What Is Fatigue During Pregnancy [and how to help with it]

Fatigue during pregnancy is your body’s way of telling you that you should take it easy these days. So pay attention and get the rest you require. With the following suggestions, you might be able to reclaim some of that energy:

Relax and enjoy yourself:

If you don’t already have a child at home, take advantage of this opportunity to focus only on yourself. It may be the last opportunity like this you get for a long while.

If you are used to doing housework, let this be the time to take a little break. Let the dishes wait until later, and try not to be overly concerned with cleaning. If it’s more convenient for you, get your groceries online. When you don’t feel like cooking, order healthy takeout or ask your partner to help out in the kitchen.

If possible at all, try hiring someone to help you by handling your housekeeping for you. If you can, get help in checking off your to-do list, and don’t plan too many things at once.

Ask for help:

In the months ahead, there will be no respite for the bleary-eyed. Don’t be afraid to tell your partner, family, and friends how exhausted you are so that they can share the burden.

If someone in your circle approaches you and asks if they can help you say yes! Having someone else pick up the groceries may inspire you to go for a brisk walk or sign up for a stress-relieving online yoga session.

Increase your bedtime:

Even an extra hour of sleep at night may significantly improve your energy levels during the day, and the simplest method to get more sleep is to go to bed earlier. In general,  seven to eight hours is excellent; any more than that will make you fatigued.

Make sleep and rest your #1 priority:

If you’re fatigued, take a break when you can and go at your own speed. Relax in the evenings with your feet up. Don’t feel pressured to attend a dinner with friends or a post-work (non-alcoholic) drink with coworkers.

Don’t wait until bedtime to relax: if you have the opportunity, take a little nap throughout the day. 

Engage your other kids:

It’s understandable if you’re exhausted if you have other children at home. (You could also miss weariness because you’re too preoccupied to notice.) In any case, making oneself a priority is difficult but necessary.

Explain to your children that you’re tired because having a baby is exhausting. Talk about their help around the house. Spend more time together doing calm activities like reading, working puzzles, playing, and watching movies.

It may be challenging to squeeze in more sleep, but if you can plan your rest with their naptime or quiet time, you might be able to make it work.

Consider nutritious foods:

Focusing on nutrient-dense meals can help you maintain consistent energy levels throughout the day. Follow the guidelines for a healthy pregnancy diet, concentrating on meals that include protein and complex carbohydrates for long-lasting energy. Consider spreading a dollop of peanut butter over whole wheat bread or mixing berries with Greek yogurt.

Make sure you’re eating enough calories (which might be difficult if you’re experiencing morning sickness, but it’s well worth the effort). A healthy, well-balanced diet is essential for a successful pregnancy.

Reduce the amount of coffee and candy you consume. If you usually seek coffee or sugar to get you through a mid-afternoon slump, keep in mind that the energy boost you’ll get will almost certainly be followed by a crash.

Eat often:

Avoid skipping meals. Eating six little meals rather than three large ones will help you maintain a constant blood sugar and energy level. Other typical pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness and constipation will be reduced as well.

Get to work:

The couch, without a doubt, has never looked more inviting. However, the correct quantity of the right sort of exercise, rather than a couch rest, might be more refreshing.

When you have the opportunity, go for a trek in the woods, a gentle jog around the block or park, a prenatal yoga session, or even a quick brisk walk to the grocery store. You’ll not only feel better (due to those mood-enhancing chemicals, endorphins), but you’ll also sleep better.

The Final Word

Pregnancy can be a demanding time, and fatigue is one of the most common symptoms. It’s important to know that you’re not alone in feeling tired during your pregnancy. In this blog post, we’ve discussed some things that might help with pregnancy-related fatigue so get more sleep, eat better foods for energy, get up from sitting periodically throughout the day, and try walking or moving around as often as possible. We have lots of other helpful information about getting pregnant & managing your prenatal health on our website so keep reading!