As the old saying goes, “when you gotta go, you gotta go” – but what if going means feeling weak and lethargic during the most inopportune times? Many women experience this strange phenomenon and wonder whether it could mean they are pregnant. The answer is yes – feeling weak can be a tell-tale sign of early pregnancy!
Read on to learn more about why weakness can occur during pregnancy and what other signs to look out for.
Why Am I Feeling Weak?
Pregnancy is an exciting time full of magical moments like setting up a nursery or picking out baby clothes. Unfortunately, it also has its less-than-magical moments such as morning sickness, swollen ankles...and fatigue!
Fatigue occurs because your body is working overtime creating new life. As soon as that little fertilized egg implants itself into your uterus lining (how romantic), hormones flood your system hindering bodily functions so that energy can be put towards building your growing fetus.
Did you know? It's not uncommon for women’s iron levels to drop even more throughout the first trimester, which may very well add propelling force behind those sleepy feelings (yawn)
Couple all these changes with lack of sleep due to late-night Google searches related to anything from how many nappies will our child need through infancy-toilet-training basics or pre-school choices (so much fun), traveling around town providing exact answers in order; throw 'nothing-comes-easy' situation over here - rest assuredly leads to profound exhaustion.
What Other Signs Should I Look Out For?
If you’re experiencing periods when lifting yourself off the couch is nearly impossible (heave-ho grunts) , then congratulations might just be in order.__
Feeling weak isn't always enough proof-positive that there's one too many people sprouting up in your home. However, combined with other symptoms such as:
- A missed period (na-na if you'd hoped to be rid of that discomfort for longer than 9 months),
- Breast tenderness (IT HURTS WHEN YOU JUMP!)
- Mood swings (crying at dog commercials)
- Nausea and vomiting
Then it’s very possible that a bun is indeed baking away inside the oven (your uterus).
What Can I Do To Combat Fatigue?
Now that we’ve established why you might feel weak during early pregnancy, let's talk about ways to combat those feelings so you can continue on with your day-to-day life.
Firstly - Rest! There’s no shame in taking a nap or curling up on the couch re-watching 'Friends' (I KNOW ALL THE EPISODES OKAY?!). Listen to what your body wants: does it require a slow-down-moment? Does relaxing all morning rather than speedy Tuesday mornings sound much needed? Answer diplomatically because there might just soon come (often) times when schedules dictate otherwise. It will only help!
Secondly - Keep Moving (even if much slower-paced!) We know this seems counter-intuitive but stretching (granted… little chance of full-on yoga classes now) or light exercise activities like walking keep muscles moving blood flow circulating – making even sedentary individuals notice improved energy levels after some short bouts of activity through simple chair-stretches.
Third - Healthy Eating Habits Whether craving sushi/slice-of-pizza-kind-of-day falls upon cravings radar; sustaining healthy eating habits goes miles towards improving general well-being. Notably eat smaller meals throughout the day instead of one large binge meal (watch out for habitual snacking though).
Do not hesitate to reach out/meet doctors regarding nausea/vomiting experiences – there are certain dietary plans/exercises that can calm that part of it.
Conclusion
Feeling weak during pregnancy is a common and normal symptom experienced by many women. It’s essential to be mindful of your body's signals whilst quickly understanding how they translate into certain eating habits/sleep/stressions/and even sporting activities like: biking or yoga-based exercises for recreation etc. (again, maybe sans-bending= prenatal specific)
By prioritizing proper rest and healthy habits, you’ll set yourself up for an enjoyable pregnancy experience readying you for parenthood!
So bottoms up to strength-building salmon salads...followed by the odd pint of ice-cream (hey…it’s all about balance).
Remember unhealthy practices/taste cravings cause future 'mom guilt'…even before baby's arrival – certainly not optimal beginning (heaved sighs) but don’t stress too much; life happens while having fun too!