Extreme fatigue in the third trimester

A larger abdomen, back discomfort, frequent urination, reflux, and difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position can reduce restorative sleep. Moving and breathing may also require more effort. Anaemia can add weakness, dizziness, pallor, headaches, breathlessness, or a racing heartbeat. Fatigue accompanied by fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, or urinary symptoms may reflect illness. Sudden, marked change matters more than tiredness that follows a poor night and improves with rest.

Tell your maternity team if fatigue is new, worsening, or affecting eating, walking, work, or personal care. Plan regular breaks, keep fluids nearby, eat nourishing meals, and use pillows or approved comfort measures to support sleep. Ask for help with lifting and household tasks. Continue antenatal appointments and prescribed supplements. Keep track of swelling, headache, vision, breathlessness, pain, fever, fluid intake, and your baby’s usual movements.

Seek urgent care for severe headache with visual changes, sudden facial or hand swelling, chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or fluid loss. Contact your maternity team urgently for reduced fetal movement from your baby’s usual pattern, fever, repeated vomiting, painful urination, or rapidly worsening weakness.

Could anaemia or another condition explain this change? Do my blood pressure, blood count, or urine need checking? What sleep and activity adjustments are suitable? Who should I call if fetal movements or other symptoms change?