How are you personally dealing with the fatigue?

barrelocarol · January 2015

Im 8w3d and experiencing EXTREME fatigue. I don't know how second timers with kids are doing it and I marvel.

I sleep enough at night.
I take a nap during the day and at night after work.
I eat, what I can, when I can.
I hydrate.
I take my prenatals.
I take a B complex.

I work and I just have no idea how people are handling the extreme fatigue! Any tips and tricks? I've been able to get some of the other symptoms under control but the fatigue is soooooo extreme!

Also, the "ask your doctor" and "Google it" responses aren't necessary. I'm asking for your personal experiences.

Thanks, Ladies.

caityrose · January 2015

no advice. Doing most of the same as you! Just dealing with it and waiting it out till the 2nd trimester lol. Wish I had some ideas! I felt less tired when I was on vacation and continuing to be busy, staying active/moving.

kjjellybean · January 2015

I feel like no matter how I try and "control" it, nothing helps. I have a 3 year old and a full time job. It takes everything I have to make it through the workday. I don't remember being this fatigued while pregnant with DD.

SuzyHomemaker07 · January 2015

Me too!! The fatigued exhaustion is killing me. My 2.5 yr old will not nap either

. It's hard. Honestly, I've been having a coffee in the morning (gasp). It's the only way I can survive. But still by 3pm I am literally struggling to keep my eyes open. I'm doing everything you're doing too. No advice, just trying to deal with it lol To be fair...this is the easy part, ha. It gets so uncomfortable to sleep, then the real exhaustion sets in. Grumble, grumble. Lol!

kjjellybean · January 2015

I had electronic medical record training last week for 4 hours straight without a break. Luckily they has jolly ranchers on the table. I ate one after the other just to help keep me from falling asleep. Not that the sugar crash afterwards was any better but it worked.

heatherlee0900 · January 2015

I have been so tired. I eat really healthy, drink a lot of water, take a bunch of vitamins, naps etc... Nothing helps.
Let's just put it this way, I am so out of the world-tired, I sat at a stop sign for about 5 minutes waiting for it to turn green...lol
I am definitely not sleeping as well at night now that I have to pee 2 times at night it takes me forever to fall back asleep but I feel your pain. I am seriously a zombie right now.

Jenten810 · January 2015

Unfortunately, you just have to wait it out. I was definitely more tired with #1 than I am with #2. I'm not sure if it's not so bad this time around because I don't have a choice or because my body is used to the fatigue.

candace3308 · January 2015

I am 7 weeks tomorrow and the fatigue is awful. I nap during break at work, I nap when I get home, I cook dinner, then I'm asleep for the night at 7:30pm. I have one son that is 8 and my husband is very helpful. I wasn't this tired with my first. Sounds like we're all in the same boat

sonjapuppy · January 2015

I just sleep whenever I feel like it. I took the semester off of school.

Knottie00400192 · January 2015

It's extremely hard, trust me I know! This is my second child and I have been crazy tired! I have an 8 year old and she and my husband have been very helpful and understands that mommy is pregnant and going through something right now. My advice would be to continue trying to sneak naps and keep ours fingers crossed that it will get better in the second trimester. Sigh

coreyandsarahsharp · January 2015

It's hard. I also wake up super early bc the nausea hits me. I throw up and I feel nauseous all day. By afternoon when I'm semi better I'm exhausted. Then the nausea comes back. I can't even cook supper. No foods sound good and the thought of some make me gag! I feel like such a whimp. Not complaining though... We wanted this for a long time! Just wish I could handle the nausea and fatigue better.

barrelocarol · January 2015

^^ This is EXACTLY how I feel! It has been so hard to just stop whining when I feel soooo miserable and I've just never felt this way. I am THRILLED a to be experiencing pregnancy. I, too, wish I could handle the symptoms better.

KellyT22 · January 2015

I chew intensely minty gum to give me a pick me up at work. It helps a little. Also I try to get up and walk around every hour or so (pretty easy with all the bathroom breaks).

paine0925 · January 2015

I know we shouldn't be doing this because I need to build my PTO up but I did take a few days of PTO throughout this past month and just build them in because I knew I would be exhausted and needed a day off. So that helped greatly. The other thing I've been doing is making sure I exercise every single day, which is insanely hard. Half the time I'm too tired to drive the hour round-trip to my gym, because I live out in the country. But it is absolutely worth it because when I'm done I find I have ten times more energy. It's been the only thing that truly helped... But actually getting my butt over to the gym has been beyond difficult. One day I almost fell asleep driving there.my last piece of advice is to eat a lot of lean protein. I've been eating a lot of chicken throughout the day and the protein is sustaining me and giving me way more energy. When I eat carbs I seem to bottom out with my energy level and just want to sleep so I've been staying away from any kind of candy cookies or tons of pasta.

