How are you dealing with the excessive exhaustion of the first trimester?

ctrox · October 2015

Hi gang,

I'm a first timer and wondering if anyone has advice on how to deal with the excessive tiredness? I know it will get better with time, but I feel helpless. Just getting ready for work in the morning takes all my energy!

LadySamLady · October 2015

I am in bed by 9 pretty much every night, earlier if I can swing it. If I stay up much later than that I am a total zombie the next morning, especially since I'm up to pee 3 times a night. We wake up before 6 every day to take our dogs to the dog park for an hour before work and so sleeping in is not an option for me.

Honestly, it doesn't do much for the afternoon slump, but it usually gets me through until 2/2:30. When the exhaustion hits in the afternoon I snack on raw carrots and celery, it gives me a little boost and distracts me from the urge to crawl under my desk for a nap. In fact, I'm eating some right now as I count down the minutes until 6 o'clock when I can head home!

wsgjmw1 · October 2015

Been in bed by 8:30-9 every night. I have been sleeping 9+ hours a night lately. During the day I try to take short walks to stay awake if I can get away from my desk, but I must admit I have gotten used to the 24/7 tired feeling.

mrszoess · October 2015

I'm pretty used to it myself. (I also have lupus so I'm tired randomly when I'm NOT pregnant!)

I've found it helps me to lie down even if I don't sleep for like half hour after work just to recharge.

yellowkate · October 2015

The exhaustion is crazy! I have had 2 days where i have had energy. I'm on holidays at the moment and back to school next week and hoping I can cope. Snacking on carrots and celery is a great idea. I walk every day and work with kids and I'm in bed by 8:30 most nights.

kbrands7 · October 2015

Housework is suffering some because I'm trying to get to bed about 30min earlier. Light exercise and water helps too. Honestly though, I'm less tired now than DS's 4 month sleep regression when he woke up every 45 minutes at night for a month and I was back to work. I keep telling myself that if I got through that, I can get through this.

avillarreal91 · October 2015

It's not easy

(
I just found myself in a three hour nap with my two year old after being up and around all morning for appointments and errands. I try to get housework done the night even though I prefer doing it in the morning- I need the extra sleep time now. I still co sleep with DD too, so we turn on the early morning cartoons for her and set the timer for an hour so we can stay in bed ;-)
The afternoon slump is the worst though. All I do is yawn. But it has helped to just lie down and recharge for a while. I don't like being tired all the time but this too shall pass lol.

Kurrant · October 2015

I am in bed about 9 hours a night with 3-4 bathroom trips through the night. By about 12 or 1 I hit a wall of sleepy. I know it's not practical for working ladies but I sleep for 45 mins to an hour mid day.

m6agua · October 2015

I'm struggling with this too. To make matters worse I started a second job right before I found out. It ends right after Halloween when I will be about 9/10 weeks. Today I almost hit a breaking point I was so mentally and physically drained that I left my office job at 11 (half day) went home to nap before my next job at 5. I don't get done until 9:30, but I am going to go to bed right away when I get home.

kristenterkelsen · October 2015

I'm experiencing exhaustion like I've never had before- even with mono. It was nearly debilitating today. This is miserable! I'm in bed most nights by 8:30. Sleep these days is hit or miss but even on good nights I'm still exhausted by 2pm. I've learned not to let myself get sat down and still or it gets even worse. Thankfully working at a hospital it's easy to stay constantly moving. These kiddos are worth it!

ayeshaohara · October 2015

I've missed so many days of work because I just feel so sick and exhausted I can't make it through the day. Even when I try to work a full day I end up leaving early. On days when I work close to home I go home for a nap at lunchtime. I want to reach second trimester so badly so I can get some of that energy that everyone keeps telling me apparently comes back!

jewels1020 · October 2015

I am not handling it at all I'm a first time mom other than to my pups and I got very fortunate and my hubby is the one working at the moment( I'm applying for jobs just wanted to be out of the first trimester) so I sleep as much as I can thru the say luckily hubby understands and I usually do housework after he gets home after I cook dinner then I'm in bed by 9 or 10 at the latest!

manifiesta2 · October 2015

The exhaustion has been truly terrible for me. I honestly believe it's made me a bit depressed. Wanting to sleep + nausea means I spend all day, every day in my pajamas and it's such a bummer. I miss hanging out with my friends, but when I meet them somewhere, it's like I'm immediately wanting to cut out early so I can lie down again.

