Fatigue Problems During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, most women experience extreme tiredness and fatigue. It is quite normal to feel tired during pregnancy as your body undergoes different types of changes,  and pains, aches, tender nipples etc occur. During the early and later stages of pregnancy, fatigue becomes very common. Some pregnant women experience fatigue throughout the whole pregnancy yet some don’t feel tired at all.

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Reasons for fatigue

Though the actual reasons for fatigue during early pregnancy are not known, it is assumed that  hormonal changes are the main reason. As progesterone is known to make one tired and sluggish, rapid rise of this hormone in pregnant women make them feel more tired. The hormonal changes results in a mess of stress level with the mental state taking a toll on the rest of the body making you feel tired. At the end of the first trimester, all these symptoms reduce to a great extent. If they still continue in the second trimester, it is advisable to consult your doctor.

Moreover, most pregnant women get affected with anaemic problems. The symptom of anaemia during pregnancy is fatigue. An expectant woman needs greater amount of iron for the baby and for the blood loss during the delivery.

Some other causes of fatigue may include the stress of becoming a mother, carrying twins, vitamin D deficiency etc.

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How long does fatigue last?

Fatigue is common in the first and third trimester, but in some cases it may occur in the second trimester, as well. You will gain more weight during the last months of pregnancy resulting in  trouble while sleeping, backache, leg cramps, heartburn etc. So, it is very natural to get tired and restless during the first three months and the last months of pregnancy.

How to reduce fatigue during pregnancy?

Though there is no prescription to reduce fatigue, doctors advise pregnant women to rest and relax.  The following tips may help you to prevent and manage fatigue during pregnancy.

  • Take rest as much as possible
  • Drink lots of fluids in order to keep hydrated
  • Take power naps in the afternoon to compensate loss of sleep at night
  • Eat small but healthy meals throughout the day which will help you gain energy
  • Do some deep-breathing exercises, some stretches or take a short walk every day
  • Include protein and iron rich food like whole grain bread, red meat, sea food, leafy vegetables
  • Go to bed early and try to get a good night’s sleep
  • Adjust your work schedule and be less busy during your pregnancy. You can ask your family to help you in household activities.

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Consult your doctor if the following occur:

  • Fatigue due to extreme thirst and hunger
  • Fatigue due to sore throat, swollen glands or fever
  • Excessive fatigue along with vomiting, nausea, increased urination etc
  • Fatigue due to depression or stress
  • Fatigue even after proper rest

Though it is pretty normal to be tired during the first and last trimester of pregnancy, at times it is advisable to consult your doctor. Taking proper rest is one of the best ways to get relief from stress and tiredness during pregnancy.

Trimesterwise Tips for Expecting Moms

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 Having a life growing inside you is nothing less than a miracle! Experiencing the entire process month by month is simply astounding. But then pregnancy comes with its own challenges and complexities that are only experienced as the time flows in the 9-month course. This blog post offers you elaborate trimesterwise tips for expecting moms.

Before we go into the pregnancy tips, let’s have a quick look at the biological changes that take place during pregnancy.

The First Trimester (First three months)

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 Pic courtesy: http://www.pregmed.org/the-first-trimester-of-pregnancy

The fetus has started taking human shape with all the internal organs showing up. You will experience the following changes:

  • You will feel your uterus has ascended above the pelvis region
  • You will now feel less to no morning sickness and will put on weight. Ahh! This can give you mixed feelings!!
  • The fetus has now evolved into a fully formed body with fingers, toes and ears, with the body covered with fine hair
  • You can now press your stomach to feel your baby’s movement 

The Second Trimester (3rd to 6th month)

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Pic courtesy: http://www.slideshare.net/TerroWhite/stages-of-pregnancy-tips-facts-warnings

 By now your uterus has been steadily preparing itself for labour. You will experience the following changes:

  • You will feel painless contractions known as the Braxton Hicks contractions
  • Every week you will put on 1/2 kg of weight
  • You may experience constipation and indigestion
  • Your uterus has now risen 5cm above the pelvis
  • By the 16th week, you can clearly feel your baby’s movement

