Drowsiness: a sign of pregnancy or why you want to sleep in the early stages?

Weakness during pregnancy

Weakness during pregnancy is a common condition that can develop during the normal course of the gestation period. However, severe weakness during pregnancy can also develop due to pathology. The line between them is very thin, so the doctor has to carry out differential diagnostics with many conditions so that nothing threatens the baby’s development.

Causes of weakness during pregnancy

Weakness during pregnancy is a fairly common ailment. To avoid it, you must first determine the causes of discomfort.

What to do if you feel weak during pregnancy?

Significant restructuring of a pregnant woman’s body, an increased need for vitamins and minerals, and increased stress on systems and organs can provoke a feeling of fatigue and apathy.

Pregnancy is a condition in which major changes occur in the body, which is preparing for the emergence and development of a new life. Already the first weeks of gestation bring serious changes in the course of hormonal processes.

For example, progesterone, which is able to prepare the reproductive organs for conception and embryo development, significantly increases its activity and level in the blood. This hormone also affects the immune system: this is necessary so that the expectant mother’s body does not perceive the fertilized egg as a foreign body and does not reject it.

One of the not-so-pleasant effects of progesterone is its ability to retain fluid in tissues, which provokes the appearance of swelling and depresses the psychological state of the pregnant woman.

Estrogens are necessary to activate the development of the uterus, stabilize pressure and vascular tone.

A change in the balance of hormones in the body cannot but affect the well-being of the expectant mother and contributes to the appearance of feelings of weakness, fatigue, and even apathy. This condition occurs so often in pregnant women that it is considered quite normal for the gestation period. While hormonal changes occur in the body, feelings of weakness and drowsiness, unfortunately, cannot be avoided.

During this period, it is recommended not to overload the body with excessive activity and activity, to rest as much as possible and eat well.

Weakness in early pregnancy

Immediately at the beginning of pregnancy, the organs and systems of the female body have to adapt to a new state for them. In addition, hormonal changes take a lot of energy, and the body simply gets tired.

However, in order to combat manifestations of weakness, it is necessary, first of all, to understand the true causes of this condition.

If, after consulting with a doctor and undergoing certain examinations, it turns out that the cause of weakness is a restructuring of the balance of hormones, then there is no reason to worry. This is considered a completely normal phenomenon, and this period simply must be survived.

discharge in early pregnancy

Difficulties are experienced by those women who, due to circumstances, need to go to work or do other urgent matters that require some physical activity. What advice can you give them?

Avoid stressful situations, do not be nervous.
Ensure adequate sleep.
Take a walk in the fresh air whenever possible.
Eat well, eat high-calorie, energy-rich foods.
In the morning, do gymnastics, simple exercises that will help you wake up.

Over time, the body will adapt to the “interesting situation”, the balance of hormones will stabilize, and weakness will recede.

Weakness and dizziness during pregnancy

If during pregnancy you feel dizzy, your legs become weak, you have no strength for literally anything, sometimes there is a feeling of loss of consciousness - perhaps the reason lies in a decrease in blood pressure.

The reason for the decrease in blood pressure may be an increase in the amount of estrogens during gestation, which tend to relax the vascular walls, thereby contributing to a drop in pressure.

Sometimes signs of hypotension appear due to the development of toxicosis, which is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, loss of fluid and body weight, and lack of appetite.

In later stages, the cause of hypotension may be compression of the inferior vena cava by the enlarging uterus, which impedes the flow of blood to the heart and brain.

Circulatory disorders have a bad effect not only on the well-being of the pregnant woman, but also on the oxygen saturation of the child, which can provoke the development of hypoxia and premature birth.

Nausea and weakness during pregnancy, formed as a result of low blood pressure, sharply limit the delivery of oxygen to the baby. This process cannot be started, since a lack of oxygen can cause intrauterine growth retardation, spontaneous abortion and prematurity.

A pregnant woman's blood pressure must be periodically monitored to prevent the development of unwanted complications.

Drowsiness and weakness during pregnancy

The main reason for drowsiness in pregnant women is significant energy losses associated with both excessive psycho-emotional stress, which takes a lot of strength and energy, and hormonal imbalance.

