Pregnant with Baby No. 2 and I'm Extremely Exhausted

I felt the same with my second pregnancy. Remeber...you also are taking care of a baby, sot that takes a lot out of you. But i felt EXACTLY the same as you do.....the second pregnancy was WAY harder for me, although I was WAY healthier and in better shape than when I had my first baby.

I definately felt different with my second. I was really bloated feeling the whole time, I had to sleep propped up on pillows so that I could breathe and I took daily naps which I never did before! It's really hard but most people that I knew said that the second pregnancy was more uncomfortable for them also. Good Luck and congrats!

Yes, I was totally exhausted with second pregnancy. My first was 3 while I was pregnant, so I spent a lot of time lying on the couch and I played with her and read to her while I was lying down. Hang in there!

Hi S.,

Sometimes with first pregnancies, they take a lot out of you, but that doesn't really catch up to you until your second pregnancy, and then all the symptoms you are talking about show up full force!!

Once you've checked with your doctor to make sure it's not something more serious, my recommendation would be to see a good acupuncturist who can put you on a tonifying herbal formula especially for the pregnancy symptoms you are experiencing -- it's very common.

If you need help finding a good acupuncturist, you can call Yo San University ###-###-####. They have an clinic on site and will also be able to give you good referenes. Honestly, this is something they see A LOT -- and can really help you with.

Congrats on your pregnancy!!

Yes, some pregnancies are tougher than others, regardless of whether it's your first, second, third, etc... My first (and only) pregnancy was like that. I had all the "annoying" symptoms of pregnancy; throwing up every day, sciatica pain so bad I could not walk and needed physical therapy, hemorrhoids, tired all the time, etc, etc.. you name I had it! LOL And I used to be a high-performance athlete! So it really doesn't matter what kind of shape you were in before getting pregnant either... Like I said, each and every individual pregnancy is different!! Good Luck and Congrats!!

YES! So normal. First of all remember, siblings or not, these are two different people from the very begining. My pregnancy with my second son was easier than my first but still kind of similar. They are both boys and both sound a lot like your pregnancy. I was going to guess a boy but then you said it. I had EVERY symptom known to woman-kind. Headaches, stretching pains, bloody noses, swollen feet, couldn't sleep, SO VERY tired all the time, emotional, tempormental, back pain, you name it...I had it. You're almost done. Just think of how healthy your baby is and that this is just a short period of his life...and yours. You'll get there and then you'll have a precious baby boy to call your own! As for sleep, look into a pregnancy pillow, (or even a body pillow). Mine made a huge difference. I still didn't sleep, but I was more comfortable which helped. Congratulations!

Hi S.! I am in my 9mo with my 2nd pregnancy and your story sounds just like mine. I started having EXTREME back pain in this 2nd pregnancy (it is actually 3AM now and I am up with back pain) and I never had this kind of pain in my first pregnancy. I am also extremely exhausted. I need a nap daily. But, sometimes I don't like to nap because then, I feel like I don't sleep at night. I don't get more than4 hours of sleep if I don't take a nap during the day, and if I nap during the day I get about 2 hours of sleep at night. As for the back pain, I have just gotten pregnancy massage, stretch 3 times daily, water aerobics 3x week, baths nightly, etc. All of these for me are very temporary, but give me some relief. There are some days i can't walk by the end of the day, which is hard since my 1st child is 20 months old and keeps me on my feet. I am sorry I don't have better alternatives (that at least work for a long time), but I was just so glad to see another woman going through the same thing I have been going through, I thought I would at least comment. I am just hoping that this back pain with at least subside when the baby is born, because I know the exhaustion won't! :) Good luck! S.

