Easy fatigue during pregnancy is a common complaint. Although it looks mild, these complaints are often annoying and can be a sign of a health problem. However, pregnant women need not worry, because there are several ways that can be done to overcome them.
Fatigue is a common complaint during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. However, this complaint can also be experienced by pregnant women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
The emergence of complaints of fatigue during pregnancy can be caused by many things, for example due to hormonal changes or because the body of a pregnant woman needs to work extra to support the formation of fetal organs and placenta.
Apart from these things, complaints of fatigue during pregnancy can sometimes also be caused by certain conditions that need to be watched out for.
Some Causes of Fatigue During Pregnancy
Often feeling tired during pregnancy can certainly hinder the daily activities of pregnant women. The following are some things that can make pregnant women often feel tired:
1. Morning sickness
Morning sickness is nausea and vomiting that occurs during pregnancy. Despite the name, morning sickness actually can also happen during the day, afternoon, or night. This condition can make pregnant women lose their appetite and lack energy, causing pregnant women to feel tired easily.
Morning sickness Mild ones are generally harmless and can be treated in a number of ways, such as avoiding the smell of food that makes you feel nauseous and eating small but frequent meals.
2. Anemia
During pregnancy, pregnant women need twice as much iron. Iron acts as a blood-forming agent that supplies oxygen to the developing fetus. If iron needs are not met, pregnant women are at risk for anemia.
In addition to causing fatigue, anemia can make pregnant women experience other symptoms such as dizziness, pale skin, and dizzy eyes. This condition can also interfere with fetal growth and development.
3. Hormonal changes
Pregnancy causes various changes in the body, including changes in hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. These hormonal changes are useful for increasing blood production to support fetal growth and development.
However, these hormonal changes can sometimes cause side effects in the form of weakening of ligaments and joints throughout the body. This is what also makes pregnant women often feel tired easily.
4. Anxiety and worry
Fatigue in pregnant women can occur due to certain psychological conditions, such as anxiety and worry. This may come from various things, for example when a pregnant woman imagines a painful delivery process or is worried that she will not be able to take care of and raise her baby properly.
If it is severe, anxiety and worry can make pregnant women feel very burdened, resulting in feelings of sadness or hopelessness. These psychological conditions can make it difficult for pregnant women to sleep and tend to get tired easily.
Overcoming Easy Fatigue During Pregnancy
So that complaints of frequent fatigue during pregnancy can feel lighter, pregnant women can try the following ways:
1. Reduce activity
Pregnant women are advised to limit the time when working or doing activities. If necessary, try asking your husband or other family members to help with housework or take care of the children.
2. Eat healthy food
Pregnant women are advised to eat healthy and nutritious foods to fight fatigue during pregnancy. Some of these foods are fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and various fruits and vegetables.
Avoid eating fast food and white bread because it will make pregnant women more sleepy. Instead, pregnant women can eat whole wheat bread because it contains better nutrients.
3. Sufficient water needs
Pregnant women need to drink more water to prevent dehydration. Not only that, drinking enough water can also help relieve symptoms morning sickness. With sufficient body fluid needs, pregnant women will also feel fresher and less tired.
4. Exercise regularly
Pregnant women are advised to do physical activity according to their ability. Regular exercise can also increase the body's energy and reduce fatigue. There are various choices of exercise that pregnant women can try to do, such as walking around the house, pregnancy exercise, to yoga.
5. Take supplements according to doctor's recommendations
Apart from eating healthy and nutritionally balanced foods, pregnant women can also fulfill their nutritional needs by taking pregnancy supplements. However, the type and dosage of pregnancy supplements must be according to a doctor's prescription.
If pregnancy makes the pregnant woman's body tired easily to the point where it is difficult to carry out daily activities, immediately consult a doctor. This is because complaints of fatigue during pregnancy that do not improve can be a sign of the various medical conditions mentioned above or certain diseases, such as hypothyroidism.
To determine the cause of the fatigue that pregnant women feel, the doctor will conduct a series of examinations, then provide treatment according to the cause.
