I'm currently 9.5 weeks along and I am ridiculously, crazily, exhausted (we've all been there). It feels worse this time than it was with the girls, but I wasn't chasing around two toddlers then either. Does anyone have any tips for surviving the exhaustion? I work out 4-6 times a week, I'm eating healthy, no caffeine, I sleep 9 hours a day, and I still want to cry because I am so tired! I was trying to explain to my husband how frustrating it is because I know I can sleep 10 hours and I will still be tired. Naps don't help, nothing helps! Also, when did you start wearing maternity pants with your subsequent pregnancies? I haven't gained any weight (in fact I've lost 3 pounds), but my pants feel so uncomfortable already! I am enjoying going to the gym even more since its acceptable to wear yoga pants
Have you ever been tested for anemia? Mine worsens during pregnancy to the point I have to double my iron dose and still barely come into the normal range. Other than that, kick up your feet and relax anytime the girls are being quiet, even if that means turning the TV on for a 30 minute show a couple times a day. I was in my maternity clothes almost immediately with my last one. I had just barely started to fit my clothing again, so I didn't have much growing room at all. You are pregnant, so yoga pants are total acceptable anywhere you go until you are out of the awkward phase of being too big for your nonstretchy clothing, but not big enough for maternity clothing.
It did not take long at all for me to move into maternity pants. I also had severe anemia and was a dishrag for a couple of months. Def get your iron checked. I remember setting my boys up with a snack, drink, activity and a backup tv show just so I didn't have to get up for an hour. We also played a lot of pretend mommy goes to sleep games- they collect a blanket, pillow, stuffed animal and give it to me. I pretend to sleep ( closing my eyes for even 20 sec was awesome) and they gently wake me up by touching my face.
I remember being much more tired early on with Josh than with the twins. I always just figured it was because of chasing after the twins. I have chronic insomnia so I'm used to not sleeping and being really tired, I just rolled with it. With Josh I was in maternity pants by 8-10 weeks or so. Regular pants just dug into my stomach too much and were not comfortable.
Anemia immediately popped into my head too, before I finished reading your post. Get checked and don't forget that anemia is not just about iron intake, but all the B vitamins as well. Taking iron supplements didn't do it for me, but when I added a B complex then I was able to get into normal range.
You might also want to get your thyroid checked. All the hormonal changes during and after pregnancy and BFing can upset the thyroid too, especially if you ever had issues with it before. Feel better soon!
I definitely felt more exhausted with this pregnancy! I took naps or at least rested when the boys napped. It does get better but it took longer for me to get my energy back than last time. I am anemic again during pregnancy and they should check you when they do the whole panel of bloodwork...even with iron I was still tired. Congratulations and I hope that it gets a little easier...it sounds like you are doing everything right!
Thanks ladies I got an appointment next week to get my iron tested! I never even thought of that. I'm afraid to wear maternity pants and someone seeing since we aren't announcing it yet. So until then, I may just have to deal or hope my beband gets me though! Now if I can just deal with these horrendous mood swings!!!
