Need More Energy - Springfield, OR

Hi M.!
I have three kids various ages. If I would have been aware of XS energy drinks I would have used them on a daily basis while pregnant. I am a certified Personal Trainer and Group exercise Instructor. I teach multiple classes a week, and continued throughout my pregnancies. I use the XS syrup concentrate and add it to my water every morning. I still take multi's and some other supplements, but while pregnant you should be OK to use this product. You can buy it in a caffeine free version as well. The amount of caffeine in the ones "with caffeine" only equal about a quarter cup coffee (about the same in a can of soda), very minimal. There are lots of different flavors. Basically to sum it up there are ton's of B vitamins in this, and it tastes great, and is low calorie, only 8 calories per serving. If you'd like more info on this product you can always email me :) Also any questions on exercise and pregnancy you may have, I'd be happy to answer!
K.
____@____.com

I don't have any help, but when I was pregnant with my second, so many said that the second was easier....glad to know that I wasn't the only one who had a hard time with the second one! One friend mentioned Emergen-C...but I couldn't really stomach that. good luck! Get hubby to help and let some things go so that you can get some rest.

I was caring for three children while pregnant with my son. Each afternoon I was so exhausted I finally had to quit my job because it was affecting my mood as well.

Like many people suggested, get as much sleep as you can. Take a nap whenever possible. Lie down when you can. Cut out the caffiene completely.

My naturopath midwife suggested the Zone diet to help with the up/down energy that I was experiencing. It regulates blood sugar and was very easy to use. I realized that what I considered 'healthy' eating was pretty out of whack. After just a few days of eating this way I noticed a marked difference in my energy. I still use this way of eating as much as possible. I found that this worked well with my vegetarian way of eating, I could eat until I was full (depending on what I chose) and there were a lot of tasty choices. I never felt deprived.

And, whenever you can, walk. Pop your little one in the stroller with the rain cover or whatever you need for their comfort and get some fresh air. If you can do this regularly it will help your energy as well. If you live in a place where walking is difficult, consider prenatal water aerobics or yoga or bellydance (which was actually created by women to help each other labor!)...anything that will get your body moving.

I had my third seven months ago. The other ladies are not lying when they say it gets harder with each one. I found that although I loved my limited caffine it was the nature to all my lack of energy. I would drink it and found that instead of the energgy boost it slowed me down even more. Try going without for a week and see how you feel. I now just have my 1 cup in the morning to get me going, i found that drinking it later in the day just knocks me out. It probably has to do with how my body metalbolized it after being prego. I would after week ask your ob what he/she thinks you should do if the no caffine doesnt do the trick. Good luck and congrats!!

Hi M. - Have you talked with your OB about this? Are you taking your prenatal vitamins? You may also be low on your iron - again your OB can work with you on that, if your iron is low add more iron rich food to your diet and they may also suggest iron supplements, that is something I had to do with my second child too. Also look at your meals: rich healthy food or quick easy food? Have you tried an early bed time for yourself? I know with having a little one already can tire you out too. Are you able to have some free time during the day - like take a cat nap during a break. If you are still working check your work area & see if something needs to be adjusted (like chair or workstation) that might be adding fatigue to your body. But the important thing is to keep your OB in the loop as to what is going on with you no matter what. Let them help you make decisions especially before you start to "take something" because it may react to your body differently than it does with another person and it can affect your baby. So as long as you open a good conversation with your OB and they are good with the advice even brought to you through Mamasource then you should be good to go. Hope that help

When I was pregnant I was REALLY tired (I had to nap every day just to function) and it turned out that I was anemic and had to take iron supplements. Have you been tested? Just a thought~S.

I would suggest getting your iron and B-12 levels checked. My B-12 was way low when I was pregnant and after getting a B-12 injection I felt a big difference in my energy and mood. Now I use a B-12 patch once a week and it works great.

Hi M.

My name is W.. Did you find something or are you still searching? What I can share with you is fully natural and safe to use during pregnancy. Let me know - W.

I had huge problems with energy - B12 and iron helped a lot.

Have you had your iron checked? Try eating food high in iron. When I got really tired during my last preg, my iron was low. tslk toyour Dr about being more tired than you feel you should be. COngrats!!

