Fatigue

[2intheoven]

I am 8 weeks pregnant with twins and have never felt so tired in my life. I can barely stay awake late enough to put my 5 year old son to bed. The thought of going out in the evening for any reason - committee meeting, social get together, etc. - is overwhelming. However, I want to stay active in life while I can (i.e., before I'm too huge to move and home caring for 2 newborns). I also hit a wall every afternoon where I really need a nap, but that's not possible on the 3 days each week that I work. I didn't feel anything like this when I was pregnant with my son. Of course, I was 5 years younger then and pregnant with just one.

Has anyone else experienced extreme fatigue like this? Did anything help? Did it get better at some point (at least until it got worse again)?

[BabeABabeB]

I had to quit working at 18 weeks. I didn't know I was carrying twins until 20 weeks. I have a very high stress and physically challenged job, not to mention I would get up at 2:30-3am to start work. I was so beat. And then summer started, I was a zombie. At the end of July, I was told about twins!
I realized then, it all made perfect sense why I was feeling so run down.
I think it did get better, I have a 2.5 yr old and he still takes a little nap, so I'd nap with him.
But now, almost 38 weeks, I curse when something falls on the floor! LOL! Bending over isn't as easy as it used to be. Actually nothing as easy as it used to be. Your body really changes so much than singleton pregnancy.
Good luck to you!

[FlaMom]

I had the same kind of fatigue - it peaked right around 8 weeks. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on how you look at it!) I was on vacation for that week. My husband and I went to Key West with some friends, and I pretty much slept the whole time - I got up to go eat with everyone, then went back to bed! We had been planning this trip for 6 months, and I told my husband - "Watch, I will get pregnant right before we go". We had been trying for over a year, and sure enough, it happened! I couldn't drink, or even stay awake to hang out with everyone. Small price to pay for these little babies, though!

All I can say is that it does get better - at least it did for me. Right around 11 weeks, I started feeling human again (I am 17 weeks now). Don't worry about trying to get anything done now, just listen to your body. You will have the second trimester to get stuff done. I am just now starting to think about buying stuff and moving rooms around in the house to make room for these two!

[doubletrouble2003]

I know, isn't it horrible? When I was pregnant with the twins at 8 weeks I was trying to do christmas shopping last year and I could hardly go the mall! I was exhausted all the time and was constantly pulling muscles and was achy. It really does get better. There is a time in between the horrible fatigue and the morningsickness, and the end when your bones hurt just waddling to the bathroom! It is not long, but you do feel more "human" for a while. Hang in there and try to get as much rest as possible.

[Cheri]

I'd never been so tired in my life as when I was in the first trimester with both of my pregnancies, but definitely more with the twins. I couldn't stay awake to save my life. It's all part of the process, but I learned early on with my first to just give in to your body and take a nap when you can. I slept with my son this time when he went for a nap-it was great to snuggle with him. It does make it more difficult working-I worked too-but was taken off at 7 weeks because of bleeding (been on bedrest ever since).
You'll probably feel better during your second trimester and can look forward to having a bit more energy, though with twins is a lot harder than a singleton and I wouldn't count on too much. Just try to enjoy this time and relax!

[Noell]

I was so tired all theim time at the beginning and that is one thing that got my att and I knew I was not that tired the first time. I stopped working at 22 weeks. I so way to tired to keep going to work. I got a little more energy after a while..but then went into preterm labor.
It get better! You will get throught it. ! Post here all you want for everything!!
Congrats on your twins!
Noell
:)
:)

[twoinoven]

2in, just wanted to tell you about a great book that kind of puts twin pregnancies into perspective. It's called 'when you're expecting twins, triplets or quads' by Dr. Barbara Luke. It explains that this is not your normal pregnancy, it is much harder on you. I recommend it, it really gave me the 'wake up call' that this would be a different kind of pregnancy. I wouldn't worry about trying to be so active before the babies come. Getting them here is going to be tougher than just one. Don't want to scare you, but I thought things would be just like my singleton pregnancy, I am glad I read this book early on and was prepared for the things that are happening now, like pre term labor.
Oh, and I definately sympathize with the stage you are in now, I could have fallen asleep anywhere at that point in my pregnancy, it did get much better. But like doubletrouble said, you pass through a period of feeling good, then into feeling like a manatee!
Congratulations and take it easy!