No energy, feel like I’m failing :(

[NewKidOnTheBlock99]

Hi,

So I’m almost 18 weeks with my first pregnancy and I keep finding I’m ok for the first couple of hours after I wake up but by the afternoon I’m wiped out, even if I don’t do anything. I physically have no energy and feel super drained. I feel like I’m doing something wrong or being a wimp because I’m supposed to have all this energy back in my second trimester. Nothing is getting done around the house and I’m struggling with work & seeing friends as I’m so tired. Has anyone else felt like this or does anyone have any tips? I’m definitely not eating as well as I should be so maybe that’s it?

I would recommend getting your iron levels checked for staters but also remember that you will feel tired, so rest if you can and dint be too hard on yourself.

Check iron then do what feels right, you’re growing a tiny human being and a placenta! Not everyone glows during pregnancy don’t feel guilty if your one of them! Your body is working really hard!

Another one to add get tested for anemia.

If you cannot get it done through your midwife ask your GP to do it.

Make sure you chase your results once you are tested and importantly get a print out of the actual results. That way if your GP has done them you can give them to your midwife and vice versa. (Don't presume they will safely pass the results to each other.)

It should take a week max for you to get any test results back.

I was anemic but the midwifery team delayed giving my results to me so I felt shit for 4 weeks more than necessary.

I still felt that way at 18w and then at about 22 weeks ish I suddenly felt much better, so you may just not quite have got there yet! I was tested for anaemia but my levels were fine, I just felt wiped out.

I’m 18 weeks too, and could have written your post!! Am seeing my consultant this week so will see what they they say!

Yes, get your iron checked and specifically request they test ferritin levels too and not just haemoglobin. Hb can be absolutely fine even if your ferritin is shockingly low, and that would cause all the symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia.

The fatigue is like no other isn’t it. Just absolutely terrible. With my first pregnancy it suddenly disappeared in week 13 along with my nausea and I felt normal again but second time around I felt awful until 22 weeks, brief respite for about 3 weeks and then rubbish until I gave birth. It’s tough but hang in there.

I'm so glad I found this thread. I feel exactly the same. I'm 16 weeks and thought I would get all my energy back. Find it difficult to be productive at work and don't want to see any friends. Feeling really guilty about it all

I’m 16 weeks and also feel this way! Before pregnancy was swimming, spinning and running several times a week. Now I can barely manage a daily dog walk and have no energy for housework or socialising. The second trimester boost appears to have completely missed me.

@GinnyBee

Yes, get your iron checked and specifically request they test ferritin levels too and not just haemoglobin. Hb can be absolutely fine even if your ferritin is shockingly low, and that would cause all the symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia.

This! My low iron got missed for ages in my last pregnancy because my hb kept coming up fine, while my ferritin had completely tanked out.

But, I'm 18 weeks too, iron levels are fine (I insisted they checked ferritin from the get go this time) and I'm just tired constantly. Hoping the energy levels will come back soon, in the meantime just going easy on myself, trying to get out for short wa

pressed post too soon!

get out for short walks, which do help, eat well and get plenty of rest.

I found the second trimester the hardest. The first was still new and exciting but by the second I was absolutely exhausted. I'm 32 weeks now and am still nackered! No advice just rest when you can and try not to feel guilty it's hard work!xx

Thanks for your reply! Do they give anything for low ferritin? I mentioned how I had been feeling to my midwife and she said there was no point checking as I had, had bloods done five weeks ago!

@NewKidOnTheBlock99 Just iron supplements. If it's stupidly low they may give an infusion but I think that's pretty rare. Did they say they'd measured your ferritin then, and what was it?