Am I Supposed to Be THIS Tired????

Updated on February 16, 2011
J.P. asks from Ventura, CA
18 answers

I'm prego with #4 and my need for sleep is insatiable. I literally sleep from 8 pm to 7 am then from 8:30 am to 11 am and then I want/need a nap in the afternoon. I know that I'm doing stuff to take care of home and family, but even so, I get tired from making my bed. I'm 15 weeks along and am SUPPOSED to be feeling a little more normal in this middle trimester. Obviously this isn't my first rodeo, so if I thought this was just a mediocre problem, I wouldn't be strumming up your advice. I feel like I can't function and I HAVE to. Should I be concerned enough to bring this up at the next OB visit or do I just accept this as how this pregnancy is going to be? Advice. Suggestions. Please.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. Yesterday morning I went to get the normal bloodwork done, and driving the twenty miles back home and feeling afraid I was gonna fall asleep behind the wheel led me to posting this question. Well, this morning I called the doctor and at first the nurse just told me that I need to take it easier and rest more--I let her know I can't possibly rest more. It didn't make a difference except that my house was messier and the kids grumpier. She called me back later and said she checked on my results from yesterday and, yep, my iron was low. I'm guessing it's not anemic-low since she just said to get some iron supplements and take two a day--no prescription. But if that's what it takes to feel like myself again, I'll do it happily. I don't like drama and hate to create "imagined illness" so it is a relief in a way that it wasn't just in my head. And hopefully this will do the trick and get me back on track.Thanks for all the advice--it really helped! Oh, and to answer questions: yes I'm eating well; but yes, I'm still getting sick a little; I take my prenatals but not religiously as they make me sick; I get out for a walk every/other day; I drink lots of water; I never drank coffee; doesn't EVERYONE have emotional issues!? (I'm not stressed about anything except how tired I am.) Thanks for all of it gals!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.R.

answers from Miami on

Hi Mom 2 3 ninas,
You have received great advice below. I thus will only add a new thought:
1. ARe you taking pre-natal vitamins?
2. Are you drinking plenty of water (water fites fatigue)....
3. Did you enjoy coffee before being pregnant and maybe now the lack of caffeine deepens the fatigue?
4. Any emotional issues weighing on you?
5. are you eating well? are you keeping food down?
6. are you getting fresh air?

Best of Luck to you.
Jilly

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.M.

answers from Denver on

Could be lot of things, including anemia. I would talk to the doc. Tired is normal but you sound beyond tired. :)

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.J.

answers from Seattle on

I would call and let them know this week, they'll probably have you come in for blood and urine work... extreme fatigue is a symtom of many problems, anemia & blood sugar issues (either too high OR too low) leap to mind. Both are easily fixed.

Same token there is a VERY small subset of women who instead of POST partum depression, hormone trigger depression while pregnant. In fact, for those of us who are lucky enough to get it (actually, that's only 1/2 sarcastic... because the MOMENT your child is born you start feeling *wonderful* / more like yourself more and more every day, which REALLY helps with the whole sleep dep thing)... there is something called "the suicide hours". Usually in the evening/ late afternoon... lasts typically for 1-2 hours. In the beginning it starts out as an "I can't DO this anymore, I'm EXHAUSTED." and by 2nd trimester you're sitting on a chair gripping it with both hands to keep from offing yourself. The ONLY nice thing about "the suicide hours" is that you can a) plan for them and b) you really gain a lot of faith in knowing they will pass. HOWEVER... there are a handful of antidepressants that are totally safe to take while pregnant. Sigh. Didn't learn about them until after my son was born and I was chatting up with my OB telling her what a *relief* it was. ((She struck her hand to her forehead and said "HONEY... these are things you TELL your doctor. We could have fixed you up very very simply on either a, b, or c." Whoops.)) Pregnancy depression runs in my family, however, so it didn't even occur to me to mention it. Just shared a lot of macabre humor with the other moms in my family and suffered through, and slept as much as I could. Sigh.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.G.

