Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part but how do you stay productive/energetic during pregnancy?

[Anonymous]

I am so used to being busy with many things and now, at 20 weeks, my main activities are work (three days a week, mostly on my feet), maybe one or two short hikes during the days off and the rest of it I feel like a useless potato on the couch. No physical or mental energy to cheer anyone up or do anything fun. I’ve become extremely boring and not as useful as I like to be.

Has anyone here managed to stay quite active and involved while pregnant? I’m guessing having other small kids demands that sort of energy. Perhaps if you manage important projects you are in the same boat. How do you boost your energy while pregnant?

[Anonymous]

Wishful thinking

[Anonymous]

Pregnancy just sucks.

[Anonymous]

First pregnant after the first tri let up my hormones made me have so mucH energy in the second tri. I worked full time, finished a nursery, build stuff, planned vacations etc. second pregnancy i was kind of tired all the time but i knew that doing anything pregnant is easier than with a newborn so i pushed on. And when thr baby came i was only nursing and sleeping and eating and spending time with my oldest.

[Anonymous]

I had to. I had no option. I took the bar exam in my first trimester (passed, luckily) and had to finish my thesis in my second trimester along with teaching. I made priorities and did nothing else. I didn’t shop, cook, clean, do laundry - just slept and did my work.

What really helped me, I think, was that I never stopped my exercise routine (morning swimming) and yoga. And I had minor morning sickness.

[Anonymous]

You are producing A PERSON. That is plenty productive!

[Anonymous]

Exercise. I stopped during my first pregnancy because my nausea made it hard to do anything. But I made it more of a priority during my second pregnancy, and I really think it helped. Nausea was still there, but I felt like I had more energy overall. And my recovery was so much easier after the second.

[Anonymous]

Anxiety. I work in a male-dominated profession and was the first person at my company to ever take maternity leave so I felt the need to work incredibly hard to be productive so my pregnancy wouldn’t impact my colleagues and make them wary of working with other women.

I don’t recommend this at all; give yourself a break and rest up while you can.

[Anonymous]

Do you exercise regularly? With 4 kids, I don't have any other choice than to be productive, but I also exercise. Even going on 30 minutes walk can help.

[Anonymous]

I'm also 20 weeks but I have a HG and a 2.5yo so my bar is pretty low lol. I also work 3 days a week. We take a family walk for an hour every night with our daughter and dog. My rule for myself is that I must be productive for 1 hour after my daughter goes to bed (finishing laundry, prepping new baby room, dishes, etc) then I allow myself to be as sick as I actually am but pretend not to be lol

[Anonymous]

I’m only 6 weeks but the only time I don’t feel incapacitated by exhaustion and nausea is when I’m running or the few hours after I’ve gone for a jog. The hardest part is pushing through feeling awful and getting out the door.

[Anonymous]

U don't. That's what husbands are for. Or help or family.

It's a very modern thing that a non- pauper is expected to function normally through pregnancy

[Anonymous]

I had like a 2 month stretch during the 2nd trimester where I did lots of activities with my DD, met friends for outdoor social distanced picnics, and took weekend trips with my family.

Outside of those 2 months, I've just been nauseous (first tri), or tired and my body hurts and I have to pee all the time (3rd tri). So, I take it easy. I work 5 days a week from home and sometimes feel mentally exhausted after work. I do have a list of stuff that needs to get done before my 2nd child arrives. I try to tackle stuff on my list when I feel up to it.

[Anonymous]

Gentle exercise. I did Peloton until the day before labor but I did low impact rides and my output declined during the 3rd trimester. I would do maybe half of my PR. But I think it gave me energy and made my recovery easier.

[Anonymous]

Ask your doctor for bloodwork - I was still exhausted in second trimester and it turned out I had become anemic. Iron pills helped a great deal. I know others who have experienced the same so I think it is pretty common.