Being pregnant and exhausted is no fun. Sure, you’re growing a bundle of joy and it’s the happiest time of your life… but at the same time it can be a bit miserable. How can you overcome the tiredness? Here are some expert tips:
Since I have been pregnant and exhausted (five times to be exact), I have what you may call some experience with the topics of…
- exhaustion,
- burn out,
- hormonal frustations,
- all over soreness,
- mental fatigue,
- and plain weariness.
I also have some expert advice on how to cope when in this situation. Come back in time with me to when I was pregnant with my first…
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Once upon a time…
I had already quit my day job and focused mainly on myself and the baby.
My daily schedule was obnoxiously perfect…
- I slept until 8:30 am, ate breakfast, and took an hour long walk along the winding roads of Scotland.
- I’d come back to the cottage and read some Agatha Christie before having a nice lunch.
- Then, I’d take an afternoon nap.
- I’d read some more…
- Then, I’d prepare documents or plan for our overseas move and cook dinner.
- After a nice long bath I’d settle in for a good night’s sleep and then repeat the next day.
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All I have to say to my former self is: ha ha ha ha ha.
Life is, ahem, not like that this every pregnancy. Of course life is better since I have 5 little dumplings that I love to pieces.
It’s way busier and fuller than before kids and there is a lot less time to rest. So, I’ve had to adopt some strategies to make sure that I was getting the rest I needed.
While we have to know that we’ll never feel fully rested while pregnant (because that’s impossible since we’re building a tiny human) we can still get the rest we need.
It’s possible and you can do it! Here are some tips on how to cope:
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Take our 3 day challenge to create life-giving family, child, and self-care routines.
Learn MoreCome to terms with it- you’re pregnant and exhausted.
Try to keep in mind that pregnancy is a short season and that you WILL have more energy and time to rest afterwards.
You may need to step back from commitments, take kids out of activities, take time off work, and just generally change your lifestyle to accommodate the genuine need for rest.
You are after all, growing a human being…
Knowing that this time you’re in is just a season will help you “see the light at the end of the tunnel” if you will. So, come to terms with the fact that you may need more rest than pre-pregnancy.
It’s just a part of it.
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The Power Nap – How Tired Mamas Can Do It Well Go to bed early.
Look, I get it. Sometimes it’s very hard to go to bed early.
But take it from an expert, your body with thank you.
Even if it’s hard, even if you don’t get things done, even if you are used to being a night owl, you just need to go to bed early.
Listen to your body’s needs and don’t get set into stone what used to be a normal bedtime. There’s a major change happening inside of you and it’s ok (there’s no shame) in going to bed early.
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Learn MoreLower your standards.
If you’re like me, it’s difficult to lower standards around the home. Emotionally difficult, perhaps.
- More TV than normal? That’s okay.
- Less healthy dinners than normal? That’s okay too.
- Cleaning a little less? Again, that’s okay. (Refer to #1.)
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- pinpoint an issue
- draw out how it’s affecting you
- label what you don’t like about it
- determine areas of responsibility
- figure out how it’s showing up
- say what you’d rather happen
- brainstorm solutions
Give yourself a break if you’re pregnant and exhausted.
As a mom, it takes foreseeing the chaos and mental fatigue in order to save your sanity. Let’s face it, it can get a bit crazy.
If you know that you are going to have a particularly stressful day/week/month schedule in some things to keep you sane.
- A pastime that you enjoy
- Reading a good book
- Napping
- Quiet time to reset your brain
Structure your day to include these sanity savers that you need. It’s not selfish… and it may be necessary going forward.
Some tips to make this happen are:
- Train kids to do independent play a few hours after breakfast or during a convenient time
- Keep a consistent nap time or rest time
- Ask for some help from a loved one or husband
- Hire a mother’s helper
You know when you are the most exhausted during the day. Whether it’s mental or physical exhaustion, know those wear moments and plan for break.
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