answers from Chicago on

Talk with your doctor. It should be better by now, and there are many causes of fatigue.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.M.

answers from Denver on

Definitely talk w/ your doctor - you know the "drill" and your body best. If you are asking - please check it out. Might be a simple iron or thyroid issue... good luck and congrats!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Dallas on

I would talk tour your doctor about concerns. I am sure they maybe havent done bloodwork yet to find any issues. Another reason could be that you have three other kiddos that are demanding your time. I would definely ask for help from hubs. I would call the doctor today or tomorrow and let her knnow. She might want to see you within the next couple days just to check you.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.K.

answers from San Diego on

Hello, I have four grown kids. I don't remember being quite that tired during any of my pregnancies. I was doing full time home daycare when I was pregnant with my last two kids. I would talk to the doctor about this and maybe he/she will want to run some blood work. Dawn B. had a good suggestion about having your thyroid checked. This is also done by bloodwork. I was as tired as you are describing a few years ago and when the doctor did the tests, it came back that I have thyroid disease. I was very happy that was all it was. I say "all it was" lightly. This can be a big problem if not treated. I am on medication for my thyroid and it has made a big difference in how I feel.
Good luck with your precious family.
K. K.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from Boston on

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I'd mention it to your OB, but I was _exhausted_ with my daughter. Like glued to the sofa exhausted. Sometimes that's how it goes. Hope it gets better soon!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

This is definitely not normal. Certainly bring it up at your next appointment and hopefully your doc will do some bloodwork. You very likely could be anemic or be deficient in something else.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.K.

answers from San Diego on

i want to sleep that much and i'm not even pg. but when i was, yes i slept a lot.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have you had your iron checked? I was ridiculously tired during my second pregnancy and they found that my iron levels were really low. I started taking 3 iron pills a day to make up for it. It definitely helped. I was still tired (who wouldn't be when you're chasing a 3 year old around), but it got much better.

I wouldn't wait until your next OB visit. Call them tomorrow and see if they can offer any help or advice right away.

K.
http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao - shop our 20% off sale AND get certain toys before they are discontinued at the end of February!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

It's winter-maybe you need a little extra vitamin D? Check with the doc-I can remember sleeping on the floor in the play are(dining room) while the little ones crunched around me!

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Pocatello on

My first thought is that I bet your very anemic this pregnancy. Just cause you didn't have it with the other pregnancies doesn't mean you don't have it now. I was very anemic with my first 2 pregnancies. I felt just like you. So tired all the time. I would take 2 naps a day and would be falling asleep by 8 at night trying to watch tv with my hubby. But this pregnancy I have felt great. A little tired but not like before and this time when I got blood work done i wasn't anemic at all. So yes ask to be tested soon. If you are anemic you need to start taking extra iron pills along with your prenatals. That will help you to feel so much better. Also I don't know if you would want to do this but the only reason I don't think I'm anemic this time around is because I drink a slimfast every morning for breakfast. It's got lots of vitamins and iron in it. that's the only thing different I've done with this pregnancy so I believe the extra iron in that drink is what has helped me this time around.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.Y.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'm wondering if you may need an iron supplement, such as floradix. I'm wondering what your diet is like, are you consuming a protein with your carbs, are you getting leafy greens, raisins? These things can have a profound affect on how much energy you have. Of course, you know to expect your share of exhaustion, but like you said, it may be a bit excessive, so look into what you are taking in.

1 mom found this helpful

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

I think this is excessive and think a few blood tests would be in order. Yeah, talk to your doc.

How is your nutrition? Are you eating a well balanced diet with plenty of protein? Have you even been anemic? Are you on a really good vitamin? All these things can be evaluated to help get you feeling better.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Maybe your iron is low. This is very common during pregnancy. I would definitely mention it to your doctor and ask for a comprehensive blood panel to be done. Hope your energy comes back soon!

S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

So glad you got an answer. I was going to suggest having your vitamin levels checked. And try taking the prenatals before bed. That was the only way I could keep them down last time.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions