https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:49:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-482430 Sat, 05 Jan 2013 07:21:36 +0000 autumnlove 482430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took a lot of naps and ate a lot of takeout during my first trimester! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-482410 Sat, 05 Jan 2013 06:38:43 +0000 lomom 482410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used a lot of vacation during the first tri because of exhaustion. I'd come home at 6 pm and sleep through the night. </p> <p>It does get better though. I felt less zombie-like around 15/16 weeks. I haven't gotten a crazy burst of energy though and I'm 21 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-481567 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:01:34 +0000 JessiBee 481567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It gets better...at least for a while! I have been constantly reminding myself that this is when I get to put myself first (maybe for the last time?), and if that means a nap and letting DH make dinner, that's what it means. I'm making a baby! The second tri was much, much better. The third, so far, is increasingly exhausting, too, but with a very visible belly, people are also much more understanding and sympathetic! I also have been trying for flexing work hours somewhat, even coming home part way through the day for a nap occasionally (but I work 5 minutes from home), and being more willing to leave things on my desk for tomorrow. (As my due date gets closer, that's getting scarier, too, though.) Even at 34 weeks, I feel better and more energetic on days I get to the gym (now, working out = slow walk) and drink way more water than I think I need.</p> <p>Most important thing to remember: it's not just you! And your body is just reminding you to slow down. We just all have different ways of listening! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-481032 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:48:31 +0000 hellobeeboston 481032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You will hopefully start feeling better by 14 weeks!</p> <p>I went to bed at like 7:30 or 8, and DH had to make us dinner as I was usually only laying on the couch after work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-481022 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:46:03 +0000 edelweiss 481022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>when i was in my exhausted phase (sometime early in the second trimester, i think), and early bedtime around 9pm was my best bet. ridiculously early, but it helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480997 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:34:16 +0000 GreenThumb 480997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I'm glad your DH is such a great help! It took awhile before I got over feeling guilty leaving all the housework for my DH, but I just couldn't muster the energy to cook or clean after work. And he did eventually understand ;). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480977 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:18:29 +0000 Cherrybee 480977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone. It helps just knowing I'm not the only person to feel like this! I hope it does get better!!! I've been so lucky not to have terrible nausea etc so I shouldn't really moan....!</p> <p>I'm not sure I could sleep in my car - I can't even sleep on the sofa, it's bed or nothing for me - but i'm going to give it a go on the days I'm working at the office near a car park (one of my locations is 40 mins tube away from the car park!). Anything's worth a try! </p> <p>DH is an amazing help - he has pretty much run the house this last month. He's had a little moan about it, sure, and he's used the word lazy "in jest" more times than I care to recall but in general I don't have to worry about home stuff (thank goodness). It's just getting through the work day - my commute which is half an hour each way three times a week and three hours each way a couple of times a week and then a full work day. I feel transparent, you know? I'm tired and shivery... sob sob! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480954 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:05:51 +0000 Rescuemom10 480954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It got better for me after the first tri. Either that or I just got use to it. Which I think is part of it too.<br /> Im at 36 weeks now and feeling worse than I did in my first tri. Somehow you just amange through.<br /> Hang in there! ; ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480945 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:01:03 +0000 pinkcupcake 480945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was soooo tired my entire pregnancy. Even with consistent exercise and eating right, I was always exhausted. I just went to bed super early every night. There were days I fell asleep at 7pm! I let the dishes pile up and the laundry overflow... My sleep was way more important! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480917 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:53:12 +0000 GreenThumb 480917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I felt like a zombie for the first trimester and could not believe it when people said it gets better... but it really does! My fatigue and nausea (mostly) just disappeared around 14 weeks. Like the flick of a switch... poof... gone. Not that I have a ton of energy, but at least I can make it through a day of work :)! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480873 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:40:37 +0000 photojane 480873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It does get better! For a while. :) I've found that I'm actually way more exhausted now than I ever was in the first tri. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but to me, the end of pregnancy is way harder than the beginning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480854 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:34:10 +0000 blackbird 480854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh it gets much easier! Soon, it will get easier! I was never a big napper even in my first tri, but sometimes just putting my head down at lunch was a big help for me! I also worked out a little after work because that gave me enough of a boost to get through the evening. Otherwise, I had a tough time staying awake on the couch! