It is common to feel fatigued at any point of your pregnancy, not just in your second trimester. This can result from health conditions such as anemia or sleep disorders. Recognizing the signs of fatigue can help you receive treatment more quickly.
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article uses the term “women” when discussing people assigned female at birth to reflect language that appears in source materials.
While gender is solely about how you identify yourself, independent of your physical body, you may need to consider how your personal circumstances will affect diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment. Learn more about the difference between sex and gender here.
How tired should I be?

“When you’re expecting, it’s completely common to feel wiped out, especially as your pregnancy progresses into the second and third trimesters. After all, your body is busy growing a new human. But “while exhaustion might be a sign of pregnancy, you shouldn’t feel run-down for your entire 9 months,” says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the Yale School of Medicine.
“We expect women to report that they’re feeling more tired during the first trimester and the last couple weeks of their pregnancy,” says Dr. Minkin. “But if you’re normally the Energizer Bunny and you’re dragging during your second trimester or the first part of the third, we want to rule out an underlying medical issue.”
What can cause fatigue during pregnancy?
Several pregnancy-related health conditions can decrease your energy levels and leave you feeling fatigued. This includes:
Anemia
When you’re pregnant, your risk of iron-deficiency anemia increases. This means your body isn’t producing enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to your body’s tissues. “During pregnancy, you need double the amount of iron that you normally need,” says Dr. Minkin. This is because you’re carrying oxygen to the fetus, too.
Globally, more than one-third of pregnant people will get anemia.
Your risk can increase if you:
- have had two pregnancies back-to-back
- are carrying multiples, such as twins or triplets
- regularly experience morning sickness
You may experience frequent headaches and mood changes, although these symptoms are common throughout pregnancy, regardless of whether you have anemia.
More telling symptoms of anemia include brittle nails, a sore tongue, and a craving for non-food items like clay, dirt, or ice. If you have symptoms of anemia, a doctor will run a test known as a complete blood count to measure your red and white blood cells.
Often, taking supplements like vitamin C and B12 can help treat anemia. Incorporating iron-rich foods like lean red meat, chicken, iron-fortified breakfast cereals, and dried beans into your diet can also help.
Thyroid disease
“Many symptoms of thyroid disease are also a common part of pregnancy, such as constipation and weight gain,” says Dr. Minkin. You should watch out for other thyroid symptoms, such as constantly feeling cold, muscle or joint aches, and trouble concentrating.
Up to 3% of pregnant people have low thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). The condition is known as hypothyroidism. It can occur even if you’ve never had thyroid disease, explains Carolyn Cokes, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
If hypothyroidism is left untreated, it can raise your risk of miscarriage and serious pregnancy complications. Complications include preeclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure and protein in your urine.
Fortunately, most cases of hypothyroidism during pregnancy are easily treatable.
A doctor will begin by ordering a blood test to measure for the hormone known as thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). If your levels are outside the typical range, your doctor may prescribe a synthetic thyroid hormone, such as levothyroxine (Levoxyl).
In minor cases of hypothyroidism, a doctor may closely monitor your TSH levels to see if it changes by itself first.
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