Fighting Pregnancy Fatigue: How to Cope
5 Tips for Fighting (and Coping with) Fatigue
Read the full fighting fatigue post here
Making a baby is hard work - and that exhaustion definitely gets the better of you during the first trimester. Your body is very busy. There is plenty of changes and those changes take energy. So here are some tips to help get through the day and ensure that you and your body have all the extra energy it needs to make a healthy baby.
1. Naptime. Feeling sleepy, then take a nap. If there was ever a time to listen to your body and surrender to its need for rest this is it. This gets tricky for working moms-to-be, but there's nothing wrong with curling up on the couch to catch the 6 o'clock news after work - and perhaps catching a 15 minute cat nap during the commercials.
2. Healthy snacks. Yes, while digging into a box of chocolate chip cookies is tempting while pregnant you may only find yourself more exhausted and groggy. Grab the orange or grapefruit instead. A dose of citrus always seems to wake me up. In fact, citrus is known to help perk up low energy levels. Not hungry, but sleepy. Then grab one fresh lemon and add water. It's a refreshing and stimulating pick me up. Hot or cold.
3. Drink plenty of water. Granted water is an important nutritional element for people in all stages of life, but especially for moms-to-be. It is recommended that pregnant women drink six to eight 8-ounce glasses per day. Water's not only part of a healthy pregnancy diet, it's refreshing and can help ease afternoon sleepiness.
4. Phone a friend. Remember that you are not in it alone. Some days are just tough and you can't simply do it all alone. Pick up the phone. Call a friend to chat - or head out and take a walk. Enlist company for basic routine trips. Thus making them more manageable and offering a bit of a distraction for the fatigue.
5. Take a break. These days moms-to-be are busy, but it's important to take a moment for you and your son or daughter. Don't be afraid to take that break. Lay on the couch all afternoon if need be. Your body is busy. This is definitely not the time to get the refill latte to get you through the afternoon, but rather take a half day or an entire weekend to relax, rejuvenate and catch up with your favorite TV show or author. Remember, the second trimester is just around the corner - and nine months can fly by. So enjoy the extra rest and relaxation while you still can.
Resources:
What to do when the third month ends - and the fatigue continues? Expert Q&A from PregnancyToday
Is exhaustion normal? Absolutely. Read more at BabyCenter, Fatigue during pregnancy
What to expect when you have "pregnancy fatigue"? From WhatToExpect.com
How do you cope with fatigue? Share you experiences and suggestions.
Read the full fighting fatigue post here
Making a baby is hard work - and that exhaustion definitely gets the better of you during the first trimester. Your body is very busy. There is plenty of changes and those changes take energy. So here are some tips to help get through the day and ensure that you and your body have all the extra energy it needs to make a healthy baby.
1. Naptime. Feeling sleepy, then take a nap. If there was ever a time to listen to your body and surrender to its need for rest this is it. This gets tricky for working moms-to-be, but there's nothing wrong with curling up on the couch to catch the 6 o'clock news after work - and perhaps catching a 15 minute cat nap during the commercials.
2. Healthy snacks. Yes, while digging into a box of chocolate chip cookies is tempting while pregnant you may only find yourself more exhausted and groggy. Grab the orange or grapefruit instead. A dose of citrus always seems to wake me up. In fact, citrus is known to help perk up low energy levels. Not hungry, but sleepy. Then grab one fresh lemon and add water. It's a refreshing and stimulating pick me up. Hot or cold.
3. Drink plenty of water. Granted water is an important nutritional element for people in all stages of life, but especially for moms-to-be. It is recommended that pregnant women drink six to eight 8-ounce glasses per day. Water's not only part of a healthy pregnancy diet, it's refreshing and can help ease afternoon sleepiness.
4. Phone a friend. Remember that you are not in it alone. Some days are just tough and you can't simply do it all alone. Pick up the phone. Call a friend to chat - or head out and take a walk. Enlist company for basic routine trips. Thus making them more manageable and offering a bit of a distraction for the fatigue.
5. Take a break. These days moms-to-be are busy, but it's important to take a moment for you and your son or daughter. Don't be afraid to take that break. Lay on the couch all afternoon if need be. Your body is busy. This is definitely not the time to get the refill latte to get you through the afternoon, but rather take a half day or an entire weekend to relax, rejuvenate and catch up with your favorite TV show or author. Remember, the second trimester is just around the corner - and nine months can fly by. So enjoy the extra rest and relaxation while you still can.
Resources:
What to do when the third month ends - and the fatigue continues? Expert Q&A from PregnancyToday
Is exhaustion normal? Absolutely. Read more at BabyCenter, Fatigue during pregnancy
What to expect when you have "pregnancy fatigue"? From WhatToExpect.com
How do you cope with fatigue? Share you experiences and suggestions.
Tags: health, nutrition, pregnancy, resources, tips, women's, womens
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