Why am I so tired?

[Wildwaterfalls]

Goodness... I am 7 weeks pg and absolutely shattered. Not a bit tired, want to go to bed early etc, but literally struggling to get through the day. I doze off at work, I muster all my energy to play with DD after nursery but as soon as she's in bed I collapse. Lots of important things to be done around the house but I just can't do it!

Anyway that was a bit of a whinge, but why?? The baby is so tiny, I know there's some different hormones going on, but what explains this extreme tiredness? Didn't have it when pg with DD by the way.

Yawn. Any tips welcome.

It's totally normal :)

With my second pregnancy I didn't feel knackered between about weeks 15 and 32.

DD is 3 weeks and I'm far less tired than I was when pregnant and looking after a toddler, despite now being up loads at night.

Fairly normal but make sure you're eating lots of iron rich foods just in case.
It's not just hormones. You're making a whole new person and placenta.

I was shattered in my first trimester and had to sleep so much. Lots of early nights.

Hmm yes iron rich foods. My diet is really bad at the moment consisting principally of bread and cheese, which are the only things I feel like eating. Should make a better effort.

Feel sorry for DH as he gets home from work late wanting to catch up on our day etc, and I just want to sleep.

Hopefully it will get better!

Completely normal - the first 12 weeks is when your body is working overtime to establish your pregnancy and ensure your baby has the absolute best start. I was exhausted during that period - had a big energy boos in the middle - but as soon as I hit the 30 week mark, the tiredness came back. I'm now 35+6 weeks and having to take 3 hour naps!

Congratulations and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

...and also, don't worry about food. The baby will take the nutrients it needs. I could only stomach potatoes, breaded/battered foods and salt and vinegar crisps at the beginning!

If you're dozing off at work then you might want to see your GP about a fit note. I was similarly struggling and was really quite worried about driving home in that state (I drive 25 miles to work) so got issued with a fit note for reduced hours for a few weeks so worked 8.30-2.30. I still felt shattered but being able to go home for a sleep for an hour or so before my husband got home with my 3 year old has made a huge difference, and meant I wasn't at risk of falling asleep at work or at the wheel.

I try not to fight sleepy ness I have two 9 hours shifts at work a week then the rest are half day 5 hour shift without fail on my half days I have a nap nowadays. Some times 2 hour nap lol I've had an hour today and could go to sleep now. I've learnt napping when needed helps me feel better for it. I know if your working 9 to 5 every day it's not as simple as that. This is also my first child so I haven't got a little one to run around after yet.

Thanks all for the support. The embarrassing thing is I've only just returned to work from mat leave so feel a bit bad about it all and was going to try to keep quiet for a while. But right now that almost doesn't seem feasible.

Almost weekend though with hopefully a bit more sleep

Can't put your life on hold for work that's what mat is for :) hope you feel bit more energised soon. :)

At 3 weeks pregnant (before I got my BFP), I went on a 13 mile coastal walk. By 8 weeks pregnant I couldn't walk up the stairs without needing to rest for 10 minutes afterwards. I'd heard pregnant women feel tired in the early weeks but nothing prepared me for how wiped I actually felt. I'm 20 weeks now and feel perfectly normal again. Am exercising and trying to make up for lost time.

Have nothing but total sympathy for you - it's lousy but it will get better (Probably between 12-16 weeks.)

Thank you! Another 5 weeks at least before it goes away . Not quite sure how I'll get through it. Lower housework standards for a start I guess

At 26+5 I am only now not wanting to nap all of the time. It was worse for the first 14 weeks and I even managed 19 hours of sleep in one day! I had no problem with iron levels as was taking the pregnancy vitamins and everything was fine. I was just shattered. When 2pm hit I was ready to sleep every day!

I am hoping that the tiredness stays away for a while longer.

The only advice I can give you is to nap loads, eat well and don't push yourself to do too much. I couldn't understand why I was so tired at an early stage either!

Between weeks 6-8 all I did was go to work, come home and sleep. My husband woke me up for dinner and then I went back to bed. I hardly spoke to him for 2 weeks. I did no cooking, cleaning, washing up - felt like a zombie. Then one day I came home from work and thought... hang on. I don't need to sleep. I worked in the garden for 2 hours, and have been fine ever since. 21 weeks now.

I'm 25 weeks and still tired. Roll on due date!!

Oh ch1134 you fill me with hope!!

Normal! I pretty much slept from weeks 7-15 in both pg. "Fortunately" I was in hospital with hyperemisis during this period both times, so at leasy I didn't have to worry about work.

You'll need lower housework standards once DC2 comes along anyway OP!

I am 21 wks and still having to have a daily nap. I wasn't like this in my other two pregnancies, the tiredness had faded by 16 wks.