Fatigue in Early Pregnancy

Fatigue in Early Pregnancy

Pregnancy fatigue

There are several reasons why women typically experience fatigue during the first months of pregnancy. Your body is going through changes very rapidly.

Although the baby growing inside of you is still tiny, your body is busy preparing for her to grow and develop. Even though it will be eight or nine months before you have your baby, your body is already in the beginning stages of preparing for labor and delivery.

In addition to dealing with the changes in their bodies, many women have difficulty getting adequate sleep at night because of the constant need to use the bathroom. Add in nausea, morning sickness, soreness and other early pregnancy symptoms, and you have a combination that’s bound to leave you feeling tired.

The best remedy for first-trimester fatigue is plenty of rest. Try to schedule a nap or two in the middle of your day. If you have other kids, ask your husband, mother, or a friend to step up and help watch them so you can get some much-needed rest.

Unfortunately, today’s busy lifestyles don’t always afford expectant mothers the time to take naps during the day. Aside from getting more sleep, here are a few things you can do to help alleviate fatigue during the early stages of your pregnancy:

  • Eat a healthy diet. Make sure you’re getting adequate protein and iron. You should be eating an extra 300 Calories while you are pregnant.
  • Exercise. It may seem counterintuitive to exercise to alleviate fatigue, but it works. Keep your exercise level at a light to moderate pace, but try to get in at least 20 minutes of exercise every day.
  • Get some fresh air. Even if you can’t bring yourself to exercise much, a little sunshine and fresh air can help with fatigue.
  • Herbal remedies. Herbs that can help fight fatigue during the first trimester include dandelion greens, dandelion root, and nettle leaf.
  • Aromatherapy. Several essential oils can be used to relieve fatigue during pregnancy. Two of the best are Mandarin and grapefruit essential oils.

Fortunately, fatigue generally eases off in the second trimester. Until then, do your best to get as much rest as you can.

 

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