Exhaustion can be such a drag but be assured it’s normal to feel more tired than usual when you are pregnant. Fatigue is especially prominent in the first and third trimesters.
Is exhaustion, tiredness, and fatigue taking a hold on you? Exhaustion can be such a drag but be assured it’s normal to feel more tired than usual when you are pregnant. Fatigue is especially prominent in the first and third trimesters.
But the real question is if extreme fatigue is normal in pregnancy? The short answer is yes, fatigue or even extreme fatigue is an early sign of pregnancy that nearly all women experience in the first trimester. By the third trimester almost 60% of all pregnant women are affected by extreme fatigue.
What causes fatigue during early pregnancy, you ask? Well, your body is building another human and this means there is the building of the placenta, increased blood supply, a higher heart rate and lower blood pressure as well as the many hormone fluctuations, all happening in your body at a rapid rate. As your pregnancy progresses and you get to your third-trimester factors such as a growing baby bump, pregnancy insomnia, and the anxiety of having a baby can wear you down even more.
I’m pretty sure exercise is the last thing you want to do when faced with the kind of fatigue pregnant women feel, yet I am here to tell you that exercise can actually help you feel more energized and revitalised. I am also here to tell you that working out during pregnancy doesn’t have to be exhausting to be effective. Pre-natal yoga or Pilates class can be even more relaxing and rejuvenating than just lounging on the sofa. Another great form of exercise that will leave you feeling refreshing is swimming, especially since it leaves you feeling weightless.
Keep your energy up by having a light healthy snack – like protein and complex carbs. An example of this could be a hard-boiled egg and a piece of fruit which makes a handy breakfast or snack. Have these handy as you go about your day, and most importantly make sure you are hydrated.
Let’s be honest, there will be days in your pregnancy where you will be too tired to contemplate any form of movement. So if you can’t muster up the energy to move, it’s no big deal. Take advantage of your feel-good days to get your body moving.
Disclaimer:
• Always check with your doctor first before engaging in any pregnancy workout
