How soon can fatigue start in pregnancy

Q: Can you feel tired first week of pregnancy?

Is it normal to feel tired in pregnancy? Its common to feel tired, or even exhausted, during pregnancy, especially in the first 12 weeks. Hormonal changes at this time can make you feel tired, nauseous and emotional. The only answer is to rest as much as possible.

It is common to feel tired during pregnancy. This often happens in the first trimester (0 to 13 weeks) and the last trimester (week 27 to birth). Being pregnant can be hard work and you may be using lots of energy without even realising it.

Table of Contents Show

Causes of tiredness in early pregnancy
Nausea and vomiting
Changes to your circulation and metabolism
Coping with tiredness in early pregnancy
When to get medical advice
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP or midwife if:
Why Am I So Tired?
How to Beat Pregnancy Fatigue
When to Call Your Doctor
Can you feel tired first week of pregnancy?
What does very early pregnancy fatigue feel like?

It can be worrying to feel so tired. Try to rest when you can and accept offers of help.

Causes of tiredness in early pregnancy

It can be frustrating when you have had a good night’s sleep and you wake up with no energy. It can be very hard to balance the tiredness you are feeling with work and life outside of work.

Tiredness in early pregnancy may be caused by:

hormonal changes - due to increased levels of the hormone progesterone
emotional changes - anxiety is common in the early stages and will usually pass as the weeks go by

Mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting

These are common symptoms in early pregnancy. They can leave you feeling exhausted, particularly if the symptoms disrupt your sleep.

Morning sickness

Changes to your circulation and metabolism

As your body adjusts to being pregnant, it produces more blood and your blood pressure may drop. Your blood sugar may also be lower. These changes can make you feel more tired.

Coping with tiredness in early pregnancy

Tiredness will not harm your baby. But it can make life feel more difficult.

Eating a healthy diet may help your energy levels. You may also find that gentle exercise makes you feel good and gives you energy.

Getting plenty of rest and sleep is important too.

If you feel anxiety and this is making everyday life difficult, talk to a trusted family member or friend. If these feelings continue, make an appointment with your GP.

Usually, by the second trimester (weeks 14 to 26), your energy will return. Until then, rest when you can. Try to do your daily tasks in order of priority rather than trying to do everything.

Ask for help from family and friends, especially if you have other children at home. Talking to your manager at work, or to colleagues, might also help.

When to get medical advice

Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP or midwife if:

you feel tired and have any of the following symptoms:

feeling dizzy
feeling breathless
chest pain
heart palpitations

If you have high levels of anxiety or if your mood is low, you may need extra support. Talk to your GP, midwife or obstetrician if these feelings continue.

Baby isn't even here yet, and already you're exhausted. It's hard to drag your big weary body out of bed each morning. By dinnertime, all you want to do is plop back down and climb underneath the covers.

Fatigue was one of the first signs of your pregnancy. And it can keep nagging you throughout most of the 9 months until you deliver.

Why Am I So Tired?

During your first trimester, fatigue is at least partly due to changing levels of pregnancy hormones. You'll perk back up in your second trimester, but that renewed energy likely won't last long.

By the last 3 months of your pregnancy, you may be wiped out again. The extra stress on your body can wear you out. Plus, with your belly weighing you down in bed and your baby pressing on your bladder all night, you may struggle to get a full night's sleep.

Sometimes fatigue during pregnancy can be a sign of a medical problem, such as:

Anemia
Infection
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
Fibromyalgia
Gestational diabetes
Underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
Depression

If fatigue is just one of several new symptoms you're experiencing, see your doctor. You may feel more energetic once you get treated for any condition that's sapping your energy.

How to Beat Pregnancy Fatigue

During your pregnancy you need to be well rested. In just a few months, you'll be on call 24/7, and a full night's sleep will seem like a luxury.

To get as much sleep as possible right now, follow these restful suggestions:

Take naps. Most pregnant women can't make it through the night without full bladders or other pregnancy discomforts waking them up. Make up for the sleep you're losing at night by catching a short nap or two during the day.
Get help. Ask for help at home so you don't get so rundown and you'll have time for a daily nap or two. Get a family member to clean your house, or hire a housekeeper. Let your partner run errands for you.
Change your sleep posture. Shift from sleeping on your front or back to your left side. You'll feel more comfortable, and you'll take pressure off the blood vessels that nourish your baby. Tuck a pillow in between your legs or underneath you to support your sore back.
Exercise. Even though you might not feel up to it, exercising can actually help beat fatigue. Getting in a daily walk or swim can also help you sleep more soundly.
Relax. Practice deep breathing, take a warm bath, or ask your partner to give you a massage to help you wind down before bed.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids during the day. Dehydration can sap energy.
Eat regular meals and snacks to keep your blood sugar stable. Avoid food or drinks that are high in sugar.

Don't stop your pregnancy sleep routine once your baby is born. Use these same tips to help you through the first few months of motherhood. Continue to get the help -- and the rest -- you need, so you can keep up with your growing baby.

When to Call Your Doctor

Get medical help if:

Fatigue occurs suddenly.
Fatigue doesn't ease with rest.
Fatigue doesn't ease during the second trimester.

Show Sources

SOURCES:

Ricci, S. Maternity and Pediatric Nursing, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008.

Curtis, G. Your Pregnancy Week by Week, 7th Edition, De Capo Press, 2011.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: "Exercise in Pregnancy (RCOG Statement 4)."

Emedicinehealth: "Pregnancy Symptoms."

UCSF Medical Center: "Coping with Common Discomforts of Pregnancy."

NHS: "Common Health Problems in Pregnancy."

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: "Your Pregnancy and Childbirth."

March of Dimes: "Your Pregnant Body."

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Womenshealth.gov: "Pregnancy: Body Changes and Discomforts."

Can you feel tired first week of pregnancy?

Is it normal to feel tired in pregnancy? It's common to feel tired, or even exhausted, during pregnancy, especially in the first 12 weeks. Hormonal changes at this time can make you feel tired, nauseous and emotional. The only answer is to rest as much as possible.

What does very early pregnancy fatigue feel like?

Women who usually need only 6 hours of sleep at night often find they need nearly double that during these first weeks of pregnancy. And for others, daytime tiredness is paired with trouble sleeping deeply or for more than a few hours at night. Nausea and vomiting can also be a big drain on your energy.