Congrats on your pregnancy. I am also 6 months pregnant but with a little girl. I've experienced so many uncomfortable things with my pregnancy. I had severe morning sickness that put me in the hospital because I couldn't keep anything down. I woke up in the middle of the night with horrible back pain. But I bought a big body pillow, and since then, the back pain has been cut down dramatically. The morning sickness has gone away, but that was just recently. Just think about the fact that you only have 3 1/2 more months to go. That's what keeps me going. I can't wait to see her little face. =) Good Luck!
-G. (first time mamma)

Yes. My 2nd pregnancy was like that. Get as much help as you can with caring of your 1st and with housework. Seek homeopathic help, like accupuncture or massage. I had so many problems with my second pregnancy, and my older one was only 2 so he was running around all the time. I really needed help before and after my daughter was born. So, get help, and rest, and best of luck to you!

I felt like I had been drugged, I was so exhausted, during my first trimester. It was awful and depressing but it finally went away. Hope yours does too, good luck.

I found our couch was actually more comfortable for me to sleep on and spent that last month or two of my pregnancies sleeping there. It helped ease my back pain and was just easier getting into and out of during the night. Plus, I didn't worry about waking my DH. Also, pregnancy yoga. There are some great stretching positions.

I am finding that pregnancy #2 is much harder. I am also extrememly sick, exhausted and having back pain. The only thing that seems to help me is staying recharged. Eat every couple hours and make sure to sleep as much as you can. Including naps when you possibly can fit them in. Good luck! 3 months will hopefully go by quickly :)

Sounds like anemia. I went undiagnosed with it for over 2 years and ended up needing a 3 pint transfusion after almost having heart failure. I would have your doctor do a blood count to see if he needs to up your iron.

if you have Whole Foods close by get Bioplasma - not your old prenatal vitamins - these work on the cellular level. take them as soon as you open your eyes in the morning and throug the day as you feel down. geen raw food (organic baby greens) are a must on a daily basis. if you want to go all 9 yards - see professional homeopath - it will help you with delivery too.
Good Luck
V.

Hah! Try being 6 months pregnant with a terrible two toddler!

Sounds just like both of my pregnancies. I NEVER nap unless I am pregnant. I had no energy at all. I was soooo flakey that I left the car running after I got out. I heard the noise after a while and realized what I did. I couldn't remember to go to appointments if I didn't set an alarm on my cell phone. Normally I have/had a very good memory. Also, my back was a disaster. To this day, I still have pain on my lower left side and I see a chiropractor for pain management. Sometimes I thought my insides were going to explode and I could never find a comfy position to sit/stand/lay down. Honestly, it does get better. I wouldn't say that I am back to normal (2nd baby is now almost 15 months) but I certainly feel a million times better than when I was pregnant. I never understood how people liked being pregnant. Hang in there - in 3 1/2 months none of this will matter when you see your precious son's face.

My 2nd pg (age 35) was like that. It was hell. This is what saved me.

2x a week chiropractic adjustments eliminated all discomfort and pain. Find someone local who is experienced with pg women and young families. See if 1x a week will do the trick.

Post on Peachhead yahoo group (great e-mail discussion list for LA Parents) and ask who is good.

The other thing that saved me was getting an NAET treatment.
http://www.naet.com/
It's a non-invasive, natural allergy elimination treatment.

I was taking LOTS of iron from my homebirth midwife, but it wasn't making one dent. I was freaking out because if my iron levels remained low, I couldn't have a homebirth.

It turned out I was allergic, thus deficient in iron. Nothing I was taking, no matter how good or pure it was, was getting through, because I was allergic to it! duh!

After one NAET treatment (on a Friday) I had a midwife check up on a Monday and my levels shot up and stayed up. I was good after that.

Find a local NAET person and get referrals from pg women and young families he or she has treated.

BTW, at my daughters 11 month check-up, her iron levels were very high (woo hoo!) which wasn't the case with my son 4 years earlier.

try sleeping on your left side.... that is supposed to be the best position to ease pregnancy discomfort....
Each pregnancy is different... mine were.
Sleep/rest whenever you can...
my daughter and I, would "nap" at the same time when I was pregnant with my 2nd child, and she was about 3 yrs. old at the time. She would even rub my tummy to "help Mommy" and we'd have quiet time and rest. She completely understood.

