Fighting the Fatigue

mbirdie · June 2017

I noticed in the symptoms post that a lot of us are dealing with fatigue as one of our main symptoms. I'm a stm and this was of of the symptoms that stuck through my whole pregnancy. I mean of course we're tired we're growing humans! Plus I always joked that it's just preparing us for sleepless nights and chasing toddlers.
Last pregnancy I let it totally overcome me though, I'd get home from work and sleep for hours.
I only have 2 weeks left of work before my summer holidays and I want to have a fun summer with my 14 month old and husband and not miss out because I'm sleeping! Plus I'll have my 14 month old with me all day everyday so I need to be awake!
Wondering if anyone has found ways to fight against the fatigue without drinking a whole pot of coffee, haha.

meatballs37 · June 2017

This probably could have stayed in the symptoms thread since you talked a lot about your personal experience. But to answer your question, nothing worked for me last time either. I think it's just a symptom you have to power through.

RSaini · June 2017

Well my last pregnancy I just never stopped moving. If I gave in to the tiredness I would never get anything done. I kept working until the day I went into labour. I HOPE to do the same this time around but I have a 1 year old and I think I'll be more tired than last time trying to keep up with him. I don't think there is anything we can do about it but try to overcome it with our minds.

Zoey1019 · June 2017

@meatball37 I second that...let's keep symptom talk on symptoms thread! Or else we are going to have a lot of dear diary's!

sabriel1 · June 2017

You can't give in or else it gets worse. Though, I don't drink caffeine as it is so maybe being pregnant is less of an adjustment on this level

mbirdie · June 2017

Zoey1019 said:

@meatball37 I second that...let's keep symptom talk on symptoms thread! Or else we are going to have a lot of dear diary's!

Sounds good! I moved my dear diary over to the symptoms thread.

Ashoes123 · June 2017

Looks like no one answered over on the Sympton thread.

I am almost boat melanie, I have an 18 month at home and can't just come home from work and nap like I did the first time around. It helps me to have a plan in place (no matter how small the plan) and try to keep it realistic. In the morning on my way to work, I think about exactly what I'll do with my daughter when I get home and try to look forward to that. For example, "I'll bring her to the pond and sit at the picnic table while she runs around a bit before going home and making a simple dinner and after we will read a book before bed."

This helps a lot, I'm so utterly exhausted all the time that when I don't do this I just fall on the sofa and let her watch tv until bedtime.

MamaRoni · June 2017

When did it b3come "mandatory" to have just one symptom thread. I've been a member here for YEARS and moms have always been able start threads about what they are feeling or doing etc...
Seems to me taking that away takes away the support aspect of this community

meatballs37 · June 2017

MamaRoni said:

When did it b3come "mandatory" to have just one symptom thread. I've been a member here for YEARS and moms have always been able start threads about what they are feeling or doing etc...
Seems to me taking that away takes away the support aspect of this community

I think it is a great way to keep the board organized. Especially this early in the pregnancy when there may be losses and I think those deserve a thread on their own. It would be a shame that those important posts got lost in a sea of "I'm tired, anyone else." No need to post a SS post about IE: morning sickness, when in likelihood everyone else has the same thing going on. It is a great way to establish a tight community from the get go. On my last board, we kept it organized and respectful and we now have a group of 60 women on a private facebook group that have become like family. One of our ladies delivered her baby at 26 weeks, and I am glad our board didn't have 20 threads on second trimester symptoms. And instead were able to rally and support that thread.

MamaRoni · June 2017

I agree with trying not to lose posts.... but with 5 previous babies.... i have been part of some great groups.... but never have I been on one that wanted all symptoms put in only the symptom thread.
Just imagine yourself as a ftm.... with some strange feelings.... and instead of getting reassurance from other Btdt moms.... you are scrolling thru 100 posts trying to see if anyone else has ever posted that symptom before.... so that you can find it... read it and see if you are crazy.

I swear I'm not being a pain.... I promise. I just feel like this early in the game it won't kill the board to have some extra posts floating around.... where newbies can post and bond.... and where us btdt moms either offer advice or scroll on by.

I mean I wish fb had an option to not have a single redundant post.... only 1 thrive, 1 rodan and fields, 1 plexus etc etc....

Maybe because I'm old (yes Lord I am).... I just scroll by what I don't want to read or comment on what I want to participate in...

Best wishes for all of us

meatballs37 · June 2017

@MamaRoni totally get it. But it would be quite the gray area of SS posts versus a serious symptom. And I'm a firm believer that if you are having that serious of a symptom, you should call a medical professional and not seek out strangers on the internet. Nurse hotline numbers where we live are open 24-7 along with emergency rooms.

I also think TB has evolved a lot over the years. It changes like anything else. I personally like the organization because I can see how it benefited in the end when we got to know each other more and the babies were born.

And no worries, I'm an older mama too.

meatballs37 · June 2017

Not to beat a dead horse. But I just looked and saw the Weekly symptom page is 3 pages long. Could you imagine that many threads on the main page? Eeek!

