Feeling tired during pregnancy is completely normal. In fact, most women feel exhausted by the end of their first trimester. This is because your body is working overtime to support the growth and development of your baby. While there are some things that you can’t do anything about, there are also plenty of steps that you can take to combat fatigue and keep your energy levels up! In this blog post, we will discuss the causes of pregnancy fatigue and provide some tips for improving it.

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Why Do You Feel So Fatigued During Pregnancy?

There are a number of reasons why you might feel exhausted during pregnancy. Here are some of the most common causes:

• Hormone Changes: The hormones that your body produces during pregnancy can cause fatigue. Specifically, the hormone progesterone is responsible for making you feel tired. This is because progesterone helps to relax your muscles and make you sleepy.
• Physical Changes: As your baby grows, your body goes through a number of physical changes. These changes can cause fatigue, especially in the latter stages of pregnancy. For example, your uterus will start to grow and press against your bladder, which can make you feel like you have to pee all the time. The extra weight that you are carrying can also be tiring.
• Sleep Deprivation: Pregnancy can disrupt your sleep patterns, which can lead to fatigue. Many women find that they have a harder time falling and staying asleep during pregnancy. Additionally, pregnant women often need more sleep than usual.
• Stress: Stress can also cause fatigue. When you’re pregnant, there are a lot of things to worry about, from your changing body to the health of your baby. All this stress can take a toll on your energy levels.

How Long Does Pregnancy Fatigue Last?

Most women feel fatigued during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. It comes on very quickly and it is often one of the first signs of pregnancy that people notice. The pregnancy hormones instantly start impacting your body and you may feel tired before you even know that you are pregnant.

Usually, women experience an improvement in their energy levels in their second trimester (week 13). When the third trimester begins (week 28), the exhaustion tends to return much worse than before. So, take the opportunity to get things done in that gap.

Unfortunately, some women will continue to experience exhaustion during the second trimester too, and this can make things incredibly difficult. However, there are things you can do to improve feelings of fatigue and boost your energy levels.

What Can You Do About It?

Maintain a good sleep schedule

Get into a routine of going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. This will help your body to adjust and make it easier for you to fall asleep. A lot of women experience worse fatigue because they are not sleeping enough or they don’t have a consistent schedule. The right number of hours to sleep when pregnant is between 8 and 10 hours a night. Your body is under a lot of stress and those extra hours help you repair and recover.

Take naps when you need them

If you struggle to get enough sleep at night, which is perfectly normal, you can take naps in the day to catch up. Nap for at least 20 minutes to get the benefits of a quick rest. Just make sure that you have a good balance and you are not napping too much because this can lead to more tiredness.

Eat a healthy diet

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is important for your energy levels. Make sure you are eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. Avoid processed foods, sugary snacks and drinks, and caffeine. Remember, you are eating for two and that doesn’t just mean eating more, it means making sure that you get enough nutrients. If you are eating food that doesn’t have much nutritional value to it, you and your baby will be lacking in all of the important things that your body needs.

Speak to your doctor about what the best things to eat are, and make sure that you know which foods you should avoid.

Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water is crucial for your energy levels. When you are pregnant, you need to be drinking around 11 cups of fluids per day. This can include water, fruit juice, and milk. Avoid drinks like soda and tea as they contain caffeine which can dehydrate you.

Monitor your mental health

If you are feeling stressed or anxious, this can also lead to fatigue. Make sure that you are taking some time for yourself every day to relax and de-stress. This may be reading a book, taking a bath, listening to music, or spending time with friends and family. If the stress is too much for you to handle on your own, speak to your doctor about it. They may be able to refer you to a therapist who can help you manage your stress levels. Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends and family members too as they can support you and take some of the pressure off.

It’s perfectly natural to feel stressed during pregnancy. After all, it’s one of the most difficult periods of your life. But if you let stress get on top of you, it can lead to mental health issues that seriously impact your energy levels. It can also lead to continued mental health problems after you give birth, so you need to manage it properly during pregnancy.

Do some light exercise

Exercising during pregnancy can help to improve your energy levels. However, you don’t need to go to the gym and do a strenuous workout. In fact, this can be quite dangerous. A light jog, swim, or walk is enough to help you stay fit and healthy and boost your energy levels. Finding a good balance is crucial when you are exercising during pregnancy. Pushing yourself too hard will only increase feelings of fatigue, so make sure that you take it easy. If you experience any pain during exercise, stop immediately and seek advice from your doctor.

Speak to your doctor if you are concerned

If you are worried about your energy levels during pregnancy and you think that your fatigue is beyond normal levels, seek advice from your women’s health expert right away. They can give you advice and tips on how to maintain your energy levels and stay healthy. They will also check to make sure that there is nothing else going on that could be causing excessive fatigue. It could be caused by other problems like anemia, mental health problems, or gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. It is caused by the hormones in the body changing and it usually goes away after you have your baby. However, if it isn’t treated, it can cause serious health problems for both you and your baby. Other symptoms aside from fatigue include: feeling very thirsty, going to the toilet a lot, and feeling very hungry. If you experience any of these symptoms, speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Gestational diabetes can be detected with a simple blood test so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

There are many different ways that you can combat pregnancy fatigue. All of these tips should be combined to create a healthy lifestyle for you and your baby. Fatigue during pregnancy is completely normal, but it’s important to take steps to avoid it from impacting your day-to-day life. Most importantly, speak to your doctor if you are worried for any reason.