Hi M., My name is S., and I just wanted to let you know, that I have this awesome product called Bazi. It has 8 superfruits, 12 vitamin as 68 all natural minerals. I have a friend that had twins while on Bazi, and it helped you with energy tremendously. She had it checked out with her doctor, and he gave her the ok. I also have another friend that was on it as well, and she gave birth to a healthy 10.9 lb Baby boy. It has about as much caffiene as a quarter cup of coffee, so it is really minimal. The fruits are blueberry, raspberry, pomegranate, acai, goji, mangosteen, seabuckthorn and Jujube. You just take a one ounce shot in the morning or when ver you need a pick up. This will net give you shakes, a "crash" or anything negative like that. Just a steady, focused, clarity kind of energy. Check out my website www.drinkbazi.com/shannam Depending on where you live, I could meet you and give you a sample. Hope that helps. If you have any questions let me know.

I too am pregnant (third baby - trust me it get's harder with each one). B vitamins are excellent energy boosters. I think B-12 is the best one (be sure to consult your dr. before taking any to make sure it won't interfere with your prenatal). Go to a vitamin store and talk to the workers about the best to buy.
Also try chugging 8 oz of water. I know going pee 24/7 is terrible (trust me - I got up ten times last night - but I'm pretty close to the end and he's sitting on my bladder). Your pregnant body needs almost double the amount of water - that means an extra 50-80 oz of water a day! You can get this in tea or coffee as well, but for a fresh boost get a nice, cold glass of water.
I know it sounds contradictory but a walk helps as well. Especially to get the other one out. I take my two toddlers out and I "run" them for about ten minutes. There's a secluded walking path where I can let them take off while I walk at a pace that suits me.
I think your best bet for a safe boost will be a combo of the above. I search for energy everyday and find myself uplifted after any of these and especially after a combo of them. Best of luck!

Time to see the doc.

Exhaustion is usually a symptom of something else. Others have mentioned anemia, and I have a list of about 10-30 other things it could be...and since most of them need a blood test or an exam I'm not going to list them out.

So make an appointment, get some sleep...even a babysitting appt midday to take a nap, and keep your calcium levels up (spinach, dairy). (Ca++ is required for a muscle fiber to contract. It's funny how often I can be dragging, eat or drink something high in calcium and BOOM, and oh boy, walking 10 feet doesn't seem like a chore anymore.)

Hi M.. Before you take any type of supplement, please talk to your OB. There is no real regulation of supplements, whether they be natural or otherwise. Many of them have levels of certain ingredients that are toxic to any person, much more to a pregnant woman. I would be extremely cautious about taking anything beyond a prenatal vitamin, but your doctor may have ideas. You might consider stopping the caffeine all together. It will probably help. I remember how much more exausted I was with baby number two. Is there any way you can get in a nap during the day? I know that's a real luxury for so many of us, but it's worth trying. Do you have a neighbor or friend who can take your little one for even one hour during the day, so you can sit down? At the very least, try to do only what you really have to do right now. If the dishes don't get done right away, oh well! I know there are things that can't be put off, because you already have a two-year-old. But the rest of it may just have to wait for a while. And that is really OK. You deserve some rest. After all, you are creating a new human being, which is highly underrated. :) I wish you lots of luck and a smooth delivery, M..

Ask your Doctor to give you a test for you iron and thyroid levels. I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO exhausted with this pregnancy and every time i went to the doctor i told him that i was too tired to function even though i was taking a nap and sleeping lots. I was miserable. I asked him to check these things and he told me to wait another 5 weeks until they usually do it. I like a fool followed his advice instead of insisting and then 5 weeks later LO and BEHOLD I am anemic. After about 3-4 weeks of taking iron tabs every day I feel much better. I am just mad that I didn't listen to my inner voice and insist earlier. I feel like i suffered needlessly for 5 weeks. SO INSIST, lots of women get low iron during pregnancy and also sometimes thyroid changes. If you are having thyroid problmes it is bad forthe baby and you need to have that checked. This is not a routine test but they will give it to you if you ask for it.