Feeling super guilty because my DH is the one working right now and I can't even do housework most days.

TaylorKang · October 2015

When did the severe exhaustion hit everyone? I am at about 7 weeks and I certainly feel tired, but I'm still not going to bed until around 11 or 11:30. That being said, I'm not up running around all day either. I get really tired and quite nauseated at around 2/2:30 every day. I find that I get a little more energized around dinner time and then I don't want to do much after that but sit/lay around.

Definitely even just being in bed for short 10 minutes at a time help.

Is exhaustion expected to get worse as the weeks go on!?

caterin · October 2015

Today is one of those days.... Throwing up, feeling super weak at work and the day just started

jewels1020 · October 2015

manifiesta2 said:
The exhaustion has been truly terrible for me. I honestly believe it's made me a bit depressed. Wanting to sleep + nausea means I spend all day, every day in my pajamas and it's such a bummer. I miss hanging out with my friends, but when I meet them somewhere, it's like I'm immediately wanting to cut out early so I can lie down again.

Feeling super guilty because my DH is the one working right now and I can't even do housework most days.

I feel you on this I always feel so lazy it bums me out!

ctrox · October 2015

Thanks for the advice and thank you all for responding. Sounds like most of us are all having the same issues. I agree...our house is not a perfect as it once was but I'm too tired to be my OCD normal self. I find myself trying to get to bed by 8:30-9:00 and today I slept until 6:30 and was almost late to work! The afternoon slump is horrid! It's 2:15 now and I'm going to have to drown myself in more paperwork before the work day ends. Hang in there ladies...we can do it! At least we know we aren't alone!

Soontobejones33 · October 2015

Early to bed is the only way. If I'm not in the bed by 9 I'm screwed the next day. Struggling to do anything after a 8 to 9 hour work day. I'm feeling a little depressed because I don't do anything but work sleep and try to eat. Come on second trimester!

saladflambe · October 2015

Also in bed by 9 every night. I'm lucky in that I work from home, so sometimes, I'll work from bed or my recliner. If I can, I sneak a nap. But, I feel I've been pretty lucky. I haven't really been overly exhausted.

saraleigh2 · October 2015

I've always been a night owl, but I confess I've been going to bed at 8 o'clock! I've been sleeping 9 to 11 hours each night and I'm still exhausted. I try to lay down on my breaks and lunches in between work, I work from home so that's easier for me, but perhaps you can find a corner in your office or sneak out and lay down in the backseat of your car seriously even if I don't sleep just laying down helps even 10 minutes!

rachie487 · October 2015

I try to go to sleep around 9am. Some days, a power nap is a necessity. Or, like last night, sleep at 8pm! Lol

yellowkate · October 2015

I'm struggling with the need to pee during the night and then I can't get back to sleep. Then my exhaustion set in during the afternoon. I've heard it only lasts for 12 weeks. Our bodies our going through an amazing change and it's not wonder wonder we are exhausted.

pregoman · October 2015

I have to get up at 5:30am because work starts at 6:30am. But at least I get off at 3:00. If I don't get to bed by 9:00pm, getting up is torture. I make it through the day just fine but usually lay down after work. Even if I don't fall asleep I find that just laying down to rest helps.

I have had to cut back on social obligations in the evening because I'm just too tired.

It's hard work making a whole person.