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480848 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:30:37 +0000 Bookish 480848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Poor you, I know, it sucks!! I'm at 13 and I am exhausted all the dang time. It is very slowly getting better though...I don't feel like I'm going to pass out at work at 4pm anymore! I've been trying to do at least a *little* walking or cleaning or something, so that I don't feel overwhelmed on top of the exhaustion. Good luck :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480834 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:27:09 +0000 emg86 480834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm almost 23 weeks and have been waiting for all that extra energy people told me about ;-) BUT, it is better than the 1st trimester. I can stay up until 9 or 10 some days! LOL. What helped me the most has been walking/yoga. I always feel a bit refreshed after no matter how much I complain before/during my exercise. My midwife always encourages me to walk through the exhaustion and to drink lots and lots of water so it helps flush out extra hormones that can make you feel tired. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480833 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:26:35 +0000 Modern Daisy 480833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely need to start getting to bed earlier. It also helps if I take a 5-10 minute walk adn I've read excersize helps fight fatigue so I ordered pre natal yoga dvd's :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480801 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:03:39 +0000 tororojo 480801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Early bedtimes and Dr. Pepper! (but not at bedtime) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480792 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:00:55 +0000 Bluebonnet 480792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It gets easier, but for most of my pregnancy, I'd go to bed around 8:30pm and get up at 6am and I'd still be tired some days. I'd also nap on the weekends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480781 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:56:12 +0000 shopaholic 480781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh I remember that in first (and even part of 2nd tri). I would literally hit a wall everyday around 2pm and pass out. I was lucky I had the freedom to sleep when I needed to!<br /> My girlfriends have told me they took naps in their cars at lunch or during their "afternoon breaks". One GF told me she would lock her office door every afternoon and stretch out on the chairs in the adjacent conference room. Another told me she'd use the "nursing room" for quick naps and no one would find her or bother her in there. Obviously, these are things employers would probably frown upon, but I think after everyone told their bosses about the pregnancy, you're kind of safe and protected. It's tough! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480780 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:55:50 +0000 Meridian 480780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you for this post!! Today was the first day I've really felt fatigued... I got probably 7.5 - 8 hrs of sleep last night, but then after I dropped DH off at work at 8:30, I came home and lay on the couch (so glad I have the luxury of "working" from home today). I couldn't drag myself off the couch until about 10AM when I made myself a cup of coffee. Still feel so groggy and "off" right now!!</p> <p>I hope it's not like this every day... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480763 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:50:15 +0000 Smurfette 480763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first trimester is really hard. But you should get more energy back for the 2nd. But till then just rest as much as you can. Can you take a nap in your car at lunch to help get through the work day? Also when you are getting tired, get up and walk around a little. Always helped me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480752 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:47:53 +0000 yoursilverlining 480752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to take a nap at lunch every day during the first trimester. Things get better; though I never got any real burst of energy. You just have to figure out how to keep chugging away! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480741 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:45:06 +0000 Silva 480741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This was by far the hardest part of my first trimester. I need a lot of sleep generally, and was absolutely fatigued during the whole first trimester. It actually didn't start to get better until week 15. I still feel very tired, but am more able to function now (at week 25). </p> <p>Going for a walk after lunch was probably the most helpful thing. Occasionally I actually laid down on the floor of my office, or put my head back in the client chair (I'm a therapist) and closed my eyes for a few moments. Getting a drink of cold water, and eating frequently helped as well.<br /> I went to bed at 7:30 during the worst weeks (for me that was about week 8 until week 13). I also sort of accepted I was going to get a little behind at work, and would sometimes do paperwork over the weekends so that I didn't feel as guilty about being unproductive during the workweek.</p> <p>On weekends I made sure to let myself sleep late, and always took a nap.</p> <p>As I said, I'm still definitely more tired than usual, but I also have low iron levels which are contributing to the problem.</p> <p>I feel your pain! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480726 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:41:50 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 480726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As someone who deals with exhaustion all day due to narcolepsy, I can say that it definitely will get easier! I kept thinking that I would get this BURST of energy after I hit the 2nd trimester, but I never did. I was still tired, but around 14 weeks, it started to get easier to make it through the day. Is there a way you can go to your car and take a 20 min power nap? That helped me out so much in the beginning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480725 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:41:48 +0000 DillonLion 480725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It'll get better once the first tri is over. I was a heavy long sleeper before pregnancy and in the first tri I needed like 15 hours of sleep. Crazy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cope-with-pregnancy-exhaustion#post-480719 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:39:09 +0000 Cherrybee 480719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For all the moms and the working Bees out there - how do you cope with it?? I really feel like I need to check-out of normal life for a while but it's not an option, is it?!! </p> <p>I've always been someone who needs a lot of sleep and I've always struggled with mornings (for that reason). Over the Christmas holiday (I had just over a week off) I slept in 'til lunchtime every day, had a nap in the late afternoon and still went to bed at a reasonable time. </p> <p>Going back to work this has been super hard for me - I had to take today off because I was so tired I felt physically sick. I can't do that every week!!!! </p> <p>Does anyone have any tips?? Will it get easier? I'm 11 weeks today. </p>