mlindon · January 2015

I am not doing very well handling it as of late. I slept all weekend with the exception of a few errands. Woke up this morning and was horribly sick so I ended up an hour late for work. I am trying to rest in my office for 30 min before my next round of meetings. DH is out of town for two weeks which doesn't help. Oh and I am sick. Trying desperately to keep anything down. I used to only get naseuous when I didn't eat but now I get sick if I try to eat anything but rice cakes. Urg

ginaannechelan · January 2015

I'm exhausted. I teach middle school and have to keep my energy up during the day, but find I get dizzy and short of breathe really easy. Thankfully I can rearrange my day and plan lessons that match up with how I'm feeling. Long walks after the work day help keep me going for a few hours. All this and I'm working on my doctorate. Something is going to give if I don't start feeling better in the next few months.

I'm too tired to cook, so I stocked up on snacks and easy prep healthy food. Eating a solid breakfast has helped. Nothing's a fix--- I'm coping!

merriemoon · January 2015

ginaannechelan said:
I'm exhausted. I teach middle school and have to keep my energy up during the day, but find I get dizzy and short of breathe really easy. Thankfully I can rearrange my day and plan lessons that match up with how I'm feeling. Long walks after the work day help keep me going for a few hours. All this and I'm working on my doctorate. Something is going to give if I don't start feeling better in the next few months.

I'm too tired to cook, so I stocked up on snacks and easy prep healthy food. Eating a solid breakfast has helped. Nothing's a fix--- I'm coping!

I'm a middle school teacher too! Before pregnancy I was already tired everyday after work, but now I'm doing the best I can to not fall asleep at red lights on my drive home!

PregNancyClark · January 2015

I'm praying and singing to stay awake! Loud singing in the car helps! And intentionally speeding up my breathing helps. We can do this ladies!!

shelbydd · January 2015

Truth- I nap. I'm extremely lucky to be able to be a stay at home wife right now so when it hits me and I can't hold my eyes open or I have no energy, I literally feel like I CAN'T stay awake.

lisahe1 · January 2015

ginaannechelan said:
I'm exhausted. I teach middle school and have to keep my energy up during the day, but find I get dizzy and short of breathe really easy. Thankfully I can rearrange my day and plan lessons that match up with how I'm feeling. Long walks after the work day help keep me going for a few hours. All this and I'm working on my doctorate. Something is going to give if I don't start feeling better in the next few months.

I'm too tired to cook, so I stocked up on snacks and easy prep healthy food. Eating a solid breakfast has helped. Nothing's a fix--- I'm coping!

I teach third grade and feel the same way!!! And waking up at 3am every day doesn't help! I usually cope with it by falling asleep on the couch by 7pm. My poor husband.....

Kiek · January 2015

I just tell myself it's just a season and it will pass soon. My 1 year old is into everything and I don't get to nap this time around. I found taking a nice walk gets my blood flowing and gives me a little boost of energy. It's hard to convince myself to do it when all I want to do is lie down and sleep. It really does help, though. Plus, my daughter and my dog love it lol

trinijenib · January 2015

I teach high school and I am so tired and grumpy my students think I'm crazy! I try going to bed earlier and it does not help... This is my first pregnancy so the fact that I can't do all the things I'm accustomed to is making me a bit depressed

barrelocarol · January 2015

I love these coping mechanisms! My friend told me liquid chlorophyll helped her with energy in her pregnancy. I didn't even question it...I'm desperate...I bought it immediately.

I have a drs appt today so I will let you know what my doc says!

SDHKoenig · January 2015

Glad to see I am not alone! I teach pre school and am taking 2 evening classes. SO TIRED! FTM. While I am happy my other symptoms have been very mild, the exhaustion has been terrible.

aciaramella · January 2015

I work full time and the exhaustion is the worst! The other symptoms seem mild in comparison to feeling the never ending tired. I've been in bed by 9 pm every night, some nights even earlier...

smrdaniels · January 2015

Sounds like you're doing what you can. You can ask for your iron levels to be checked if you feel it's something to look into. Hope you find your boost soon

letitbeagirl · January 2015

Rest. Relax. House work will still be there. It's only nine months...but it gets sooo much better in the second tri. Trust me! Relax. Eat. Take vitamins... thats it hunny!

eehaspect · January 2015

im a preschool teacher as well and absolutely exhausted everyday. try and take the weekends to take a rest

egarrhenn · January 2015

Im a stay at home mom too and lately its been extreme morning sickness in the morning and fatigue in the afternoon-I feel bad for hubby who works hard to do what I cant. Im counting down and praying the second trimester will be better and allow me to be productive again because my gpa sucks right now!

