A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:Hi all...im 26 weeks pregnant and exausted!!Im sleeping fine of a night and getting plenty of hours sleep. Im taking pregnancy vitimans and eating and drinking healthy. I have been tested for anemia, low iron ect but all come back clear. Problem is allll day i have so little energy, just standing up to get a drink takes real effort.i have tried having a midday nap and not having one...the result stays the same? My gp says ots just because or the pregnancy which is fair enough but what can i do eat or drink to get some energy as its really starting to depress me now Reply to this Question
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reader, Sageoldguy1465  +, writes (16 April 2014):
 Whenever I feel lethargic, I listen to my tape of the last couple of minutes of the 5th game of the NBA championship series between the Celtics and the Phoenix Suns. TALK ABOUT EXCITING!!!! There is NO BETTER sportscasting than Johnny Most yelling, "Havlicek stole the ball! Havlicek stole the ball!!! Havlicek stole the ball!!!!!" and Hondo dropping in the winning basket.... THAT should infuse you with some energy!!!!
P.S. If that doesn't work, listen to Al Michaels reporting the end of the "Miracle on Ice" hockey game, US vs. USSR... in the 1980 Olympics, at Lake Placid....
One of those should have you up and doing calesthenics in short order!!!!!
Good luck....
A
female
reader, Honeypie +, writes (16 April 2014):
 Is your GP OK with you exercising a bit? It can help your energy level. Now I'm not talking crazy triathlon exercise but walks, preggo-yoga and swimming did really good for me during my first and 3rd pregnancy - I was on bed-rest for my second one so not my exercise there.
I think actually the more you sleep the more tired you will feel.
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A
female
reader, YouWish +, writes (16 April 2014):
 Your body's working overtime to nourish, protect, grow, and shelter your baby - your body is the complete life support system for another body who's using massive resources to grow exponentially. It's also spending a lot more energy preparing YOU for motherhood - creating milk, getting your body ready to give birth, hormones going out of whack, all of that, not to mention doing all of this while carrying the equivalent of a full backpack.
Good nutrition is about so much more than vitamins. It's a different set of rules and a different way of viewing food in general. Your blood pressure and your blood sugar are a lot to blame for that fatigue, so look at food as fuel. Instead of eating 3 large meals, consider switching to 6 small ones, eating smaller portions spread out better. And remember, not all food is the same. Reaching for the starches and sugars give you that burst/crash pattern you've been dealing with, and you don't want that.
Start with some good healthy proteins, because those are your energy foundation. You didn't say whether or not you're a vegetarian, but if you're not, healthy baked chicken breast or a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread is fantastic for jumping your energy without bogging you down. Very lean red meat in moderation is good too, like a London Broil or lean filet (hamburger is rough on you!), and you WANT calcium. I hope you drink milk, because that is a huge help as well as eggs (I prefer egg whites!), and reduced fat cheese and crackers as a snack is good as well.
I ate Grape Nuts in the morning with strawberries and skim milk, and that was a great starter. Eating high-fat foods that bog you down, AND eating candy bars and all that really plays havoc with fatigue. A good snack in a healthy portion is almonds. If you make salad, you might want to consider a spinach salad, because fresh spinach is packed with a bunch of stuff that helps your baby develop well, and it's filling. Watch the salad dressing you use though! Drenching a salad in creamy ranch, Italian, Blue cheese or thousand island is like turning a healthy salad into a Big Mac Greasy Diabetes explosion. Lower calorie stuff like light versions of the above mentioned or a vinaigrette or even no dressing (my choice) is way better.
Tell your ob to refer you to a dietitian to tailor a diet to your needs and time table, and I don't know if you're exercising or not, but if you're not, light walking does WONDERS for your energy level. I know it seems like hell just to get up in the morning, and you should listen to your body and rest when it wants to, but get out and do a little walking. Go to the mall with a friend and walk. Go to a flower show or to the local park and walk. You don't even have to power walk! Just stroll, sightsee, take in the nourishing sunlight. Do some light stretches and meditative breathing to pull out the toxicity in your body. Most people do not breathe correctly, and stuff gunks up and builds up in the system.
I don't know what your relationship is to caffeine, but you know to limit it in pregnancy. Peppermint tea is good for you and so is raspberry leaf tea. These are lower in caffeine, so sipping on them just might help you with energy and calcium intake.
Hang in there! You're resting, but your body is working so much harder. Lots of little meals, and no empty calories and junk, and good protein rich in nutrients. Get some walking in there, but no marathons or anything! Good luck!
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