think my problem is I suffer from a bit of insomnia during pregnancy. If that effects you, Try eliminating caffeine late in the day and in the evening.

Also, I don't know what your "lunch hour" is like, but if it is possible at all for you to sneak out to your car and take a 15 minute power nap, you should do it. It will at least help to refresh you.

Beyond that, I have no advice. Just feel comforted that you are not alone. Our bodies are working hard to create this little one.

Pregnant women are the most fatiqued in their first trimester, BUT if you are falling asleep (or almost) in the afternoon at your desk, it could be a sign of low iron/anemia. I would get it checked. Even if you are taking prenatals with iron, the body may still have a hard time absorbing it.

I found that having a nutritious lunch and a power nap helped. Make sure you have protein and lots of fruit and veggies. Drink lots of water too. The protein helps keep you going and also keeps nausea at bay. Eggs were my favorite or chicken breast. Congrats and good luck. Even though you don't look pregnant yet those lovely hormones sure let you know you are don't they...
S., Mom of 4

It's a normal natural part of being pregnant. Some women deal with it more than others and for some it lasts most of the pregnancy, and others just at the beginning or middle.

Try taking a "power nap" at lunch. Pack a light, nutrient-rich lunch and then lie down (hopefully there's a couch or something in the breakroom, or you can rest at your desk). Keep it to 15-20 min so you can feel a bit refreshed without getting into the deep sleep that can leave you groggy. Also make sure you are taking your vitamins and drinking plenty of water, dehydration or lack of vitamins can make it worse.

I had the same problem with both my pregnancies. I tried to convince my boss to put a sofa in our office so I could nap, but he just laughed (didn't think I was serious I guess).

Unfortunately, I never found a cure. They say to keep exercising, but I could never find the energy. Maybe there are foods that would help, but I never wanted to eat anything (I was always hungry, but nothing ever sounded good to eat).

Hang in there! Sorry no solid advice.

I am guessing you didn't have this problem with your first. Being tired is part of pregnancy. Your body is going through a lot. Usually worse in your first trimester while your body is adjusting to growing a human inside of you-a lot of work!!

Actually this may ease your mind, after about 8 weeks or so, the fatigue goes away for a while, in the beginning, its the worst!! Hang in there, you know it isn't a problem to have a little caffine (limited to 2 cups of coffee or tea a day) In case you are worried about that, don't be.

I totally sympathize with you. I am 12 weeks pregnant and for the first 10 weeks I felt exhauseted all the time. I had to take naps with my 1yr old every day. Some days all I could do was sit on the couch and just watch her play, (usually I play and interact).
Caffine for me didn't help me. I would still feel tired then at night I would have trouble falling a sleep, even though I was tired. It will get better just hang in there.

R

I remember that mind blowing fatigue from my first pregnancy. I actually did fall asleep at my desk several times, and I had to pull over during my commute to nap at rest stops so that I wouldn't fall asleep at the wheel.

A couple of things helped:
-- Lots of protein every day. When I ate tons of protein, I felt like I had more energy.
-- Liquid chlorophyll suppliment. I got it at a health food store on the recomendation of my midwife. I thought it tasted awful (like grass), but on the days I could gag it down I did feel much better.

Good luck!

It does go away... also think we notice it more after the first - because we can't just rest when we have other little ones around. Eat well, and hang in there!

The mind blowing fatigue in the first trimester is the one "symptom" that I remember most from my pregnancy. Tip? Sleep absolutely whenever you can - your body is telling you what it needs. I used to nap during my lunch hour at work - either in my car or on the boss's couch while he was gone. Luckily my husband and I carpooled for the 1 hr. commute time, because I regularly fell asleep for the entire 5pm commute. Then I would pass out on the couch at about 7:30pm. Once again - listen to your body! The fatigue got much better in the 2nd trimester. Good luck!

I feel the same way sometimes and I am already 23 weeks along. Sometimes in the afternoon I'll take a short break to walk around the office. Even if I can get up for 2 minutes every hour just to recharge, that helps. Maybe try going outside to get some fresh air. The foods never really work for me and when I take a nap I just want to stay sleeping :) I thought I might be anemic and my doctor said I can take iron suppliments to help with the energy levels until we actually do a blood test. I heard this works, but taking iron can cause constipation and I don't want to deal with that. Just a few thoughts. Good luck!

My last baby did this to me only it was all day!!! The only thing that I found helped was apples. I know it sounds silly, but something about the sugar or something gave me a boost. Sometimes granola bars helped as well. There are other suggestions for high energy foods like, almonds, broccoli, etc. but I never found the same results as apples and granola bars.

Good luck.

P.S. This tip only helped the tired thing for a short time but it was better than nothing.

Depending on how tired you are it could be just regular pregnancy fatigue or it could be a little bit more. I thought I was tired with my first one and then I got pregnant with this one and now I can see a huge difference. I was like bone numbing exhausted and just figured it was because I had a one year old and was preggo again, but then when I went to my doctor and told him about it he had the lab check my thyroid. It is a little hypoactive so I don't have the energy I should. I got put on some mild medication and it has made a world of difference. I'd have that ruled out if I were you since if it doesn't get taken care of it can cause problems with the baby. If it is regular pregnancy tiredness the other posters all gave excellent ideas. Congrats on you new little arrival!

It will subside. Take your lunch break to nap somewhere. If you can take a day off and just sleep, try to recharge. Do nothing else. When you get off, lounge!