More tired than usual early pregnancy

Many women feel tired in early pregnancy. That's because the pregnant body is working overtime to maintain the pregnancy and develop milk-producing glands in the breasts. Some pregnant women notice this fatigue even as early as one week after conception, making this one of the first noticeable signs of pregnancy.

1. Is extreme fatigue normal in early pregnancy?
2. Why am I so tired so early in pregnancy?
3. When is pregnancy fatigue the worst?

Is extreme fatigue normal in early pregnancy?

It's normal to feel fatigued and even exhausted during the first months of pregnancy. Fatigue, even extreme fatigue, is an early sign of pregnancy that nearly all women experience in the first trimester. It's also very normal in the third trimester, affecting an estimated 60 percent of all pregnant women.

Why am I so tired so early in pregnancy?

Hormone changes play a big role in making you feel tired, especially the hormone progesterone. This hormone rises sharply in the first trimester. In addition, as blood volume increases to supply the developing placenta and fetal circulation, your heart pumps faster and stronger.

When is pregnancy fatigue the worst?

In the second trimester, which begins at week 13, many women get a fresh surge of energy. This is a great time to tackle those important before-baby-arrives chores, because as you enter the third trimester, which begins at week 28, that extreme exhaustion returns.