log in | register >> Start here

Your Avatar
hide show

To create your own timeline, log in or join now:

great baby registries

Find a couple's baby registry. Enter parents' name here.

Create your own baby registry here.

you asked...

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I feel so tired I can barely keep my head off my desk at work, but I can’t tell my coworkers I’m pregnant yet. How can I cope?

Re: I feel so tired I can barely keep my head off my desk at work, but I can’t tell my coworkers I’m pregnant yet. How can I cope?

The Bump Expert

It does seem cruel that most moms-to-be feel worst during the first 12 weeks or so. Until you announce the good news, there's no milking it for (well-deserved) sympathy. The only real cure for first trimester fatigue is sleeping more... which, to be honest, might not even help. Since you probably can’t take catnaps in your office and remain employed, simply go to go bed earlier, sleep as late as possible, and try to make it through the day.

To boost energy, eat small, healthy meals and snacks throughout the day. Go for protein and complex carb combos like whole grain cereal with low-fat milk, a piece of cheese on whole grain crackers or a couple of slices of turkey on whole wheat bread. And when you feel yourself sinking into a valley, do some stretches and deep breathing exercises or go for a brisk walk around the block.

Paula Kashtan | May 01 , 2009 9:59 AM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I'm actually having the opposite effect. I CAN'T sleep. Right now is perfect case-in-point. It's 1:45 in the morning and I've been up for an hour. I've tried everything from taking a bath, reading a book, listening to soothing music, walking around, laying calmly in relaxation yoga poses, but nothing seems to help. It is abnormal to be sleepless?

alabamabelle | August 20 , 2009 3:44 AM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I use meditation cds when I can't sleep. They at least help me get to sleep even thou I only sleep about 2-3 hours at a time. Weather it be peeing that wakes me or pressure points on my body. But they do help my mind slow down long enough to sleep. Good Luck!

BandMomOH | August 21 , 2009 12:02 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I find myself incredibly tired during the day where I could fall asleep at anytime, I take naps after work but I am still tired when I get up. Then when I lay down to go to bed I feel so tired and usually fall right to sleep, waking 5 or 6 times in the middle of the night. I feel like I never get a deep sleep anymore. Is this normal?

Emmab12 | August 28 , 2009 8:00 AM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I will be on week 5 on Monday and I am tired (yawing allllll day long) and about 9 is when I go to bedd I sleep reallllllly hard till about 430 sometimes even 6 hen it is potty time for sure. After that is takes me about an hour to go back to sleep weekday that is fine cause I gotta ge up soon. But the weekends it drives em nuts cause that is when I wanna catch up on any sleep the baby and I need!

kandmw | September 13 , 2009 10:50 AM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I am excessively tired even when I'm able to take a nap. I don't sleep throughout the night. I usually wake up by 4 am and just lay there until my alarm goes off. I'm in my 5th week and really didn't expect to feel this way so early on. I just drag throughout the day. I started this semester of grad school with As. I had the heaviest test week this week and I didn't study half the amount that I normally do. My grades dropped this week b/c I can't function normally. I hope I find a way to adjust and get some energy back.

bygwit | October 01 , 2009 8:30 AM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I'm a teacher and haven't told anyone that I'm pregnant yet. After lunch, it's hard for me to focus at all because my eyelids are so heavy. I try walking around the room, but it's hard to stay awake even when I'm giving direct instruction. At only 7 weeks, I wonder how much longer I'll be able to keep it a secret!

KLA_07 | October 01 , 2009 2:41 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I am with you KLA07! I'm a teacher too in my 6th week and just so exhausted after lunch it is so hard to finish the day. We want to wait until our dr appt (beginning of November) before we tell anyone other than our parents. I've got myself off of caffeine, so what do I do to stay awake and teach those crazy 5th graders?

NateBecca | October 01 , 2009 3:24 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I too am a teacher and am having a really hard time getting through the day. My school has an extended day 8-4. I'm so sluggish and fatigued, but can't sleep through the night. I find my patience with my 3rd graders wearing thin since as teachers- there is NO downtime and some of them are so needy. I'm at 8 weeks and can only hope that I feel better within the next month. Any advice for getting through the day would be appreciated!

mrshamel | October 01 , 2009 3:59 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

Wow! I thought it was only me!! I about to be 7 weeks on Monday and I thought something was wrong with me! I am constantly tired, can't have any conversations without yawning, and can't sleep without waking up 4 or 5 times a night to pee!!! I finally had to tell my supervisor at work because I couldn't have a conversation with him without yawning and asking to sit down. I thought he was going to think I was bored or didn't want to talk to him! It's nice to know I'm not alone......

newmom91209 | October 02 , 2009 2:44 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I seem to have a combination of insomnia after 4am and yawning all afternoon...

vatovt | October 03 , 2009 4:28 AM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I am 11 weeks 5 days and guess what I'm still struggling to stay awake after lunch and again after supper. I am hopeing this ends with my second trimester. Im a bartender and on my days off I simply don't even try to get out of bed. My poor husband is learing to do alot more around the house. This part I'm secretly enjoying.

bebops888 | October 06 , 2009 5:37 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

This is my third baby and I do not remember being this tired with the other two, even when I was staying up all night with finals with the first one. On top of that I am sweating so bad at night that I can't stay asleep. I am falling asleep at 7 at night (with a toddler!!!)

dessica | November 11 , 2009 7:55 AM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I am pregnant with my 4th and am the same way, I was never this tired. I cant seem to sleep past 4am and then cant seem to stay awake after the kids are done napping. I am so glad that my oldest is in school and when he is home he is such a big help. Good luck to all of you out there and we will pull through!!