Have your ob/gyn check your iron levels. I had anemia with my daughter and once I knew it and was able to start taking iron, I felt sooooooo much better! One problem that is common with iron supplements is constipation. My ob suggested I take "slow-fe" to help with that. It's a slower release formula so it's not nearly as hard on the sytem. I also took a vegetable laxative at the same time and never had trouble with constipation or the opposite! :) Good luck!

Hi Mani,

I would say you should have your iron level checked if you haven't yet. Other than that, try to get adequated rest, eat healthy, and make sure you are getting exercise. You've already had some good advice, I hope all goes well.

HI Mandy,

Congratulations on your pregnancy! This is such an exciting time, there is nothing in the world like being pregnant. My advice would be for you to get lots of antioxidants. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, bioflavonoids like those found in berries and eat lots of dark green leafy vegetables. Caffeine provides a temporary boost, but is bad for your baby's development, and bad for you. Instead, make a smoothie in the morning with lots of berries and other vitamin rich fruits. Omega 3's are very important too and you will be amazed at how much better you feel when consuming them. Fish oil supplements are not the best source however because of the mercury in fish. Instead find alaska canned salmon, it is free of mercury. I can send you a delicious and easy salmon patty recipe if you like, just email me. Eat lots of nuts, berries, avocados, and coconut oil too, very good for both you and your baby. Vitamin B12 is also great for energy so do a google search for foods rich in that. Supplements don't work as well and are hard to find good quality. Drink lots of water, your body needs twice as much as normal right now, and caffeine robs you of it, probably why you feel so run down. If you are anemic, avoid iron supplements, they don't work and just make you constipated. Chlorophyl is a great iron source and can be found at a health food store. My midwife put me on it when I was anemic during my first pregnancy, and I have never been anemic since. Remember doctors know very little about nutrition, they have once course in it in all their years at medical school, and it is optional. The internet is a great tool, use it often. Good luck and good health to you.

Hi M.,
What you need is whole foods, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains, and some lean meats. Our bodies run best on these things, not on highly processed foods that are high in sugar, bad fats, preservatives, colors, etc. My family takes Juice Plus, it is a simple way to get the nutritional equivalent of 17 servings of fresh, raw fruits, vegetables and 2 whole grains everyday. Checkout my website for more information and to see the amazing research behind it. www.dblairjuiceplus.com or call me at ###-###-#### and I will tell you more about it! Have a good weekend.
D. B., LMT
Wellness Educator

Well, a lot of the advice is great so far...just eat an abundance of the foods that you have available at your supermarket. Your body regenerates itself from simple molecules that you'll find in fresh, natural foods. Also, drinks plenty of water. Especially since you're pregnant. I couldn't stress that enough. Water helps to keep your system running smoothly, so when something is blocking the system then it really won't matter what else you try. I have always liked water with a squeeze of lime in it. Any kind of citrus fruit in your drink will help your mood too! I hope things look better for you. I know my second was a touch and go process and sometimes you just have to go with the flow. I do hope these suggestions help though.

Hi M. - lots of great advice!! First and foremost, a visit to the doctor is likely in order. Iron count certainly should be checked.

If you are looking for a natural energy boost, take a look at the Arbonne NRG GO3 Fizzing beverage tablet

www.arbonne.com/products/weight_loss/figure8/program/nrgg....

You simply drop a tablet into 8 oz of water for a natural on-the-go energy drink. No artificial colors or sweeteners (uses Steevia, which is a natural sweetener). Comes in Citrus flavor or a new Pomegranate Splash (which is awesome). Only has 50mg caffeine (1/3 of the caffeine that's in a cup of coffee) which comes from Green Tea, and they also contain Guarana, which is a natural remedy for boosting energy. So no big crash like you might get with store bought energy drinks which can be full of sugars and such, or coffee. Just a steady energy throughout the day. I don't know how I would live without it, honestly.

I'm happy to send you an ingredient list if you'd like to take it to your doctor, but it should be just fine while pregnant.

Good luck!
P. Greb
Exec. Area Manager
Arbonne International
www.pamelagreb.myarbonne.com

protien and lots of water!

Are you getting enough iron?

Ask your doctor if you can take fish oil, it made a big difference in my energy level. Or vitamin D?

And get rid of the coffee. It is only a temporary solution. Then you crash.

Every one is more tired the second time around, especially with a two year old. Sleep as much as you can.