Exhaustion... is this normal?

[Firethorn]

I'm 14+1. Last few days I've been sleeping ok at night, waking with a splitting headache (like migraine), then sleeping all morning. If I try and stay up after breakfast I feel so sick and dizzy I feel like I might pass out and vision goes blurry. Lying flat cures the headache after few hours.

I have HG so vomiting a lot but checked urine 3 days in row, no evidence of infection, glucose, protein or ketones and i'm not dehydrated. Last time I saw midwife (10days ago) my BP was 80/50 she said that's low but common in pregnancy.
Should I get my iron levels checked?
My friend says she felt like this too but only in first trimester, I thought fatigue usually improves by wk14!

If I were you I would ring your midwife and let her know you're feeling like this. I'm guessing when you last saw her, 10 days ago, you weren't feeling as bad as you are now?

She may check your iron - low iron can make you very tired. If you've been throwing up a lot then I imagine you're at risk of a deficiency. I had low iron in the second tri and was given supplements, and now feel much better.

A good tip with low iron is to avoid tea, coffee (decaff included) and antacids, as these all block iron absorbtion. So even if your diet's good, if you're mainlining decaf tea all day you don't get much iron in.

It could all be standard pregnancy crap, there's no 'normal'. It's common to be more tired in the first tri than the second, but lots of people get tired at random points, or all the way through. Hope you feel better soon.

From your title I was going to say 'Yes normal' as I was exhausted for the first 15weeks. Byte your blood pressure does sound VERY low, mine was 115/65 and m/w told me it was on the low side. I have a condition that causes my blood pressure and heart rate to plummet resulting in dizziness nausea and headache, and fainting so wouldn't be surprised if your low BP is the problem., I would definitely see your GP or call midwife at the very least. Hope you feel better.

See your GP and describe the visual disturbances and migraine like headaches. Your bp is low - not panicking low but low enough to make you dizzy.

Hi firethorn.
I didn't have HG as I could keep fluids down, but I literally lived on barely any food for the first 18 weeks. I had nausea 24/7 and had 3 weeks off sick from work (could have done with more, but couldn't afford it). I couldn't get out of bed to even fold clothes and put them away. The airer was right next to the bed but only every half hour or so I could sit up to lean over to it and fold one item of clothing up. Then I had to lie back down. Cooking meals and washing up was way out of the question.
So basically what I'm trying to say is that despite all of this, all of my levels, bloods, etc were all ok, including my iron levels. But the dizziness and headaches is something you should get checked out if you can. Obviously iron levels too but I thought I was going to be anaemic at the very least but no!
Wishing you the best

Yes, but not to the extent that you feel really dizzy (unless you can't keep anything down). That could well be blood pressure. If in doubt, go back to the midwife/doctor

Thanks for advice. I agree it's probably low BP or low iron. Haven't had any bloods done yet (midwife didn't have time at booking-in), I've made a GP appointment for tomorrow. Yes I should probably cut back on tea and de-caf coffee.

RL20, hope you're feeling better now Did your nausea and fatigue clear up around 18weeks?
I've lost a lot of weight from vomiting so much so maybe it is just exhaustion from lack of food and feeling so ill.

Hi 18 weeks here and exhausted all the time

Fingers crossed it gets better for u

My exhaustion lasted until 17-18 weeks so it may not be iron-related (mine was actually quite high when I got my 12 week bloods back). The whole 'you'll feel better from 12 weeks' was a crock for me, often it takes until ~18 weeks. Hope you feel better soon!

I was so exhausted! I was sick,dehydrated, constantly tired for weeks. Ended up on anti sickness tabs for almost 12 weeks. (From week 10 onwards) never clinically diagnosed or admitted with dehydration but given I could barely pee. I should have been.

Although I improved tiredness wise it wasn't until week 22 that I started feeling "normal"

Are you able to keep fluids down? If so, try increasing them when your awake. I found isotonic drinks really good. Can't mind the brand but defo not lucozade ones.

Your headaches will improve with the fluids, but you can also safely take paracetamol (unless your allergic to it of course!)

Defo speak to midwife.

Hope you feel better soon

Hi firethorn just seen your reply.
At around 16 weeks it stopped for a few days, and then kept reappearing and stopping until I started to feel better around 18 weeks. Then I gradually (very gradually) got my appetite back. I believe I lost around a stone in all of this time. I didn't start showing through clothes until about 25 weeks, and still do have a small bump now at 36+4. Hope you start to feel better soon

My BP was 90/60 at the last appointment, but I've always had low BP. I shouldn't be alive!

I have been tired so far during my pregnancy sleeping from 7pm onwards most nights. I have two DC already, and 18 weeks pregnant just now. I suspect I will be tired the rest of the way through just like I was with each of my pregnancies.

I cannot relate to people perking up during the second trimester. I have never had this happen to me at all. I am lethargic all the time.

Definitely get checked out at the GP and get blood works done OP.