New information, sensations, impressions, and perhaps fear of the unknown, takes away large amounts of energy from a woman. The body finds itself in a new and unknown state, so it gets tired quite quickly, needing rest and, first of all, good sleep.

A woman may want to sleep everywhere: at home, at work, while driving, while walking. In addition, the quality of sleep may be disrupted: you want to sleep, but you can’t; No one knows where snoring comes from, a feeling of cramps in sleep, pain in the joints and limbs, weakness.

Drowsiness occurs during lunch and afternoon. Despite seemingly full sleep, it is very difficult to wake up in the morning.

Such symptoms can be characteristic, most often, during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Fever and weakness during pregnancy

An increase in body temperature during pregnancy can sometimes be caused directly by the pregnancy itself. The synthesis of large amounts of progesterone is one of the causes of hyperthermia.

In addition, during pregnancy, the woman’s body’s defenses are suppressed in order to reduce the risk of embryo rejection by the immune defense. This is a necessary measure, which can sometimes be accompanied by a temperature reaction.

An increase in temperature is not dangerous and a common occurrence during pregnancy. However, this increase should not go beyond 37-37.5 C. Otherwise, you should contact a specialist, since the cause of a sharp rise in temperature may be an inflammatory or infectious pathology that requires medical intervention.

The most dangerous increase in temperature is in the last weeks before childbirth: hyperthermia at this stage poses a risk of infection of the fetus, as well as complications of the cardiovascular system and kidneys in the pregnant woman. This situation requires immediate consultation with a doctor.

Constant weakness during pregnancy

One of the most common causes of constant weakness during pregnancy may be the development of iron deficiency, which is caused by a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in the bloodstream.

The main purpose of hemoglobin is the delivery of oxygen molecules to the organs and tissues of the body: oxygen is captured in the lungs and transferred to all structures that require it for the further development of redox reactions in them and the generation of energy potential to ensure normal functioning in the body.

Violation of the sequence of this process causes the appearance of constant inexplicable weakness and apathy.

Pregnant women should have a minimum hemoglobin level of 110 g/l.

To confirm the diagnosis of a decrease in hemoglobin concentration, it is necessary to take a detailed blood test (finger prick), or an analysis of the concentration of iron in the blood plasma (blood from a vein), as well as an analysis of the iron-binding capacity of the blood plasma.

The reasons for a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin may be poor nutrition, gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenitis. Hidden blood loss can also be the cause: such cases are possible with hemorrhoids, periodontal disease, and hereditary pathologies.

Weakness in the morning during pregnancy

During pregnancy, it is strongly recommended to take care of yourself and your unborn baby: you should sleep exactly the amount of time that your body urgently requires. There is no need to overstimulate the nervous system or allow for great emotional stress.

In the evening, you can take a walk in the fresh air, take a warm shower, drink a cup of warm milk before bed. Such simple methods guarantee full and healthy sleep.

A hot bath, excessive eating before bed, strong tea and coffee in the afternoon will not only harm the unborn baby, but will also cause poor sleep and a feeling of weakness and drowsiness after waking up.

If possible, you should go to bed early and sleep at least 8 hours a day.

You need to sleep in a well-ventilated area, in comfortable clothes, choosing a comfortable sleeping position.

During pregnancy, daytime sleep is also allowed - 1-2 hours, depending on the requirements of the body. However, unfortunately, the possibility of daytime sleep exists only for women who do not work or are on maternity leave.

Weakness in the body during pregnancy

Weakness during pregnancy may be due to the manifestation of vegetative-vascular dystonia. This disease is most often observed in thin women. Signs may include morning fatigue, frequent headaches, and body weakness. Neither coffee nor any other energy drink helps: you have difficulty falling asleep and wake up exhausted.

The manifestation of vegetative-vascular dystonia during pregnancy can be accompanied by a feeling of crawling, weakness in the arms and legs, tingling, anemia, and destabilization of pressure.

The clinical picture of the disease can be very different, so only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis. If you suspect that you have this pathology, and weakness in the body appears regularly, then you should consult your doctor.

