Early sign of pregnancy
Right from the start of a pregnancy, you take a huge leap from being yourself to becoming a mum-to-be, with a tiny person growing inside you. From the moment of conception, the hormone levels in your body change. Then your body starts to grow as your baby gets bigger inside you and your organs move to accommodate him.
By now your hormones are powerful enough to make you feel fundamentally different. The exhaustion of early pregnancy is a huge shock to most women, however prepared they are for every sign of pregnancy in books and magazines. Fatigue hits you like a steam train and this can be particularly frustrating and upsetting to a normally active and energetic woman.
Fatigue is an early pregnancy symptom
The best way to cope is to give in - don't fight it. When you're pregnant, your body is crying out for rest so it's best to just accept fatigue as an early pregnancy symptom and try to adjust your life accordingly. Simplify your life - reduce your list of daily activities down to the bare essentials. Stock the fridge with ready meals, turn down social invitations and do whatever helps you to cope. Try to fit in a daily nap if you can. There may be a medical or rest room at work where you can lie down, or go somewhere quiet to sit and rest. Make the most of weekends to get plenty of rest and sleep.
This period of exhaustion in pregnancy is only temporary and should pass by around 14 to 16 weeks - then you'll start to feel energetic again. Practical Parenting magazine offers advice every month on how to cope with all the different stages of pregnancy. Read on for a summary of some of the features on pregnancy.
