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Published on: 4/7/2025

Why Might I Experience Extreme Fatigue After Eating During Pregnancy?

After eating during pregnancy, extreme fatigue may happen because your body is working hard to digest food while also supporting your growing baby, and hormonal changes can affect your energy levels.

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Explanation

During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes that can make you feel extra tired after meals. When you eat, your body sends more blood to your stomach and intestines to help with digestion. This extra work can make you feel fatigued because your body has to balance digestion with also providing for your baby. Pregnancy hormones, like progesterone, increase during this time, and they can slow down digestion and affect how your body uses energy. This means that after a meal, you might experience a drop in your energy levels. Sometimes, if you have conditions such as anemia or issues with blood sugar, you may feel even more tired. Eating small, balanced meals more frequently might help ease this fatigue. If you continue to feel extremely tired after eating, or if you’re concerned about your symptoms, it’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider. They can check if everything is on track with your health and help you find ways to manage these symptoms so you can feel better.

(References)

  • Poole CJ. Fatigue during the first trimester of pregnancy. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1986 Sep-Oct;15(5):375-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.1986.tb01409.x. PMID: 3639925.

  • Bai G, Korfage IJ, Groen EH, Jaddoe VW, Mautner E, Raat H. Associations between Nausea, Vomiting, Fatigue and Health-Related Quality of Life of Women in Early Pregnancy: The Generation R Study. PLoS One. 2016 Nov 4;11(11):e0166133. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166133. PMID: 27814390; PMCID: PMC5096665.

  • Effati-Daryani F, Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi S, Mohammadi A, Zarei S, Mirghafourvand M. Fatigue and sleep quality in different trimesters of pregnancy. Sleep Sci. 2021 Jan-Mar;14(Spec 1):69-74. doi: 10.5935/1984-0063.20200091. PMID: 34917276; PMCID: PMC8663733.

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