If you have been feeling unusually tired since becoming pregnant, you may be experiencing pregnancy fatigue. This is one of the most common symptoms during pregnancy, and many women are surprised by just how intense the tiredness can feel.
You might notice that your energy levels drop quickly, that you need more sleep than usual, or that everyday tasks feel more demanding. Sometimes pregnancy fatigue can appear very early, even before your pregnancy begins to show.
Although it can feel frustrating, this tiredness is usually a natural response to the incredible work your body is doing.
Growing a baby requires enormous physical and hormonal changes. Your body is building the placenta, increasing blood volume, adjusting your metabolism, and supporting the development of your baby.
All of these changes require energy, which is why feeling more tired during pregnancy is very common.
Why Am I So Tired During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy fatigue happens because your body is working much harder than usual. Hormones such as progesterone increase significantly, your body begins building the placenta, and blood volume expands to support your baby.
These changes require energy, which is why feeling unusually tired during pregnancy is very common, particularly during the first trimester.
What Causes Pregnancy Fatigue?
Several changes happening inside your body can contribute to pregnancy fatigue. In most cases, tiredness is the result of multiple factors working together.
Hormonal Changes
One of the main causes of pregnancy fatigue is the hormone progesterone. Progesterone rises rapidly in early pregnancy to support the uterine lining and maintain the pregnancy.
This hormone also has a naturally calming effect on the nervous system, which can leave you feeling sleepier than usual.
Your Body Is Building the Placenta
During the first trimester, your body begins developing the placenta. This organ will supply oxygen and nutrients to your baby throughout pregnancy.
Creating the placenta requires a great deal of energy, which is one reason many women feel particularly tired during early pregnancy.
Increased Blood Volume
As pregnancy progresses, your body produces more blood to support both you and your baby. In fact, blood volume can increase by around 40–50 percent during pregnancy.
Producing this additional blood places extra demands on your body and can contribute to feelings of fatigue.
Changes to Sleep
Sleep can also become more disrupted during pregnancy. You may wake more often during the night, need to change position frequently, or simply struggle to get comfortable.
When sleep becomes fragmented, tiredness can build more easily during the day.
Physical Changes in the Body
As your baby grows, your muscles and joints work harder to support your changing body. Your posture shifts and your centre of gravity changes, which places extra strain on your muscles.
This physical effort can also contribute to pregnancy fatigue.
Is Pregnancy Fatigue Normal?
Yes, pregnancy fatigue is very normal, and many women experience it at some point during pregnancy.
As your body adapts to support your growing baby, several changes take place behind the scenes. Hormone levels rise, blood volume increases, and your body works hard to develop the placenta that will nourish your baby throughout the pregnancy.
These processes require a significant amount of energy, which is one reason pregnancy fatigue can feel so noticeable.
Many women experience fatigue most strongly during the first trimester, when hormone levels are rising quickly.
Progesterone increases significantly during early pregnancy and has a naturally calming effect on the body, which can leave you feeling sleepier than usual.
Later in pregnancy, fatigue may return as your baby grows and your body carries more physical load.
Changes in posture, disrupted sleep, and the extra effort your muscles make to support your changing body can all contribute to tiredness during the third trimester.
Even though pregnancy fatigue is common, it can still feel frustrating when your energy levels drop. It can help to remember that your body is doing something remarkable.
Growing a baby places real demands on your energy, and needing more rest during this time is completely understandable.
If your tiredness feels extreme, or if it is accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, or persistent weakness, it is always sensible to speak with your midwife or GP.
Occasionally fatigue can be linked to conditions such as iron deficiency anaemia, which can be checked with a simple blood test.
Most of the time, however, pregnancy fatigue is simply your body’s way of encouraging you to slow down and rest more often.
Gentle Ways to Support Your Energy During Pregnancy
Although pregnancy fatigue cannot always be avoided, there are gentle ways to support your body and energy levels during this time.
Listen to Your Body
Pregnancy is one of the few times in life when your body genuinely needs more rest. If you feel tired, try to see that as a signal rather than something to push through.
Short periods of rest throughout the day can help restore energy.
Eat Regular Nourishing Meals
Eating regularly can help maintain stable blood sugar levels and support steady energy throughout the day. Foods rich in iron, protein, and complex carbohydrates can be particularly helpful.
Stay Gently Active
Gentle movement such as walking, stretching, or prenatal yoga can help improve circulation and reduce feelings of heaviness in the body.
Movement can also support emotional wellbeing during pregnancy.
Prioritise Sleep
Creating a calm bedtime routine, reducing screen time before sleep, and using supportive pillows can help improve comfort and sleep quality.
How Prenatal Massage Can Help With Pregnancy Fatigue
Prenatal massage is designed to support the changing body during pregnancy while encouraging deep relaxation.
Massage may help by:
- easing tension in the back, hips, and shoulders
- improving circulation
- supporting relaxation in the nervous system
- encouraging deeper, more restorative sleep
When the body relaxes and circulation improves, many women find their energy levels feel more balanced afterwards.
Pregnancy fatigue can also affect emotional wellbeing. When your body is overtired, it can sometimes make feelings of worry or overwhelm more noticeable. You can read more about this in my guide to anxiety during pregnancy and gentle ways to calm your body and mind.
Sleep can also become more disrupted during pregnancy. If sleep has been affecting how you feel, you may find it helpful to read about how sleep and stress are connected.
Supporting Expectant Mothers in Surrey
In my therapy room in Walton-on-Thames, many expectant mothers tell me they are surprised by how strong pregnancy fatigue can feel.
Taking time to slow down during a massage treatment allows your body to rest properly for a while. Many clients say they leave feeling calmer, lighter, and able to sleep more deeply afterwards.
Pregnancy places many demands on your body, and giving yourself permission to rest is an important part of supporting your wellbeing.
If pregnancy fatigue is leaving your body feeling tense or uncomfortable, pregnancy massage can offer a quiet space to relax and support your changing body.
A Gentle Reminder
If you are experiencing pregnancy fatigue, try to be kind to yourself.
Your body is growing and supporting a new life. Feeling more tired than usual is not a weakness. It is often a sign that your body is working exactly as it should.
Allowing yourself time to rest, breathe, and receive support can make a real difference to how you feel throughout your pregnancy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy Fatigue
What is pregnancy fatigue?
Pregnancy fatigue refers to the deep tiredness many women experience during pregnancy, particularly during the first and third trimesters.
When does pregnancy fatigue start?
Pregnancy fatigue often begins during the first trimester when hormonal changes are strongest and the body begins developing the placenta.
Can massage help pregnancy fatigue?
Prenatal massage can support relaxation, reduce muscle tension, and improve circulation, which may help reduce feelings of fatigue.
