Severe Fatigue In Pregnancy

[lanewts]

Hi all, I’m wondering if anyone has any experience/advice on this. I’m 14 weeks pregnant and this is my 2nd baby. I was quite fatigued in my 1st pregnancy, but this time round it has been out of this world fatigue.

I’ve had days where I havent got washed or dressed. I cried once as the effort to brush my hair overwhelmed me. And sometimes even sitting upright is too much. I nearly fell asleep at my work desk last week. And today I’ve had to send my toddler to my mum-in-law once again because my body is shutting down and trying to go to sleep.

I’m concerned because I’m now in 2nd trimester so was thinking it should be getting better by now? This has all had a horrible impact on my mental health. I’m being treated now for depression (fluoxetine) as my doctor and midwife think I’m depressed. I’m not sure: sometimes I think it might be chronic fatigue syndrome as it feels like a physical condition rather than mental. Like the physical fatigue is happening first and this is then making me depressed. But I was relieved to be diagnosed with depression as I know this is treatable. I’ve been taking the antidepressants for only two days but am having another bad day today and am feeling despair. I’ve even felt like I want a termination because I can’t bare this pregnancy (this is a rainbow baby, much-longed for after a previous miscarriage.) So wanting a termination is not really what I want at all. I just want to feel better.

Sorry for going on, I just wonder if anybody has any wisdom on this or ever went through similar? Do you think I’m depressed or is it chronic fatigue??

Thank you x x

Sorry, should probably have mentioned that I’ve had blood tests for iron levels, thyroid, blood sugars. Everything is normal! My thyroid is low (T4 is 13) but not low enough to be diagnosed with under active thyroid x x

Sorry you are feeling so terrible.
I felt the same when I was pregnant, like I had been hit by a truck!
I had some better days in the third trimester and it ramped up again in the last few weeks. Until I had the baby, then it was gone and I felt much better right away! It's not forever, you will get there I promise!

My advice would be get as much help as you can, rest as much as you can and do the bare minimum. Make sure you are taking your vitamins and extra iron (even if you're not deficient, spatone is great)

Fluoxetine will take a couple of weeks to work, I hope it helps too ♥️ although I agree it's more of a physical thing than mental and how you are feeling is making you feel low. I was the same.
My thyroid is also on the low side, so maybe that is something to do with it.
Xx

I had same. (Also low thyroid and was put on supplements though didn’t really “fix” it). It eventually got better but was v tough. My only advice: be incredibly incredibly kind to yourself. This too shall pass. Xxx

Thank you for your replies! It’s a relief to hear I’m not alone, but I’m sorry you both felt this aswell - it’s awful! I will definitely start taking the iron. Interesting that we all have low thyroid and felt this way x x