So besides all of the nausea I’m experiencing, I am also suffering from extreme exhaustion, which I’ll admit has been overshadowed by the vomit. It’s a kind of tired that is inexplainable. For me though, everytime I sit on the couch for 5 hours without moving, knowing there are so many chores to be done, I feel guilty. Like, am I really this tired? I must seem so lazy! I feel like the world is looking at me like, dude, get off your ass. But I can’t. It feels as though the task of rising off the couch is equivalent to walking to the grocery store, shopping, then lugging all the bags home on my back.
Point is, when I listen to stories of other womens exhaustion, or read about how normal it is in books, I feel a little better. I know what a hard job my body is tasked with right now and it is no surprise that I’m flat out sleepy. Tonight I read some wise words from Ms. McCarthy that healed my soul for the night:
“Imagine staying up all night, then running a marathon, then doing 300 loads of laundry and raking the leaves off a football field all in one day. How tired would you be? That’s how tired I felt EVERY DAY in my first-trimester. Its like someone snuck in and stole all the juice out of my body. Our bodies give so much to the embryo I’m surprised we can even get off the couch.”
And that’s when I yell at the book and say YES that’s exactly what its like! Then I go back to resting my head on the pillow like before, only this time not feeling quite as lazy.
Sher Bailey is a writer in the Midwest who believes the power of humor, Mod Podge, and grandkids can fix most problems in life. You can find her at SherBailey.com.
Kristen says
get your rest! Don’t feel guilty! And rest assured that it WILL GET BETTER!!! Your 2nd semester will feel great and then BOOM, your 3rd will prob kick your ass again! Such an inspiration comment huh? LOL
Meagan says
It is totally like that. I was absolutely exhausted. It will get so much better!!!!!
Jen says
So true! The second time around was so much harder since I had a toddler to take care of. Corinne was 19 months old when I got pregnant, and she watched an inordinate amount of television during pretty much the entirety of my first trimester. I felt so guilty about that, and also that I wasn’t cooking dinner for my family (she also ate an inordinate amount of PB&J and chicken nuggets during that time). Finally a friend pointed out that she wouldn’t rot her brain nor develop a lifelong battle with obesity because I did what I had to do to get through those eight weeks or so after the morning sickness set it. Take all the time you need and just grow that baby!
Sher says
No guilt, Kitten. NONE! I told you – you are doing hard work. VERY HARD.