Ashoes123 · June 2017

I was kind of hoping this thread would turn into a "lets all talk about ways to fight the fatigue!" Which seems like it would get skipped over in the Synptoms thread. It seems like lots of people are just posting exactly what's going on with themselves right now over there (which is very therapeutic!) But I think maybe the sad reality is that there is no real way to fight the fatigue. Everything online just says "water, naps, eat right, blah, blah".

BTW @meatball37 your username and icon are making me very hungry, is that by design?

meatballs37 · June 2017

@Ashoes123 it's what our DD's nickname is. Lol! She's a little chunk and DH started calling her it and it's stuck. My mother thinks it's absolutely horrible we call her that. Wait until she finds out her first birthday theme is going to be lady and the tramp.

Ashoes123 · June 2017

@meatball37 Love it! I think it's an adorable nickname!

GraceUponGrace09 · June 2017

@meatball37 haha, that's a hilarious birthday theme considering her nm. Love it!

TattoosandLace · June 2017

I am all for for organization. Hell, my last BMB got a reputation for being snarky b*tches about organization. However, I don't think ways to combat fatigue belongs in the weekly symptoms thread. There could be valuable information in a combating thread for FTMs, etc.

meatballs37 · June 2017

Well fatigue is a symptom...and not a mind blowing one either IMO.

mlb15 · June 2017

Fatigue was in full force today! I actually was googling ways to fight fatigue a couple hours ago- was excited to see it as a topic here. After finding nothing to useful on the internet I realized I needed to just get up and get moving. Took my two year old outside. The fresh air helped and when we came back inside I had enough energy to get some cleaning done.

mbirdie · June 2017

So glad to see some responses in here since I didn't get anything in the symptoms thread! I was always too scared to post in my last BMB because I didn't want to get attacked so I really appreciate the support!
While I suppose fatigue is to be expected it is by far the toughest part of pregnancy for me as being "stuck" in bed was something I struggled through with my past depression.
Just hearing that it is super common and getting ideas like going outside and creating a small routine or schedule is really helpful! So thank you everyone for your support. I have found texting my husband with plans for the evening to be really helpful for the past few days. And going to bed early instead of having big evening naps!

TattoosandLace · June 2017

meatball37 said:

Well fatigue is a symptom...and not a mind blowing one either IMO.

Thanks for your opinion. Clearly, we differ in opinions. Seeing as the symptoms thread is usually just bitching about symptoms, is there really harm in having a combating symptom thread? It's not like there's a ton of threads on the boards yet. No baby shower threads or anatomy scan threads. Had OP stuck to just asking for ways to combat it, would you have had the same issue?

ashhsa · June 2017

Well, honestly it sucks that is not an actual fix- but the best way to fight the fatigue for me is phisical activity- even if it's just stacking the dishwasher- the second I sit down it hits me but if I'm doing something else at all- even something simple- that involves standing/walking I feel distracted- oh and Naps- naps help. Lmao!

meatballs37 · June 2017

@TattoosandLace I think I explained my reasons pretty thoroughly above.

valdezkip · June 2017

@ashhsa I am the same. If i come home and sit, than my night is over. If I keep moving then I'm ok for a while longer. The water thing has helped me a lot too but getting 8 glasses in a day can be tough. Especially since I am a water snob and can only drink bottled water right now for some reason.

swifty601 · June 2017

Well...I for one was SO glad to see this thread (minus the caddy comments throughout). As a first time mom (sorry, still easier for me to just use the actual words...promise I'm working on it) I do scour the symptoms threads to make sure I'm not crazy. This one hit me HARD today...but I think part of it is the fact that it's the first day of summer break (teacher here), I'm home alone and it's hot...I've just given in. I KNOW if I get moving I'll be fine...but ugh. As for tips..the one I have noticed helps is definitely distraction.. as long as I'm doing something I'm fine...good luck to all!

ashhsa · June 2017

Yes- I do need to start drink more water, thank for the reminder- it also helps with cramping!

awb1216 · June 2017

I'm happy to see this thread, because this is one symptom that's overwhelming me right now. I don't remember having so much exhaustion with DS, but now it's here in full force!

I've been going to be extra early (as in 8:15 right now), and leaving everything I need to do for first thing in the morning when I have more energy. I also took naps this weekend, but I work 9-5 so I don't get that luxury during the week. Although, I have to admit that sitting at a desk is less exhausting than chasing a toddler around.

Other than that, ice cold lemon water is the only other thing that seems to help. And my one cup of coffee in the morning--I'm thinking about switching to multiple cups of green tea throughout the day.

dem068a · June 2017

I agree with the keeping moving. I find that I get extremely tired at the same time each day (3pm- which is actually the same exactly thing that happened during my first pregnancy). So from 2:30-4 I can't be laying, or even sitting, on the couch while my 15 month old plays because I might actually doze off (it almost happened the other day). So now I make sure we are either at the park/pool/ somewhere else, and it helps a lot. I did find that the fatigue got a lot better for me in the 2nd trimester last time, so hopefully you won't be dealing with this until feb!

julievdm12 · June 2017

Don't want to get everyones hopes up but honestly I felt like a new person when the second trimester hit with my other two pregnancies.
Hope we all feel that way soon!

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