Managing Your Exhaustion During Pregnancy

Managing Your Exhaustion During Pregnancy

May 31st, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There are many aspects of pregnancy that you can’t even explain to others. The way that you feel, that first kick from the baby, so many things are just miraculous and difficult to put into words. One such aspect of pregnancy that is rather difficult to put into words is the absolute exhaustion that you feel.

For many women, exhaustion during pregnancy is a tired feeling that you’ve never quite felt before and it just beats you down. You can barely keep your eyes open during normal and rather routine activities, leaving you feeling drained so very easily. This is very common at the very beginning of a pregnancy and in the first trimester. Usually you feel much better by second trimester, though you’re certainly not up as late as you used to be. Then by the time that third trimester comes around, you feel that exhaustion again. There are many factors that contribute to it, and learning how to properly manage it is always a good idea.

It Seems to Come Out of Nowhere

One of the first indicators to many women that they are pregnant is that absolute exhaustion that you feel. It’s hard to describe, but as you have difficulty getting up in the morning or keeping your eyes open through dinner; you somehow know what’s going on. Though it is a very common symptom of pregnancy, it can be very frustrating for many women. If you have other children to care for, have a full time job, or simply have responsibilities that you must maintain then it can be very trying.

It may seem that the exhaustion comes out of nowhere, but it does make sense if you think about it. In the first trimester, the exhaustion is often attributed to the major change in hormones. As it often is, progesterone is usually the culprit and contributes to everything slowing down and you feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck. You are likely experiencing other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, and these can take a lot out of you as well. You are also building another person and as you work through the process of building another human being and the placenta, it’s only natural that you feel tired. You will feel this again towards the end of your pregnancy as you are carrying around a lot of extra weight and your body gets ready for delivery.

So How Do You Manage Pregnancy Exhaustion?

Since the exhaustion can be so debilitating and frustrating, many women want to know how to properly manage it. As you can see from these ideas, there are some rather simple but effective measures one can take which will help the exhaustion to subside a bit. Though it may sound counterintuitive, getting in a bit of exercise can be a real lifesaver when it comes to restoring some of that lost energy.

Along the same lines, eating the right foods that are loaded with nutrients and natural energy boosters can help you to feel more like yourself again. You can also rely on short little naps to help you get back to a normal state. Shutting your eyes for just twenty minutes when you feel tired can be a real energy booster. Getting more sleep at night and taking it easy throughout the day will always help you to feel more energized and ready to take on the world.

Managing Your Expectations During Pregnancy

Managing Your Expectations During Pregnancy

May 30th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There are many points of view of what realistic expectations are during pregnancy. Though this may be quite different for every woman, it is most certainly something to consider. Have you ever really thought about what your expectations are throughout your pregnancy?

Even if you have been pregnant before, you may quickly find that each and every pregnancy is different and therefore brings about all sorts of different thoughts and concerns. If you’ve never given much thought to it, then it may be something to sit and contemplate. Are you fully prepared for what pregnancy will be like? Have you talked to your partner about each of your expectations to ensure that they are realistic and in line with each other? All of these things are good to think through, but the bottom line is to expect the unexpected. This is often what will happen in a pregnancy and in parenthood, so getting used to that philosophy can work quite well.

It Is a Change Physically and Otherwise

If you think that pregnancy is simply a physical change, then you are in store for some big surprises. It is a stage of life that contains a great deal of physical changes, that’s for sure. You will watch your body change and morph into something that you never envisioned. You will change in shape, in size, and in some instances, you may not even recognize your own body. That will all change back with a bit of hard work after the baby is born, but for the time being it can be a lot to take in.

Pregnancy also contains a lot of mental and emotional changes as well. Your hormones will be on a roller coaster at times, and therefore preparing yourself for that is always a good idea. You may feel less than joyous at all times. You may feel anxious, sad, nervous, angry, or just plain run the gammet of emotions on any given day. So know this in advance and ensure that you set this as a realistic expectation or both you and your partner. If you don’t, then it may come as quite a shock when these changes occur.

Expect the Unexpected

Anybody going into pregnancy thinking that things are going to be and stay a certain way will be shocked when that is not the case. Expect the unexpected and you will be just fine. This is also the case for parenthood, so it can serve as great preparation. You can do everything right throughout your pregnancy and take care of yourself really well, and yet still can develop high blood pressure. You can eat all the wrong foods and eat far too much sugar, and yet never develop gestational diabetes. You may be a tiny girl with a tiny frame, and yet you may still have a rather large baby.

There are no assurances, so do your best to get prepared and get ready, but also to be flexible. That’s the best lesson that any pregnant woman can learn as she heads into her pregnancy. You can have expectations and do your part to manage them, but just know that they may change up a bit from time to time. So get ready for a long and crazy journey, and above all be sure to expect the unexpected and enjoy every minute of it.

