How do people work full time during the first trimester? Tired all the time.

[Anonymous]

First pregnancy and I am exhausted all the time (since about 7 weeks onwards). I'm lucky able to work from home and the volume is a bit reduced from usual because of Covid-closures, but otherwise I don't know how I would do it. I'm basically functional for 4 hours at a time and then need to nap.

I hear it gets a bit better in the second trimester, but if it wasn't for WFH now I know I'd be having to use lots of leave now to cope - how did you manage in the first trimester?

[Anonymous]

Lol, not well. It was 3-ish months of secretly napping and barfing between meetings. Really unpleasant. Not everyone feels awful in the first tri, but many of us do. It definitely got better in the second trimester for me.

[Anonymous]

I fell asleep once with my head on my desk during a conference call. I thought I could be strong enough to just list with my head resting gently on my arms - nope.

[Anonymous]

I was like that for weeks 6-9, also luckily WFH. It was brutal. I can only imagine when you are up and at work it keeps you more active than being at home where you feel more relaxed. It definitely gradually got better and by week 9 I was going a whole day without a nap, but also dealt with insomnia at night so still napped some days. Unisom has helped significantly!

[Anonymous]

Ummm you just work and do your job....what’s so complicated? I had all-time sickness was exhausted and I just drank water and lived and worked and commuted and did meetings and travelled for work. Just count your blessings for being at home and you’re in for a rude awakening of being “tired” with a newborn.

[Anonymous]

It's very difficult. Probably worst weeks 9-11. It'll likely get better, op. Be kind to yourself.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I’m lucky I didn’t get fired. It’s rough.

[Anonymous]

Is your office work that critical?
You need your rest, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ummm you just work and do your job....what’s so complicated? I had all-time sickness was exhausted and I just drank water and lived and worked and commuted and did meetings and travelled for work. Just count your blessings for being at home and you’re in for a rude awakening of being “tired” with a newborn.

Wow, you’re such an empathic and kind person PP.

(DP)

[Anonymous]

^^
Empathetic...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol, not well. It was 3-ish months of secretly napping and barfing between meetings. Really unpleasant. Not everyone feels awful in the first tri, but many of us do. It definitely got better in the second trimester for me.

+1 So rough. I remember barfing, closing my office door and lying down on the floor with the lights off while the room was spinning. Somehow you tough it out and get through it, but it's not easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ummm you just work and do your job....what’s so complicated? I had all-time sickness was exhausted and I just drank water and lived and worked and commuted and did meetings and travelled for work. Just count your blessings for being at home and you’re in for a rude awakening of being “tired” with a newborn.

NP. Parent to an infant, so fully understand the sleep deprivation that comes with a baby. That said, anyone who feels the need to tell pregnant women that parents of newborns are tired, as if they don't understand that, is not only unnecessarily rude but also has to be legitimately stupid, right? Do you really think OP doesn't get that having a newborn is exhausting? You sound like a caricature of a mean girl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your office work that critical?
You need your rest, OP.

Well, most people can’t just say peace out because they are tired, and even if permitted, you generally won’t want to use leave before the baby is born any more than truly necessary.

Even if OP is a middle management paper pusher for a non-critical business, it is not unreasonable for her employer to still expect her to push paper, with relatively modest accommodations.

[Anonymous]

Barfing and napping PP here.

Nope, it’s not better when you’re up and active in the office. It’s so tiring it’s physically painful and REALLY embarrassing to fall asleep in meetings.

Jerky PP, I have friends that were tired with their first, then bone deep fatigued with their second. Sounds like you’re one of the first and OP is one of the second (as was it). It felt like having the flu or mono, physically so fatigued you HAVE to stop and rest. Have you ever been sick like that? It was that from 6-12 weeks without a break. Newborn sleep deprivation was not as bad as the first tri for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ummm you just work and do your job....what’s so complicated? I had all-time sickness was exhausted and I just drank water and lived and worked and commuted and did meetings and travelled for work. Just count your blessings for being at home and you’re in for a rude awakening of being “tired” with a newborn.

I hope your terrible attitude isn't rubbing off on your child.