Why Am I Sooooo Tired?

It seems like I am always asking myself the same question, “Why am I so darn tired?”

It all started with my first pregnancy and continues even today. My oldest son, now 5, is learning to go to the potty in the middle of the night. Instead of just walking to the bathroom and taking care of his business, he finds it necessary to wake me up—no matter the hour—to say, “Mommy, I have to go pee.”

“Great,” I say, “So go!”

Motherhood and fatigue seem to go hand-in-hand, and it all starts during pregnancy, Do you feel tired all the time? Feel like you could take a nap at any minute? If you’ve given up caffeine, you may feel even more drained. After all, growing another human is exhausting work. Giving up the coffee or diet sodas that used to see you through the day can cause your body to go into withdrawl. For me, the worst time of day was always 3:30pm. That’s when I would usually fuel up with a can of Diet Coke to help me get through the end of the day. When I was pregnant, I would swap my usual can for one that was caffeine-free. It never quite did the trick.

When I was pregnant, I remember feeling tired, a lot. This posed particular challenges at the office, where I was hiding my pregnancy from coworkers and my boss. I recall many the meeting where I would simply doze off. Not for extended periods of time, mind you. Just enough that my head would fall forward and I would snap back to attention, hoping no one around me had noticed.

Getting adequate rest during the first trimester is not only important for you and your baby, it may be crucial to your career. If you are fortunate enough to have an office with a door, consider taking a catnap every day at lunch. Put your phone on “do not disturb” and set a travel alarm clock for 30 minutes. You might be surprised what a nap during lunch hour might do for you. Don’t have an office? Consider ducking out to your car during lunch, as long as it is parked in a safe place. It may sound strange, but if you are planning to breastfeed your baby after returning to work, you might be spending quality time in your car for several months to come (can you say breast pump?).

If you don’t have a private space in which to grab a quick catnap during the day, consider taking a brisk walk instead. There’s nothing like some fresh air and exercise to get you feeling alive again. You might even consider popping a small piece of dark chocolate into your mouth as you stroll along. Rich in antioxidants (which are good for moms-to-be), one ounce of dark chocolate contains an average 20 milligrams of caffeine, far less than your average five-ounce cup of brewed coffee. I am no doctor, but I do believe in the health benefits of chocolate, even in moderation during pregnancy!

If you are feeling extremely tired during these early weeks, the good news is, it usually goes away during the second trimester. I only wish I could tell you it stays that way. Fatigue and motherhood go hand-in-hand for years to come. In fact, if you'll excure me, it's time to get some sleep.