Fatigue and exhaustion might seem like the same thing but they have some subtle differences. The body when coping up with the pressure of keeping the baby healthy often ends up overworking itself and causes a loss of energy. Fatigue is a common symptom in most young would-be mothers. During and before the pregnancy, the body also stores up a lot of energy that has to be used up for taking care of the infant. The extra food and calories all contribute to this energy accumulation and take a toll on the mother.
Soon after conception and through the entire gestation process, the female body is preparing for the arrival of the baby. The pregnancy months uses the energy in the mother’s body to sustain the child. The placenta that connects the mother to the baby is used for transferring nutrients and life support to help the fetus survive. By the end of the pregnancy, the resources become all but empty and leave the mother exhausted and often even depressed. This all-time low can lead to a serious case of fatigue causing loss of appetite, sleep and other issues.
READ: Dealing with Fatigue & Heat during Pregnancy
The body may be very energetic in the first weeks of the pregnancy period. The second trimester is usually one of the most active times in a mother’s gestation time. however, fatigue waits around the corner and usually strikes women after the first three months of pregnancy. The bodily changes, mood swings fatigue, aversion to food and hormonal changes occur during this time only adding on to the trouble.
READ: 7 early signs and symptoms of pregnancy
Sleep is the best treatment for fatigue. If sleep is impossible due to tummy growth, swelling, indigestion or aches and pains, rest is the next best thing even if it does not feel like resting is doing any good. Engaging friends and family members to help around the house, finish nursery tasks or care for other children, takes a bit of stress and pressure off, which could be causing a lack of sleep.