MySallyGirl · January 2015

I think I've just gotten used to being tired. I'm barely cooking dinner anymore and eating out too much or eating frozen things. I let the tv watch my kids sometimes so I can veg out on the couch and my house is a mess!

berticus87 · January 2015

I had aweful fatigue at the beginning of this pregnancy (don't remember this with the first). I started taking a prenatal that gaurenteed more energy within one week of use or your money back. It took the full week to kick in but I can tell a huge difference! Now if only it would cure my nausea

noles32982 · January 2015

I am 7 weeks today and the fatigue is terrible. On Saturday I was awake for a total of 6 hours, and not at the same time. I can barely make tot through the work day. Around 3pm I just crash. I asked advice of my girlfriend who is set to give birth in a few days and she said if you can muster the strength to exercise lightly it helps. Even if you walk around Target, was her advice. She said nothing else helped. She said it was a small boost. Maybe take a walk around the building or grounds at your lunch break. I'm going to try it today.

noles32982 · January 2015

Which prenatal is that?

mlindon · January 2015

I am nine weeks today. I have never felt fatigue like this. I just want to take a nap constantly. Today I had to do a lot of walking about at work and by the time I got back to my office I was sweating, shaking, and exhausted.

lillyzzay · January 2015

I work from home which is a blessing and a curse. I'm also a FTM so I have the house to myself, so if I need a break, I take one. I also cut down my coffee, but still have one cup (sometimes half-caff) in the morning, I don't think I would get anything done without it. My biggest problem is getting motivated to do anything, I'm completely unproductive when I need to be! I have found that going for a walk/exercising is helpful, but I live in CT and its cold outside!! Hopefully second trimester brings more energy and warm weather! Sorry, this wasn't too helpful! Hang in there!

brizzle23 · February 2015

When I'm feeling super tired/fatigued I get up and go for a walk, I live in Washington and it's cool during the day right now so it's a nice breath of fresh air. And if I'm tired after that I just go to sleep

my mother said if you feel tired sleep so that's what I do and I feel great! I hope your fatigue gets less severe as your pregnancy progresses

MsVox · February 2015

Me too! I was happy I didn't get any morning sickness (though I felt real miserable during the night those first weeks.. and now I get evening nauseousness lol but well that'll too will pass no doubt!) but had totally not expected the extreme tiredness! Some days are worse then others.. When it gets real bad I feel a certain headache coming up and will also be so cranky.. I know tis time for an afternoon nap then. At first I fought the urge to nap but I just had to give in. I am working on finishing up my MSc degree so spend most all my time at home to work on my thesis currently, but with the fatigue I haven't been able to get a lot done lately. I am hoping that once 2nd trimester starts I will feel less tired and can get my work done more easily heh.

suzysand32 · February 2015

Fatigue just hit me at 6 weeks, I have a 2 year old and am having lots of trouble keeping up with him. I remember thinking the same thing when I was preg the first time "how do stm's do it?" Well....you just do what you have to. Eating protein helps and drinking water, keeping busy makes you forget a little bit

MichelB · February 2015

Im a teacher and and most 8 weeks pregnant. I yawn with the kids I-) I get so tired at lunchtime I don't go to the staff room. .. I take a nap in my chair!! I sleep when I get home and go to bed early! !! I eat in class and drink as much as I can... nothing helps.....

barrelocarol · February 2015

You ladies are awesome. Great tips...and just kind of helpful to read all the support!

I pretty much stopped doing the unnecessary (extra errands, etc...) and am really taking my rest seriously. Between that, stealing naps, loving up on my B complex....I'm at least functional.

It's hard, but good work making these babies!

raspell · February 2015

It's so good to read that other people are going through the same things! I'm just 6 weeks, but it's all I can do to stay awake during the days. Literally sometimes less than an hour after I wake up I'm thinking that I could really use a nap!

I work from home, which is both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing because I do have the ability to take naps when needed, but a curse because there is nothing stopping me from doing so, so I have been getting behind on work!

So far, very few things have helped me:

Constantly eating: Having something to constantly munch on seems to keep me more alert. Grapes, strawberries, or other bite sized fruit is the best.

Going for a walk: Although even the mere act of getting dressed can make me winded sometimes, going for a walk outside really seems to help. The weather here in NC is brisk but not too cold during the day, and the chill actually feels refreshing!

Good luck and let us know what works for you, if anything! We will get through this!

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