The Third Trimester (6th to 9th month)

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Pic courtesy: http://www.citranatal.com/pregnancy/third-trimester

You are now in the last phase of your pregnancy and your baby has now fully grown. You will experience the following changes:

  • Because of the consistent weight gain, you have now become breathless
  • The movement as the baby’s head drops to the pelvis — you’ll have a thud-like feeling
  • The weight of your baby should be 2.7-3.5 kg
  • You will experience difficulty in sleeping
  • Your breasts will now start secreting transparent colostrum i.e. protein-enriched pre-milk
  • Your placenta has now enlarged up to 20-25 cms and holds 1.1 ltr of amniotic fluid

TIMESTERWISE NUTRITION TIPS

First Trimester (First three months)

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Pic courtesy:http://www.momjunction.com/articles/first-trimester-diet-essential-foods-you-should-include_00116232/

 Add Folic Acid to your pregnancy diet

Folic acid/Folate is Vitamin B that plays an important role in the development of baby’s skull and brain including its spinal cord.

What to eat –

  • Vegetables such as spinach, ladies finger, broccoli, cabbage
  • Pulses that include lentils, beans and chick peas
  • Others include oranges, eggs, brown rice, baked potatoes, asparagus, corn, brown breads etc.

Tip – Do not cook the above veggies, as folic acid is lost during cooking, instead boil and have them.

Add calcium to your pregnancy diet

Someone on a public health forum had posed this question – “I don’t really like milk… is it such a big deal if I don’t get enough calcium while I’m pregnant?” And the collective response was a big YES.

Calcium plays a crucial role in developing the baby’s bones, teeth, muscles, nerves and heart. When the growing baby does not get the required amount of calcium then it starts extracting it from the mother’s bones. Doctors recommend consuming 1,000 mg of calcium every day.

 What to eat –

  • Dairy products that ensure less to no fat such as low fat curd, skimmed milk
  • Green leafy veggies such as cauliflower, broccoli and watercress (Jalkumbji)
  • Dry fruits including almonds, apricots and figs (anjeer)
  • Others include tofu, small fish with edible bones, cereals and oranges

Tip – The best way to confirm calcium usage is by consuming Vitamin D. So try to eat foods rich in Vitamin D such as boiled egg, asparagus, fish etc.

Second Trimester (From 3rd to 6th month)

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Pic courtesy: http://www.fitmommacleanbaby.com/

 Add Vitamin C to your diet

Vitamin C helps in forming collagen. It is the most widely available protein in the human body, mostly the component of tendons, bones, cartilage and skin.

What to eat –

  • Citrus fruits including lemon, orange, grapefruits
  • Other fruits such as pumpkin, pineapple, guavas, berries, kiwi
  • Vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, sprouts, bell peppers

Add Omega-3 to your diet

Since Omega-3 (DHA) helps in the development of nervous, immune systems and brain, so it becomes highly necessary for you to start consuming foods laden with omega-3 as you enter your second trimester. 

What to eat –

  • Salmon, flax seeds, soybean, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, spinach

Add magnesium to your diet

Magnesium also largely helps in the development of baby’s bones.

What to eat –

  • Seeds such as pumpkin and sunflower seeds
  • Dry fruits such as avocado, almonds, raisins, cashews
  • Vegetables such as legumes, kidney beans
  • Other sources include banana, oatmeal, soybean and nuts

Third Trimester (From 6th to 9th month)

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In this trimester, the baby grows completely so the intake of nutrition also increases. Therefore, mom needs to have an extra of 2300 calories on a daily basis.

What to eat –

Try to consume 250ml of fruit juice on a daily basis. You should also consume low fat milk/yoghurt of the same quantity. Add wholemeal toasts with low fat cheese spread to your breakfast. And if you are a non-vegetarian then you should have 40gms of meat with raw vegetables regularly.

So those were some trimesterwise tips for expecting Moms.
Hope you found this post useful!