Sienna516 · October 2015

I'm having the same problems getting housework done and since I'm not doing it, my husband has been slacking as well. I feel like a terrible nag if I ask him to clean something when i have crap sitting around everywhere, but I'm just so wiped out. I started a new job 5 months ago that is 1st shift and I used to work 2nd shift and my husband works a late 2nd shift. So my sleep schedule is terrible. I used to try to get 7-8 hours of sleep, which I still aim for, but the quality is so terrible with all of these crazy dreams and nightmares. I always have to go to the bathroom at least once and then my husband comes to bed at like 4-5am so then I half sleep talk to him. Then our neighbors start getting up and being noisy outside (someone keeps honking EVERY freaking morning and a neighbor has a turbo truck that makes this horrible high pitch noise) and then my cat starts bothering me since she notices I'm waking up (our cats have an automatic feeder, so she's just that excited to see me awake in the morning $:\$ ) I've been taking naps when I get home from work and then watching TV. A few threads mentioned the TV show Scandal, so I started watching that.
I'm so afraid I'll never get good sleep again.. especially once baby comes..

yellowkate · October 2015

I feel you! I have been peeking like 4 times during the night, maybe it's a way of preparing our bodies for babies arrival lol. It sounds like you have a lot to battle with. I know what you mean if I slack off with housework hubby does too but don't feel bad asking for help.

stefiesky · October 2015

So tired all the time. As soon as I get home from work I lie down and it's no more doing anything for me. No other kids and hubby has been walking the dog. I am usually very active so it's taken me some time to get used to just stopping. Napping during the weekend. Just have to listen to your body.

mumbolino · October 2015

It try to sleep more, go to bed earlier. etc.

But I find it hard. It seems I can't get anything done but work during the week. Just going there, and pretending to be fine and fit for the day is hard enough work.

I was always a night owl, and if I go to bed early, I don't really see my SO :-( Bohoo

I really really hope that the exhaustion just goes after after the first trimester. Magically.

All fingers and toes crossed...

mels823 · October 2015

Best advice anyone ever gave me that I actually took was to sleep as MUCH as you can. My H made fun of me non stop for how much I slept while pregnant with our first. Joke was on him after the baby was born and we didn't get more than 3 hours of sleep at a time for months! I am so thankful I slept as often as I did and even now with 1 LO, I nap on the weekends as soon as she goes down

SophiaAlbert · October 2015

I sleep 5 hours average because ibwon't fall asleep after getting up to pee.. 4 hours tonight. Killing me.

yellowkate · October 2015

I know the peeing thing is hard ... I just want to sleep but no I need to pee again!

kbrands7 · October 2015

For everyone who has trouble getting back to sleep after using the bathroom, there were two things that I did last pregnancy that helped when I struggled with that. They might be worth a try! 1) If you can, don't turn on lights when you get up to go--or use a nightlight. 2) When you get back in bed, close your eyes and do a progressive muscle relaxing exercise. The one I did went from head to toe, you'd scrunch up the muscles for a few seconds, then relax them quickly and fully as if that portion of your body is melting into the bed.

skiingstark · October 2015

House work is out the window and I am falling behind on grading my students work. My husband helped me grade some this weekend that helped. But essentially I fall asleep soo early now and there is just not enough time in the day to get all the work done between home and work.

jenashawn · October 2015

I'll admit it. .. I have went out to my car at lunch and taken a nap

lalala2004 · October 2015

skiingstark said:
House work is out the window and I am falling behind on grading my students work. My husband helped me grade some this weekend that helped. But essentially I fall asleep soo early now and there is just not enough time in the day to get all the work done between home and work.

We are living the same life. Except for grading on the weekends. Hah!

jmorgan2220 · October 2015

The exhaustion has nearly broken me. It doesn't help that I have a horrible time sleeping through the night. Not just the bathroom breaks but I'm just in general uncomfortable no matter which position I lay in. Has anybody had luck with the pregnancy pillows? Thought about giving them a try but I've heard mixed reviews from friends. Don't want to spend the money if it won't give any relief.

paulmanda · October 2015

@jmorgan2220 I also am having trouble with comfort at night. I have taken all the pillows in the house and made them mine - all throw pillows, decorative, spare bed room - ALL pillows. I also sleep on the couch with my back agains the back of the couch and pillows supporting my tummy, in between my legs, under my head, hug a pillow, and 2 pillows between my legs and the back of the couch. My husband calls it my pillow fort. I only leave it for work and the bathroom. Last night at 3am (las bathroom break) I crawled in bed with DH and he made sure he supported my back by spooning. I was able to sleep there the last 3 hours of the night. Maybe just grab more throw pillows or buy pillows you can use in the future instead of a pregnancy pillow.

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