Extreme exhaustion in the third trimester

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GinnyBee · 23/02/2022 10:56

I started having days of first trimester like fatigue around 27 weeks again. Not every day, I'm 28+1 today and have had maybe three days so far when I'm totally useless. My Fitbit isn't picking up problems with sleep, in fact night before last I logged 8 hours of decent quality sleep and spent yesterday pootling around like a zombie and really struggling. I assume it's because third trimester is when the baby is gaining most weight, and weight gain requires energy.

Sprat12 · 23/02/2022 11:11

I wrote a very similar thread earlier this week, you have my sympathies, it’s the bloody worst.

I ended up getting signed off work for 2 weeks as I have some other health stuff going on that has contributed, but it’s worth thinking about trying to take a bit of time off now while you can before your mat leave will kick in?

I’ve just emptied the dishwasher and mopped the kitchen floor and genuinely I now need another nap. This fatigue is debilitating, I’ve never known anything like it

pbdr · 23/02/2022 11:14

Have you had your bloods checked recently? Iron deficiency anaemia is very common in late pregnancy and can make you feel exhausted. Of course it may simply be pregnancy fatigue with no other underlying cause. You have my sympathy, I felt the same from about mid pregnancy onwards.

MrsRubyMonday · 23/02/2022 11:48

29+3, I phoned my boss this morning and booked a short notice half day so I could nap this afternoon. I'm waking up with hip pain multiple times every night which isn't helping. Working from home is helping, I was previously napping on my lunch break but recently baby has been wriggling loads whenever I lie down so I don't have chance to drop off before I'm due back at my desk. I nap most evenings as well, I'm lucky my wife is taking great care of us and preparing tea so I can rest, but if I have to go out instead, by bedtime I feel like I've lost the ability to think.

Original poster

iloveorange · 23/02/2022 11:56

@pbdr

Have you had your bloods checked recently? Iron deficiency anaemia is very common in late pregnancy and can make you feel exhausted. Of course it may simply be pregnancy fatigue with no other underlying cause. You have my sympathy, I felt the same from about mid pregnancy onwards.

Funny you should mention it, my latest blood tests said my iron levels were lower than at the start of the pregnancy, but not low enough to warrant getting iron supplements, but midwife yesterday she's going to check for that again at 34 weeks to see if it's any lower. I didn't mention the tiredness as it came to me right after the appointment, now I feel like maybe I should have

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Original poster

iloveorange · 23/02/2022 11:58

@Sprat12

I wrote a very similar thread earlier this week, you have my sympathies, it’s the bloody worst.

I ended up getting signed off work for 2 weeks as I have some other health stuff going on that has contributed, but it’s worth thinking about trying to take a bit of time off now while you can before your mat leave will kick in?

I’ve just emptied the dishwasher and mopped the kitchen floor and genuinely I now need another nap. This fatigue is debilitating, I’ve never known anything like it

I have now booked all the following Fridays for annual leave until my due date, as I thought 4-day weeks would make it more bearable (I'm working all the way 'til due date or birth as I WFH and thought I could pull it off, but have repeatedly told my manager the plan might change), but we'll see...

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Sprat12 · 23/02/2022 14:25

Really good shout on the 4 day weeks, that’s exactly what I plan on doing when I go back after this sick leave. Even wfh takes it out of you. Agree also with PP’s about iron; my iron is low so I’ve just started tablets. Not taking effect yet but maybe a call with your midwife to let her know how rotten you are feeling will prompt them to give you some. It can’t hurt to try at this point.

Chin up and be kind to yourself, it’s really rough feeling so pants all the time x

Somerandomgirl · 23/02/2022 14:25

Yep...by the time i drank my coffee and breakfast can fall asleep again...

springbaby22 · 23/02/2022 16:04

@iloveorange

I'm 32 weeks tomorrow and extreme exhaustion hit me like a bus a couple of days ago. It's not like I have been my most energetic self in the previous weeks, but this level of tiredness feels different.

I wake up every 1-2 hours (but fall back asleep with relative ease, so I know it could be much worse), by 7am I'm fully awake. I work from home and we have a late start at 10am, by which time I'm ready for bed again. My work day has only started and I already feel like crap and unable to hold a conversation or think through any project-related issues.

Not looking for answers or tips, really, I know this is normal and it could be so much worse, but I guess just looking to feel less alone in my misery :(

Typing this whilst lying in bed exhausted at 35 weeks so I feel for you. Is this your first baby or do you have any others? Must be hard still being at work. I've resorted to screen time for the kids which I feel guilty for and have still so much to prepare.

GingerLiberalFeminist · 19/09/2022 20:54

I did a search and saw this thread. I wondered if iron helped?

I'm 26wks and I've slept most of this week. I'm also getting dreadful palpitations if I so much as walk up the stairs.

Having bloods done next Mon, but genuinely wanted to know if iron helped!

Original poster

iloveorange · 21/09/2022 09:55

Hi @GingerLiberalFeminist I don't think I had an iron deficiency based on my bloodwork results, I also took Pregnacare vitamins, which have a bit of everything.

I'm sorry you're having a hard time, I would still get that bloodwork done to see if it might be an iron deficiency for you.

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Original poster

iloveorange · 21/09/2022 09:57

Oh sorry, I just saw that my iron levels had come down a bit based on ny previous post (I have a child now, everything is such a blur 😅). FWIW I never took iron supplements, and even after birth I lost a lot of blood so they did monitor my iron levels again and they were fine.

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GingerLiberalFeminist · 21/09/2022 10:01

Thanks both.
GP put me on iron just in case, and is doing full bloods. After two doses of iron I already feel miles better!