Dealing with Postpartum Depression

Dealing with Postpartum Depression

May 19th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There is so much joy with the arrival of a new baby. It’s such a miracle and such an amazing feeling to hold that baby in your arms the first hand. Along with the elation comes a whole host of other emotions though, and these may be unforeseen and rather challenging to deal with. For many women, the change in hormones and transition to a new life can leave them feeling as if their world as they knew it is over with. This is often difficult to deal with and leaves many women “feeling the blues”.

Though there are varying levels of postpartum depression, it is very real and most certainly something to be taken seriously. It’s very natural that with the changing hormones, sleepless nights, and new lifestyle, that a woman feels sad and anxious. It is important to know how to pinpoint the symptoms and cope with these emotions.

Take Care of Yourself

So much of your time and attention is focused on caring for your newborn child. This is only natural as newborns require a great deal of attention, but it’s important to pay attention to your own needs as well. Many women suffer through postpartum depression without ever really confronting it. As it is certainly something that most women want to believe that they do not suffer from, they will avoid the issue at all costs. This can only work to your detriment.

For many women, it may be a very temporary situation that fixes itself on its own. The first couple of weeks or even months may be filled with emotional highs and lows, and therefore the woman has to work hard to adjust to these in a coping mechanism. For some women it can run much deeper and there may be a need for medication or other methods to help the woman live a normal and healthy life. Whenever you are in doubt, it’s always important to talk to your doctor. They are well versed in dealing with and treating postpartum depression. They can talk to you and work with you in figuring out what will help you to feel like your normal self again.

Helpful Hints for Your Own Care

As you can see when you look at tips such as these from the Mountain View Hospital, dealing with postpartum depression may be as simple as providing yourself with the very things you need for a happy life. You need to put a focus on yourself amidst all of the care that you provide for your newborn. This should come in the way of proper nutrition, plenty of rest, and time for yourself. This isn’t always easy to come by in the first few months, but it is something that you need to focus on.

Just getting out and away for a couple of hours with your partner can do wonders for your mental state of mind. This is the type of thing that you need to focus on as it will help you to take your mind off of things, get away from the sometimes stressful situation, and of course decompress a bit. Though it may be surprising, exercise can also be of great help to your postpartum depression. It can help to get you moving, get your body back to what it used to look like, and give you a boost both mentally and physically.

Detecting the Early Signs of Pregnancy

Detecting the Early Signs of Pregnancy

May 11th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Pregnancy can be such a wonderful and miraculous time. For some it comes rather unexpectedly and therefore can catch you off guard. For others, it can come after years of trying and a great deal of stress along the way. No matter how prepared you truly are, the early signs of pregnancy can be something that you want to focus on. Though they say that every pregnancy is different, there are certain signs that act as a good indicator if a woman is pregnant or not; and although these can be symptoms of other health conditions, their presence means it is often well worth taking a pregnancy test to see if that’s what is going on. It is also worth noting that many times, the earliest signs of pregnancy can tend to come in pairs, leaving less room for doubt and necessitating confirmation.

Food Plays a Big Role

Some women may float through their pregnancies without one single food aversion. Others feel sick at the very look of chicken or other common culprits. As you will see on any early signs of pregnancy list, food aversions are often a big indicator. Food cravings often come later on, but the aversion to coffee, meat, or other commonly enjoyed foods can usually tell you that something is different. Some of the very things that you’ve always enjoyed or consumed on a daily basis may all of a sudden make you want to vomit. Just the smell of something like bacon cooking in a pan may make you physically ill. Food often plays a big role and shows up in the aversion form early on in a pregnancy, so keep an eye out for this.

Subtle Yet Obvious Body Changes

One of the biggest things to look for is the way in which your body changes. Have you noticed that all of a sudden your breasts feel very tender for no apparent reason? Do you feel as if you are getting headaches every day and can’t really explain why? Though you aren’t going to necessarily put on the pregnancy weight until later on, the reality is that your body is going to change and it will likely happen early on. Some of the most obvious early signs of pregnancy include headaches, vomiting, and extreme nausea. These are often due to the changing hormones and the way that your body responds to them. The good news is that these symptoms usually go away into the second trimester, but they can make for a bumpy ride along the way. Keep tuned into this and if you feel nausea well beyond a day or two or feel as if you are constantly battling a headache, it may be time to take a pregnancy test.

Use Your Cycle to Guide You

Some women don’t necessarily keep track of their monthly menstrual cycle. However one of the first signs of pregnancy early on is a missed period. You may not even miss a period, but you may notice that you have a very light one a little earlier or right around the time that you would have had your period. This could be implantation whereby the embryo is implanting itself into the uterus. So look out for either a missed period or a slightly different period because those are usually good indicators. And of course if you have any lingering question, a positive pregnancy test is of course your best indicator that you are pregnant.