If your pregnancy is anything like mine were, you are probably
exhausted... all the time.
It is not at all uncommon to experience pregnancy fatigue. It
seems only natural that sustaining two lives drains you of more
energy than only dealing with your own. Having a fetus growing
in your belly most certainly takes its toll on your body.
Pregnancy fatigue is often accompanied by a multitude of aches,
pains, and sore muscles. How you deal with these problems will
often determine your level of pregnancy fatigue.
Pregnancy fatigue is generally caused by your body adjusting to
natural hormonal changes, and the added weight of carrying the
baby. You may also be having trouble sleeping due to aches and
pains, vivid dreams, or simply too much stress.
As usual, raging hormones are unavoidable. But losing sleep is a
huge contributor to pregnancy fatigue.
Pregnancy fatigue is just your body's way of telling you that it
needs more rest. Then it seems reasonable to assume that the way
to start alleviating the problem is to sleep more. Try to go to
bed earlier, and get about 9-10 hours of sleep per night if you
can.
If you are having trouble sleeping, try drinking a
non-caffeinated herbal tea or lighting some scented candles.
Breathing exercises can also help you to calm your nerves for
sleep.
Try taking naps during the day in addition to sleeping more at
night, and try to stay off your feet during the day, sitting or
laying down whenever possible. Even a quick 20 or 30 minute nap
can help to alleviate pregnancy fatigue.
All of the energy that your body uses to get you through the day
comes from the food that you eat and the nutrients you consume.
Pregnancy fatigue can be diminished by simply eating the right
foods. Maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet is key.
Try to eat an extra 300 calories per day. Try to fight the urge
to consume endless amounts of junk food and empty calories. If
you feel the need to splurge, try eating an apple or something
else nutritious to curb your appetite. Iron deficiency is also a
leading cause of pregnancy fatigue, so be sure to get enough.
It may seem counter-productive, but regular light exercise will
actually make you feel more energized and help to avoid
pregnancy fatigue. Try walking around your neighborhood or mall,
or going for a swim. The exercise will leave you feeling
energized and refreshed, and will help you to sleep better at
night.
Make no mistake about it, some degree of pregnancy fatigue is
unavoidable. All pregnant women will experience it. But
hopefully, armed with these tips, you can recognize some of the
causes and begin to control your pregnancy fatigue.
About the author:
Susan Tanner is a wife and mother of three. She is also the
editor of pregnancy-guide.net. Pregnancy-Guide is an online
community for mothers to find support and valuable information.
Please visit Pregnancy-Guide at
http://www.pregnancy-guide.net