Do not self-medicate under any circumstances, especially during pregnancy. Remember - you are responsible not only for your health, but also for the condition of your unborn baby.

Weakness in the arms during pregnancy

Weakness in the arms may be a sign of general weakness during pregnancy. However, it can also be observed as an independent symptom of some other diseases.

If weakness in the arms appears after prolonged stress on the upper limbs, with frequent wearing of heavy bags, uncomfortable clothes, due to professional activities, or because of cold weather, this manifestation is not considered a disease.

Frequent and chronic weakness in the arms for no apparent reason may be a sign of a pathological condition that requires consultation with a specialist:

phenomena of cervical osteochondrosis - damage to the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine, in which the nerve ending is pinched;
signs of cervical spondylosis - accompanied by the growth of osteophytes in the vertebrae;
traumatic lesions of the joints of the upper extremities;
signs of neuralgia of the shoulder joint due to inflammatory processes, infectious diseases, hypothermia;
vascular disorders.

Sometimes you can combat weakness in your arms with the help of gymnastic exercises performed every morning. Active physical exercise helps improve blood circulation in the limbs and gain strength.

Weakness in the legs during pregnancy

Tension pain is characterized by a dull, monotonous pain, as if the head is being pulled together with an elastic band.

Patients often complain of pain that spreads from the neck to the back of the head, temples, and eye area. During palpation, painful points are felt in the back of the head and neck. Nausea is possible, but there is no vomiting. The duration of such a headache is from 30 minutes to 1-1.5 hours.

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), Citramon, Ibuprofen (Ibuprom, Nurofen, Brufen), Diclofenac (Diclonat, Dicloran, Ortofen), Indomethacin, Ketoprofen (Ketonal, Flamax) and other similar drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy.

These drugs may have negative effects on fetal development and pregnancy.

The use of the necessary doses for high-quality pain relief in the first trimester of pregnancy can cause fetal development defects (cleft palate, heart defects). The use of these drugs in the first trimester of pregnancy is strictly contraindicated.

Some of these drugs can be prescribed in the second trimester of pregnancy, but only after a strict assessment of the risks and benefits for the mother and fetus, and only in small doses and for a short time.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, the required doses of the drug can cause inhibition of labor, premature closure of the ductus arteriosus in the fetus, poor blood clotting in the mother, which threatens large blood loss during childbirth, and administration immediately before the birth itself can cause intracranial hemorrhages, especially in premature infants.

The use of the medications listed above in the third trimester of pregnancy is contraindicated.

Pregnant women need to beware of using products with unproven safety, because the baby’s health is at stake. Sometimes it is better to endure a pregnancy-related headache than to treat it with quack methods.

For tension headaches and migraines, it is enough to:

Take paracetamol. To relieve pain, you can take Panadol, Paracetamol, it has a good analgesic effect and is safe for the fetus. The maximum daily dose is 8 tablets.
Ensure complete rest in a calm environment. The ideal option is to sleep in a dark, well-ventilated room. Delegate all household chores to your family, get some sleep, and take a walk in the fresh air in the park area.
Maintain proper drinking regime. You must drink at least 1.5 liters of fluid per day. If you have low blood pressure, you can drink natural coffee, no more than 2 cups a day, since excessive coffee consumption can also cause headaches. If you are prone to high blood pressure, you can drink water, natural juices and fruit drinks. Sometimes gynecologists recommend limiting the volume of fluid in later stages; this is not entirely the right approach. The body will sooner and later store the water that the woman drinks and lead to a lack of fluid in the body, and with sufficient water consumption this edema mechanism will not work.
Eat a balanced diet, despite toxicosis. As soon as toxicosis ends, be sure to reconsider your diet, eat often, but little by little, 6-8 times a day, avoiding chemical foods. To avoid unhealthy fast food, always carry with you an apple, biscuits, bagels, pear, Actimel, peach or other favorite fruit. Prem multivitamins are needed only in cases of malnutrition or a poor diet.
Doing a light neck massage, acupressure, gymnastics for pregnant women, and also relaxation methods to relieve any pain - auto-training, meditation, yoga. To prevent headaches, you can go to the pool; swimming is the best exercise for pregnant women.
Compresses and shower. For headaches, a warm or, conversely, cold compress on the head helps a lot. A simple shower relieves tension and fatigue.
Consult a neurologist or osteopath, since during pregnancy the center of gravity shifts and cervical osteochondrosis can lead to constant headaches. Watch your posture while sitting and standing, avoid being in non-physiological positions, sleep on an orthopedic mattress and pillow.

