Fatigue is one of the early signs of pregnancy, beginning after the first missed period and lasting anywhere from week fourteen to week twenty.
ProgesteroneOne of the two naturally occuring female hormones (the other is estrogen) used to regulate and maintain the pregnancy. Produced first by the corpus luteum in the ovary, production is subsequently taken over by the placenta as it develops. During pregnancy a mother's production of progesterone ten times the level it was prior to conception. Progesterone and estrogen are responsible for giving many mothers a sense of tranquility, shiny hair and glowing skin.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., the hormoneA complex chemical substance created in a part or organ of the body. When released it initiates or regulates activity in an organ or group of cells in another part of the body.
Hormones secreted by endocrine glands are transported through the bloodstream to their target organ. The amount of hormone secreted is regulated either by other hormones, by neurotransmitters, or simply when an excess of the organ's activity indicates a need to reduce the amount of the hormone produced.
Other hormones are produced locally by the organs themselves and are common in the digestive tract.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. responsible for so many pregnancy complaints, raises your metabolism by twenty percent (one fifth) to sustain the development of the embryoThe name given to the developing life within the female body during the first ten weeks of gestation. Since the calendar counts from the date of the last menstrual period, this corresponds to about Week 12 in the Diary. In human embryos there is little yolk in the egg, nourishment being replaced by the placenta as soon as it has formed.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. and the changes necessary in your organs to support it.
With all the changes taking place in your body it is not surprising you feel tired. But soon your body will adapt to the changes in your body, and most women find that they have more energy by the second trimester.
If you feel tired during pregnancy, follow your common sense and get some sleep. Most doctors recommend eight to ten hours a sleep each night during the first trimester. It is unlikely you will be able to sleep the whole night through since you will have an increased urge to urinate during trimester one. Make up for lost sleep by taking naps in the afternoon or after you return home from work. Help with the housework can help you cope with the increased strain.
No results found. Click here for amazon.com
Ask your doctor to check your hematocritThe ratio of red blood cells to total blood volume, mormally about 38% - 46% in women and 42% - 54% in men. The measurement is often used to diagnose and determine the onset of anemia.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. for signs of anemiaA condition in which the number of red blood cells is abnormally low and usually refers to the oxygen carrying hemoglobin. It is most likely caused by iron deficiency, especially during pregnancy and can be treated with supplements.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. and ask if your diet needs to be adjusted to give you more energy. Avoid drinking caffeine, alcohol or taking barbiturates (sleeping pills), which will make you feel sleepy. Instead, try and relax at the end of the day. Take a warm bath or drink a large mug of warm milk before going to bed.
If you are pregnant with your second child, (or third, or fourth), you may find that you are tired throughout your pregnancy. Subsequent pregnancies can be more tiring that the first one since you have the added effort of looking after your first child. Try and find ways to give yourself a short break each day that you can look forward to. Ask your husband to help you with the domestic chores so that you can have half an hour or more to relax while he does the dishes, puts on the laundry or gets your first child ready for bed.
Ask your doctor about taking dietary supplements such as a multivitamin or vitamin B complex. Bee pollen, royal jelly, ginseng and coenzyme Q10 can also provide relief, but should not be taken without the consent of your doctor. High doses of ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) may stimulate uterine contractions.
If you feel tired after your baby is born, it may be the result of anemia. Pale skin and shortness of breath are other symptoms, and you should consult your doctor. Insufficient iron as a result of blood loss from labor, especially following a cesarean section, can be restored with supplements.
No results found. Click here for amazon.com