For "morning sickness"- I had massive migraines and bad morning sickness... and the ONLY thing that helped was acupuncture. Which was actually recommended by my OB/GYN. It does not hurt and is actually very relaxing. Just 1 half-hour session stopped all my discomfort. But of course, see an Acupuncturist that treats "pregnant" women.

All the best,
Susan

I would recommend the Vitality Prenatal Vitamin and Minerals and also Access Bars (these are really good for extra energy-- I know because I don't have a lot of energy and have had tons since I started taking them). They are low cost and very good. I would be happy to introduce you to the company that manufactures them if you want. Just send me a message and let me know. :)

I had the same experience except only 2 1/2 years after my first. It turned out that I had developed hypothyroidism during my second pregnancy. Replacing my thyroid hormone was almost miraculous. Ask your doctor if s/he's checked your thyroid hormones. My thyroid did not feel terribly enlarged, but the diagnosis was unquestionable. E.

I had my first boy when I was 18 and my second when I was 25 and the difference in my pregnancies were very dramatic like yours. For me I think the condition of my body had a lot to do with it. When I was 18 I was a gym-a-holic and athletic, after my first pregnancy I let my awesome conditioning go because I didnt have the time. I was still thin but not toned and by the time my second pregnancy came around my thin little body couldnt handle it.

I dont know if you are thin-framed...but that is what happened to me.

I used the heating pad around the clock and made sure I took my iron daily...are you on iron supplements? If not, ask your doc about anemia.

Hi S.! I was like that with my 2nd and I found out (after the fact) that I had over 41 cm's of water. You are only supposed to have about 14, and she was over 9 lbs. Get your amniotic fluid level checked because it is actually a life threatening situation for your child and I was not aware of it. Luckily my baby was just fine, but it never hurts to be aware of how much fluid you have. Remember, you already have a child so that alone makes your other pregnancies tougher on you. Just relax and nap when you need too!! Good luck!!

Hi S.!
Sorry to hear you are having some troubles.
I would highly recommend you find a prenatal chiropractor in your area. They can help with the discomforts you are having and help your body to work more efficiently.
Visit www.icpa4kids.org to find a doctor in your area!
Good luck,
C. Tanaka, DC
www.naturallifechiro.com

Each pregnancy is different so you can't expect the second one to feel like the first. I'm sorry you feel so rotten. Talk to your doctor to be sure you're not anemic. Anemia is common in pregnancy and creates that awful fatigue. Meanwhile, realize that you're also probably more tired this time around because you have a child to take care of in addition to yourself, which wasn't an issue the first time. meanwhile try to find time to nap. Swimming will relieve backache, at least while you're in the water and it may reduce the discomfort for a few hours afterward; it always helped me in my last trimester when my back was so tired. Also try one of those electronic gizmos that you line a chair with; they have heat control and massagers built in so you can sit in your living room and give yourself a massage wherever you need it (back, shoulders, legs, whatever). I borrowed a device like this from a friend during my last pregnancy and it was a lifesaver the last couple of weeks (also when I was up all night in labor it kept me reasonably comfortable). Hers was from Sharper Image, which is now out of business, but if you shop around online or ask around you may find one to borrow or buy used. Hang in there, the time will go by fast. Hope you feel better.

My pregnancies were so different. I had no problems with son, it was a breeze! With my daughter I was throwing up every day for 4 months, kept getting sick, got crazy heartburn, and started pre-term labor at 30 weeks (with partial bed rest) which went on until I delivered at 37 weeks. I was much more exhausted with the second one. I think it is much harder being pregnant once you already have a child since you can't just come home and lay on the couch when you are tired! Hang in there, you're getting close!

Wow, you just described my second pregnancy to a tee! My kids are 5 years and three weeks apart in age. I did ok with my first, just typical symptoms. With my second I was ready for a nap an hour after getting out of bed in the morning. I was thinking before I even got to that part that you must be having a boy this time. The experience was completely different for me the second time around too.

I would suggest just talking to your doctor about it. They can offer suggestions and if there is something to be concerned about then it's brought to their attention.

Best of luck to you!