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Fatigue During Pregnancy
Fatigue During Pregnancy
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Q I'm Almost 12 weeks and I stay so tired its unbearable. I don't have any energy to do anything. What can I do to change this?
A Fatigue is a very common complaint in early pregnancy. Many women will feel worn out, and will feel that they need more sleep, especially during the day.
Most of the time there is no harmful pathology behind this symptom, and it will usually improve by the 4th or 5th month of pregnancy.
However, if the symptoms are severe enough to be distressing to a patient, I will do an evaluation. This consists of checking a complete blood count (CBC) to look for anemia. Also, an electrolyte panel should be performed. This will include tests of kidney function and glucose (blood sugar) levels.
A TSH to check thyroid function should also be performed. And if you work with small children, or if you are around them often, consideration should be given to a Mono test as well.
If all these tests return as normal, then you can be reassured that most likely there is no significant pathology involved and that the fatigue should improve spontaneously.
In the meantime, other measures you can take include making sure that you are eating a proper diet. Avoid sugary foods, caffeine, and fatty or greasy foods. Instead fill up on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, pastas and seafood. Also, it is a good idea to be on an exercise program, though you should clear this with your physician first.
Herbal remedies such as Ginseng may benefit some non-pregnant patients, but due to a lack of studies, I would stop short of recommending these supplements during pregnancy. I wish you the best.
Bradley G. Goldberg, M.D.,
Chief of Staff, CRMC
Coffee Women's Center, P.C.
http://www.coffeewomenscenter.com
Click here to Ask Dr. Goldberg your pregnancy questions.
Dr. Bradley G Goldberg is a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Goldberg is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Goldberg is Chief of Staff of Coffee Regional Medical Center. Currently, he is serving as Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and he is the Chairman of the Perinatal Committee. Dr. Goldberg graduated from the University of Florida in 1989 as a member of The Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He received his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine, and completed his internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta.
Dr. Goldberg is a contributing author to OBGYN.net, the largest women's health site on the Internet. In addition, Dr. Goldberg is the author of an article on "Urethral Carcinoma," which is in press with the Journal of Urology, and he co-produced an instructional video on Norplant removal that he presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Dr. Goldberg is a member of the American Medical Association, The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, The Medical Association of Georgia, and The Atlanta Medical Association. Dr. Goldberg's wife Kimberly is a pediatric nurse. Together, they enjoy traveling and spending time with their family.
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