Fatigue during pregnancy can feel like persistent tiredness or low energy that makes everyday activities harder. It’s common, and you may notice it more during the first and third trimesters. [1] For a closer look, read Fighting Fatigue During Pregnancy: Practical Daily Steps.
Your energy may not match what you expect, and needing to slow down can feel frustrating when daily tasks still need attention. This overview explains what pregnancy fatigue can feel like, why it may happen, what you can try on tiring days, and when to contact your care team.
Fatigue can look different from one day to the next: you might feel drained while getting ready, struggle to focus on a routine task, or find that a familiar errand takes more effort. These examples describe how low energy can affect daily life; they do not tell you what is causing it. As you read, consider which changes are manageable for you, and note any concerns you want to raise with your care team.
Why can pregnancy make you so tired?
Pregnancy fatigue can have several overlapping causes, so there may not be one explanation for why you feel tired. Hormone changes, the body’s work of supporting a pregnancy, disrupted sleep, and the demands of daily life can all play a part, with effects that vary from person to person. [2][3][4]
Hormone changes
In early pregnancy, rising progesterone may contribute to sleepiness and sluggishness. Hormone levels are only one part of the picture, though, so they may not account for all of your tiredness. [2][4]
Your body’s increased workload
Your body produces more blood during pregnancy to carry nutrients to the growing baby, and supporting a pregnancy takes energy. These changes can add to tiredness alongside hormonal effects. [3][4]
Sleep and everyday demands
Your energy may also be affected by disrupted sleep and the tasks you need to manage each day. For example, a night of poor sleep followed by a busy day may leave you feeling more drained, while someone with a different sleep pattern or routine may experience fatigue differently. [4]
These factors can overlap, and the mix can differ between people. You do not need to identify one cause on your own; if your fatigue is concerning, bring it up with your pregnancy care team.
How fatigue may change by trimester
Your energy may shift as pregnancy progresses: fatigue is common in the first trimester, can vary in the second, and may become more noticeable again in the third. [1] These patterns are general, not a timetable you have to match.
First trimester
Fatigue is common early in pregnancy, and hormonal changes are one possible contributor. [2] You might notice that ordinary parts of the day—such as getting ready in the morning or finishing work—take more effort than usual. The timing and intensity can differ, so one person’s experience is not a reliable measure of yours.
Second trimester
Your energy may change during the second trimester, and people do not all experience the same pattern. [1] If you feel more energetic for a while, treat that as your own experience rather than a promise that fatigue has ended; if tiredness continues, that does not mean you are doing anything wrong.
Third trimester
Fatigue may become more noticeable again in the third trimester, and sleep quality can be part of the picture. [1][5] For example, you may find that a night’s rest feels less refreshing, even if your usual bedtime has not changed. The trimester pattern is a broad guide, not a prediction of how you will feel on any particular day.
Notice changes in your own energy rather than comparing yourself with someone else’s pregnancy. If fatigue is persistent or substantially interferes with daily life, bring it up with your care team.
What may help you manage low energy
When fatigue is weighing on you, give yourself permission to rest, simplify the day, and ask for help with demanding tasks. You do not need to keep every routine or meet every usual expectation on a low-energy day.
Choose one or two adjustments that feel realistic. For example, sit down while folding laundry, leave a non-urgent chore for another day, or break a larger task into smaller steps with a pause between them. If your day is already full, consider which task can wait rather than trying to fit in everything.
Let trusted people know what would help, and be specific. You might ask a partner to handle dinner, a friend to pick up groceries, or a family member to help with errands. If a task leaves you drained, take a short break before moving on; you can also ask someone to share the task instead of doing it alone.
If fatigue persists or disrupts your daily life, bring it up with your pregnancy care team rather than trying to treat it on your own. Feeling very tired can be a symptom of iron deficiency anemia, which your clinician can assess. [6] Mention what has become harder—such as getting through work, keeping up with basic chores, or managing your usual routine—so you can discuss an appropriate next step.
For today, choose one manageable change: rest when you can, move a task, or ask someone you trust for help. If your low energy continues to concern you, tell your care team.
When should you talk with your care team?
Contact your pregnancy care team if your fatigue feels unusually severe, keeps going, or makes it hard to manage everyday life. For example, reach out if you are struggling to get through work, care for yourself, or handle routine responsibilities; you do not need to wait until you have a clear explanation for the tiredness.
Very tiredness can be associated with iron deficiency anemia, but fatigue alone does not tell you whether you have anemia. [6] Your clinician can assess whether anemia may be contributing and advise you on appropriate next steps.
When you contact the office, describe what the fatigue is like and how it affects your day. You might say, “I’m so tired that I’m having trouble keeping up with my usual routine,” or explain that the feeling is unusually intense or has not eased. If you have noticed a change in how you are functioning, include a specific example, such as needing to stop a normal task to rest.
You can also ask what details would be useful to share and whether the care team recommends an evaluation. If fatigue is getting in the way of daily life, it is reasonable to bring it up even if you are unsure what is causing it. Your care team can help decide what to check rather than having you guess at the cause.
Avoid treating the fatigue as proof of anemia or starting a remedy on that assumption. A clear description of how severe and persistent it feels gives your clinician a practical place to start.
A gentle next step for tiring days
Your energy can vary during pregnancy, and fatigue by itself does not tell you what is causing it. If you have a tiring day, choose one small adjustment that feels manageable—such as postponing a non-urgent task—and bring ongoing concerns to your pregnancy care team. [1]
You do not need to solve everything at once. Notice whether the fatigue continues or makes daily life harder, and tell your care team what you have been experiencing. Feeling very tired can be a symptom of iron deficiency anemia, so your clinician can help assess concerns rather than having you guess at the cause. [6]