For other causes of headache, you should consult your doctor. In most cases, you will need to take medications in addition to the points described above.

Many women try to self-treat if they often have headaches during pregnancy, which should never be done. You can harm your unborn child and miss out on a dangerous disease.

An examination by a specialist is necessary even if the headache is minor, if it lasts for a long time, or if the pregnant woman has not experienced such sensations before.

After successful conception, the female body is radically rebuilt. The hormonal background changes in it, the changes affect all systems that begin to work under increased load.

The future baby requires vitamins and minerals. He takes them away from mom.

The appearance of another circle in the circulatory system helps to reduce the level of iron and hemoglobin in the blood, respectively. If a woman was not used to watching her diet before pregnancy or paid a lot of attention to her figure, afraid of gaining excess weight, then she will feel weakness in the early stages of pregnancy acutely: she will feel severe fatigue even without any physical activity.

Impotence and drowsiness during pregnancy can also be a consequence of increased levels of progesterone in the blood. It negatively affects the functioning of a woman’s nervous system, which she feels as relaxation, apathy, passivity and decreased performance.

As you can see, weakness is a completely normal condition in the early stages of pregnancy. This is a physiological phenomenon. It occurs very often. Therefore, there is no need to worry about this.

There is no need to worry if weakness appears immediately after eating. It’s just that a lot of energy is spent on its processing, the blood moves away from the head and arrives at the stomach, so blood pressure decreases slightly. This explains drowsiness after eating.

Let's consider the features of this condition during different periods of pregnancy.

In the early stages

Dizziness in early pregnancy is common and harmless. This condition can be caused by a lack of fresh air, weather conditions, sudden movements, and large crowds of people. The causes of dizziness during early pregnancy are completely natural and easily eliminated.

Late drowsiness

The fact is that in the third trimester the baby’s weight becomes quite significant and grows quickly. The weight of the placenta and the fluid filling it should be added to the weight of the fetus. This is why the load on a pregnant woman's body (especially her legs and back) becomes noticeable. Even after walking a short distance, a woman may feel tired, as if she were carrying heavy loads. But this is so!

Another reason for late-term drowsiness is quite commonplace. With a big belly, it is more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. It is difficult for a woman to turn around or take a usual position, the child may begin to push in his sleep. After all, if in normal life we don’t get enough sleep for a night or two, we can sleep off on the weekend, but there are no days off from pregnancy.

But drowsiness during late pregnancy can be a symptom of a dangerous disease - anemia, a lack of iron in the body. It is especially bad because it develops gradually, and it can easily be mistaken for ordinary overwork. Pallor, increased fatigue, rapid pulse, heart pain, dizziness and fainting during pregnancy are all signs of anemia and a reason to consult a doctor as soon as possible. You cannot delay a visit to a specialist: anemia can have the most severe consequences, including the loss of a child. Iron supplements usually help prevent anemia. It is better to choose iron in liposomal form, which is easily absorbed.

Basic principles of treating headaches in pregnant women

Typically, weakness and dizziness during pregnancy, both in the early stages and in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, do not require medication. Treatment for this condition depends on what is causing it. If the cause of dizziness and nausea during pregnancy is toxicosis, then the doctor may recommend taking antiemetic drugs, for example, Cerucal.

If dizziness is caused by anemia, then treatment consists of taking iron supplements. Severe dizziness during pregnancy, caused by a sharp change in blood sugar levels, requires consultation with a gastrologist. It must be remembered that taking any medications during pregnancy must be agreed with the attending physician.

Traditional medicine also offers recipes for the treatment of headaches and dizziness during pregnancy. To eliminate these symptoms, it is recommended to drink weak tea made from mint and lemon balm.

