Fatigue is a common effect of pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. When you consider all the incredible changes your body is experiencing, the mere thought is exhausting. Your hormones are all out of whack and trying to adjust to the new life your body is trying to support. You have increased levels of progesterone and estrogen circulating -- just think of what happens to us during PMS! Pregnancy is many times more work for your body.

Your doctor's advice that the fatigue will go away after the first trimester is the same information I found. The reason is that your body begins to adjust to everything and settle in with the new life it's growing. However, keep in mind we are all very different: Some women may not ever have relief until after the baby's born (the case with many women who are carrying twins), while some women never experience any side effects at all.

Nancy Somer MS, RD, author and contributor to Shape magazine, wrote a book I use all the time in my research, Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy: The Complete Guide to Eating Before, During, and After Your Pregnancy. It is one I have mentioned before and will recommend for a long time. She suggests having your iron levels checked. Iron is responsible for binding oxygen to hemoglobin. Hemoglobin, in return, is responsible for delivering oxygen to the rest of your body. When your body is low on oxygen it corrects itself by releasing the oxygen already present in the body, contributing to the fatigue. Surprisingly, even a mild deficiency can cause fatigue. A regular blood test won't show a mild deficiency, so she suggests requesting a serum ferritin blood test. A serum ferritin level below 20 mcg/l indicates a deficiency.

To help replenish iron stores try to consume iron-rich foods (such as clams, some cereals, kidney beans, lentils, blackstrap molasses, broccoli, spinach, beef, pork, lamb, liver), and stay away from quick fixes. Caffeine and sugary foods are only temporary stimulators. Caffeine is also not wise to consume in large quantities, if any at all during pregnancy. The reason sugary foods only give a temporary fix is because it takes nothing for our body to break down simple sugars. Complex carbohydrates take longer to digest and will keep you alert longer. Also try fruits. I like the idea of fruit smoothies. You can combine fruit juice and yogurt with fresh fruits and some sugar to taste and blend away!

There is not one magic food that makes your energy level bounce back, it is a combination of health prior to pregnancy, food, and exercise. Even though you may feel like exercise is the farthest thing from your idea of gaining energy back, it truly can help. I hope you feel better soon! Definitely consult your doctor for his/her opinion about the blood test. I also recommend consulting a dietitian at your local hospital. There should be an outpatient dietitian available who can meet with you and give you a personalized analysis of your dietary needs. Good luck and take care!"

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