karenCB | November 20 , 2009 11:40 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I am 8 weeks with my first and really thought I was going to skate by without being so tired! But today, it has hit me like a ton of bricks! I have slept all day (and feel so guilty, but I can't seem to pull it together! My poor husband!) I too am a teacher (preschool and kindergarten, so NO downtime, and I'm a little nervous about that as I head into next week. I haven't told my principal yet, but I'm thinking it's time.

bgraham10 | November 21 , 2009 6:12 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I am about 7 weeks and I have gone to bed almost every night about 9 pm or so getting over 9 hrs and sometimes close to 10 am. I wake up feeling so exhausted and yawning all the time. Recently I kept yawning at work (I too teach preschool) and I actually got a cramp in my neck! I can't wait until the 2nd trimester apparently that is when you get your energy back until the 3rd trimester rolls around!

bryant321979@yahoo.com | December 04 , 2009 9:59 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I am only in week 5 and I feel exhausted all of the time. I try to catch a little nap when I can, but I agree with most of you when you're saying that you feel like you can't get any "deep sleep". Perhaps it's nature's "cruel" way of preparing us for a newborn and NO SLeEP!!!!! Regardless, I suppose it will all be worth it when we meet our little ones. =)

Lindsay2907 | December 31 , 2009 11:09 AM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I am also weeks and can barely keep my eyes ope. I have done as much research as possible to figure out ways to sleep and I have come to the conclusion that no matter what you do. Sleeping and peeing is going to get the best of me (us)! The thing that I don't undertand is: I am so tired and all I want to do is shut my eyes and passout, but when i climb into my bed(my favorite place in the world) nothing happens. NO SLEEP!! I really hope that this does get easier, the ever illusive sleep!

mrsflint | January 06 , 2010 8:08 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

Me too. I literally found out yesterday that I am 4 weeks (only 4!) along, and even before I found out, I was yawning at work and napping before bedtime last Friday. It seems ridiculous, but it is what it is I guess!

Kaycee2009 | January 14 , 2010 6:23 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

My husband and I just found out Friday that we're pregnant with our first. It explains why for the last two weeks i've been dead tired. I come home from work, make/eat dinner and haven't even been able to make it through the TV shows I like without falling asleep. But we are so excited! I'm just a bit nervous because Feb 1st I start my first semester of nursing school.

marlilou | January 17 , 2010 6:08 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

Sorry, I'm 9 weeks pregnant and the tiredness is just killing me. I wish I had some advice but nothing seems to help me. I can't sleep at night as well as I used to and that makes it even worse. By 1pm I would give anything to be able to lie down and take a nap. It's so hard to concentrate at work and be productive when your brain is asleep. And then this bloated feeling and constipation make me feel even more drained and taking a deep breath is impossible. Does this gets easier? On the other hand, I don't have any M/S and it seems like most women do. Trying to think positive here.... :)

Lejlam | January 19 , 2010 11:27 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

My husband and I have been trying to concieve for over a year. Ever since I ovulated this month, I am exhausted! I've taken 3 naps in my car at lunch this week. I am going to bed around 9:30 pm and sleep all the way thru till 6:30 am without waking. My usual routine is bed by midnight to be up by 6:30. I hate to get my hopes up but, I can't think of another reason I could be so tired! It makes me feel better to see that other women have the same symptoms early in their pregnancy. Fingers crossed!

mrr1128 | January 22 , 2010 11:21 AM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

I'm 11 weeks and at the end of my days and I am beat!!!! I feel like I cannot move I am so exhasusted. I've been sleeping ok I guess, but wake up every 2-3 hours to go to the bathroom. I wonder whether this pregnancy, my second, will be like my 1st where during the latter half of the pregancy I would be awake from about 2am until 6am every night! It was frustrating. We'll see what happens this time.

sarrik | January 23 , 2010 11:05 PM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

i'm on ma 20th week n everytime i get infront of my computer at work, my eyelids close. at home, i cant bring myself to watch my favourite soaps and i dont want to tell ma boss yet. i'm tired throughout the whole day and i cant wait for my lunch break so i can catch a nap behind my office lol

sashrussel | January 25 , 2010 6:01 AM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

This is my first pregnancy...btw I'm very excited :)...but I just got into my 11th week and I am sooooo tired. I'm at work right now barely able to keep my eyes open. I went to sleep early last night (as I do every night) and I honestly feel like I just took a nyquil and I am extremely drowsy. Hopefully when I get out of my first trimester I'll get some more energy and not sleep all day. It seems like I'm either tired or hungry...and right now I'm both!

brapril816 | February 01 , 2010 10:20 AM

Q&A: Pregnant and tired all the time?

to be honest between constantly crying about something....I can't sleep...I went to bed at 9:30 last night and woke up at 2:30am! And I even tried staying up later but I still can't sleep. All I do is toss and turn...I don't recall this being an issue with my 1st child...I slept all the time and great with him but this time I'm on the verge of yelling at people all day at work becauses I'm soooo cranky and tired or just quitting my job and staying home in bed all day...I don't know how to focus to do what I need to do at work when I can't even sleep at night to even know what's going on half the time....and to make matters worse even before I got pregnant if I didn't get at least 8-9 hrs of sleep at night I was cranky and half asleep all day and to top it off I get so tired that I'm so sensitive about everything and just wanna cry.....it was the same before I got pregnant only it was once in a blue moon and now its everyday....is that normal?

samanthat09 | Yesterday 8:05 PM