Mint can be used as a snorting powder at the first symptoms of illness. If weakness and dizziness during pregnancy are caused by heat or prolonged exposure to a stuffy, unventilated room, you can put a cold compress on your head.

How to deal with sleepiness and fatigue during pregnancy

Despite the fact that most women spend the beginning of pregnancy at work in the same way as usual, experts strongly recommend that they slow down the pace of life slightly and rest more often.

Great changes occur in a pregnant woman’s body, and it would be wrong to overload yourself with work in the same way as always. And if some woman says that her pregnancy was much easier and she did not need rest, you can only be happy for her, but you should listen exclusively to your feelings.

How to deal with sleepiness during pregnancy or at least reduce the level of fatigue as much as possible?

You should definitely sleep more. Lack of sleep makes a person twitchy and nervous. Which, in turn, greatly affects your stress levels. Stress interferes with normal sleep - and the circle closes. You can purchase special pillows under your stomach that help you take a comfortable position while sleeping.
Eat properly and fully! This will help provide both bodies - the mother and the unborn child - with everything they need, as well as avoid health problems and prevent excess weight gain, which affects the feeling of fatigue, especially in the last trimester. Be sure to include vitamin and mineral complexes for pregnant women in your diet, for example, Pregnoton Mama - with B vitamins, liposomal iron and other micronutrients important for the health of mother and baby.
Walking in the fresh air (especially in the morning, when there is less gas pollution) will help tone your muscles and enrich your blood with oxygen.
Take Coenzyme Q10. It is involved in energy production at the cellular level. That is, it does not work as an energy tonic, but helps the body naturally efficiently extract energy from food. Additionally, research shows that CoQ10 reduces the risk of preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications.
Vitamins C and E will also help you stay energetic and active. Vitamin C is also involved in energy synthesis, and vitamin E is necessary for cellular respiration, without which muscle weakness develops in the body.
Coenzyme Q10, vitamins C and E are contained in the Synergin antioxidant complex, which will give a pregnant woman additional energy. Of course, Synergin is allowed to be taken throughout pregnancy.

Consequences

What are the consequences of low blood pressure and headaches during pregnancy? Is this condition dangerous? Yes, it's dangerous. First of all, because even mild dizziness during pregnancy can cause the expectant mother to lose balance and fall, which can lead to injury and pose a threat to her health.

It is necessary to establish the cause of the woman’s poor health. If dizziness is caused by a serious pathology, it can have negative consequences for the health of the mother and the development of the child.

Why do you feel sleepy in the second trimester?

The beginning of the second trimester is the 14th week of pregnancy. At this time, the placenta is already formed, toxicosis stops, the woman again adequately perceives odors, and stops getting tired quickly.

If the loss of strength does not go away in the 2nd trimester, the woman constantly wants to sleep, the reason is the active development of the embryo. Doctors do not recommend pregnant women to sleep during the day. The expectant mother should try to maintain mobility for good blood circulation. It's better to go to bed early in the evening.

Prevention

Dizziness, weakness and headaches during pregnancy can be minimized by following the following preventive measures:

avoid being in crowded places, in stuffy rooms;
do not make sudden movements;
is not in uncomfortable positions that impair blood circulation;
take a contrast shower;
do not take a hot bath;
eat often and in small portions, avoid feeling hungry;
maintain moderate physical activity;
maintain a positive emotional attitude.

Methods of disposal

Rest will undoubtedly help the young mother return to normal condition and energy. Create for yourself a comfortable and safe atmosphere in which you can relax and be alone with yourself, do what you love. Don't forget about regular walks in the fresh air.

During pregnancy, it is also important to eat a balanced diet. To get rid of increased fatigue, it is recommended to increase the number of calories consumed by 300-500 units from the previous level. Try to eat small portions, eating at least 5-6 times a day. Between meals, you can snack on fresh fruits, vegetables, a handful of nuts or dried fruits - they will give you a boost of energy for the rest of the day. Give up sugar too.

It will also help you escape from excessive sleepiness. If you want to sleep during the day, do not deny yourself this need: take a nap for 2-3 hours to replenish lost strength.