Is anyone else constantly desperately exhausted?

[VelmaDaceDinkley]

I'm 17 weeks so the 1st trimester sickness has thankfully worn off. But I'm still absolutely knackered.

I have no energy or motivation to do anything :( I'm struggling to function from about 3pm till bedtime.

This is my 2nd pregnancy and I'm already quite massive - clearly not all baby, I've put some weight on too.

I work 30 hours a week, do the school run both ways and generally don't stop during term time. I'm wondering how I'm going to cope for the next 23 weeks TBH.

Is there anything I can do to help myself? Or do I just have to get on with it the best I can [wibble]

The only thing for it is to come join me in the nap zone. I am useless for most of the day unless I can collapse on to a pile of pillows a least once. Have found that having a banana helps perk me up for a bit if there is something I need to do though, I think they're meant to be good energy food.
Are you sleeping ok at night?

hey Velma, I felt constantly tired at that stage and had expected to feel better going into 2nd trimester but didn't. At around 20 weeks I had a blood test which confirmed I was anaemic. Just a thought but it might be worth you getting your iron levels checked. Hope you feel more energetic soon, take it easy x

I have no time to nap apart from in the evenings, although I've caught myself nodding off at my computer at work a few times

I'm sleeping ok apart from the usual pregnancy disturbances - getting up for a wee, uncomfortable etc

I was anaemic last time, but not until the end - so that is definitely worth getting checked, thanks for reminding me.

Hi Velma, me too! 15 weeks tomorrow and although mornings are generally fine, I'm wiped out for most of the afternoon. I've been on leave for the last few weeks so I've been sleeping for several hours every afternoon (I perk up a bit again in the evening); it's as if I don't have a choice, though, as rather than falling asleep in the afternoon it's more like I pass out! Very worried about going back to work next week, particularly as it's not a job in which I have any control over what I do when, so I won't be able to race through my work when I feel good and let up when I don't . I'm quite sure my iron level's ok but I'll ask for it to be checked at my next blood test. Watching this thread with interest...

Are you taking supplements? Mind you I'm 16 weeks, have fallen asleep on the sofa this afternoon and trying to summon up the energy to get up now, 5 year old is buzzing around energetically. Usually a lucozade gives me a quick boost but I have none to hand.

I feel like I could pass out with tiredness too, I get really groggy and dizzy and can't focus on anything.

I'm taking pregacare vits when I remember. My diet has been pretty crap recently mainly due to sickness but also being too tired to cook from scratch after a day at work This probably isn't helping.

I was the same between 15-20 weeks, I could literally sleep through my husbands entire shift at work! I'd wake up, sort out his uniform, see him off to work and go back to bed, next thing I knew it was his lunch break and so we text for a bit, I'd try to do something and end up asleep again after about an hour or two.
Checked my iron as anaemia runs in my family but I was fine. I have had the diet lecture a million times though because I had little to no appetite from about 15 weeks to now (25 weeks), so I got a lot of "no wonder you have no energy, the baby is getting what he needs from your supplies but you're not putting anything in for you" ...so making sure you're eating well should pick up your energy . Certainly this last week I've been eating more and not napping as much

I have slept on and off for the last 3 days started my iron tablets yesterday and I'm. Not sure if its the tablets or sleep but I have done loads today it's been great I'm 15 weeks and for the last few weeks I feel like I've just been existing its been awful felt like the walking dead.. Xxx

Feel awful. I'm 17wks and have felt like this since about 8wks.

I had my iron checked but its fine. I almost wish it was that low, I'm so desperately tired, I just want to feel normal.

The midwife said its probably the school holidays but I actually think I'll feel worse when dd1 is back at school and I have to go back out at 3pm as at 2pm I seem to collapse in a heap.

Its got so bad I now plan my days around the tiredness. I do everything before 2pm because after that I'm useless. Luckily dh is in at 3pm otherwise I wouldn't be coping at all.

I'm with you OP (17+3, pg with dc2, work 23hrs per week).

I've recently started iron tablets, which were prescribed by midwife as blood test showed it was slightly low (11.2, should be over 11.5).

I'm definitely feeling better after an afternoon nap, but understand you can't always have one. I had HG in first trimester, but am eating fo England now and have ballooned! Eat some healthy stuff, but too much junk too. I find a can of fat coke really gives me a sugar rush when I'm struggling at work in the afternoons.

Sorry not any help, just wanted you to know you're not alone.

Yep. Shattered.

Also DC2 and work full time (plus - it's not really what you'd call a 9 to 5).

Poor DD1 (2.5) keeps saying 'poor Mummy. So tired'...

My 2nd pregnancy (DD2 is 5 months now) was SO HARD due to the tiredness. My blood pressure was very low and my iron stores were incredibly low. It is well worth getting this checked out as once I was given iron tablets I felt transformed (obviously still felt a bit tired due to mahoosive bump but NOTHING like the sheer horribleness of pre iron tablets).

How do you get your iron tested? I'm not due to see my midwife for another 11 weeks! Can I just ask my GP for a test?

I would make a GP appointment. My midwife tested me but the doctor had to write the prescription so you could just cut out the middle man. I waited for the midwife and in hindsight wished that I hadn't because all the time I spent feeling so shattered could have been avoided.

It does sound as though you might be anaemic. Definitely see your GP for a check. It's normal to be tired, but that feeling of total exhaustion is awful!