In the early days of being a new mum, you prepare yourself for a lot of yawning and not getting your usual 8 hours sleep every night. But after a while this tiredness can turn into sheer exhaustion and you feel like someone has removed your batteries!
So what’s the deal with postpartum exhaustion? How can you get out the other side?
Why am I so tired?
Giving birth is hard!
Understatement of the century there!
We sometimes get a bit caught up in this idea that we should pause for 30 seconds whilst working in the fields, sneeze out a baby, scoop them up, and carry on bringing in the corn. But, in many cultures, the 3 months after you’ve had a baby are spent recovering and nourishing your own body. The family would gather around and take care of everything else (more on this later!).
So give your body the time and attention it needs to get over this huge event. Giving birth is a big deal and something that will take its toll on your body.
Breastfeeding uses a lot of energy
Breastfeeding your baby uses a huge amount of energy, and that can have a huge impact on how long you can stay awake past 7pm! You need to eat more than you think and drink lots and lots of water to make sure you’re giving your body the nutrients it needs to function, as well as keeping your baby nice and full.
You’re constantly multitasking
As a new mum you no doubt have 1001 things running around in your head; nap times, feeding schedules, diaper changes, doctor’s appointments, trying to finish the dishes while listening to the baby monitor. This makes your brain tired – and uses calories. Don’t underestimate how much energy it takes to simply remember all the things necessary to keep a human alive for a day!
You don’t take time to look after yourself
You’re responsible for a brand new person who’s quite demanding. If you have a partner and other children there are even more people you feel like you have to take care of. So time for yourself ends up bottom of the list. And when we don’t look after ourselves, our energy levels drop. Taking time to recharge, even in small snippets, can help us cope with the long list of tasks running around our heads.
Go from tired new mum to refreshed new mum!
Here are my tips to help you feel more like you again:
- Take a break – even a 20 minute walk around the block when your partner gets home from work can do wonders.
- Make sure you get some fresh air every day – it wakes you up, and makes everything feel better!
- Accept help – whether it’s getting dad to share the night feeds, having gran in for an hour while you nap, or getting help with the cleaning and cooking. If someone offers any help – say yes immediately!
- Sleep whenever you can – even if it’s when the baby naps at 10am, put on an eye mask and do it!
- Eat properly – complex carbs like porridge, wholegrain rice and potatoes will give you lasting energy. Much better than the tempting quick fix of sugary snacks, as these will result in a sugar crash in less than an hour.
- Communicate – let your partner (friends or family) know when it’s all getting a bit much. This is no place for stoicism!
And if you think you’d benefit from being able to hand things over to a professional for a few nights, then have a look at how I love helping tired new mums like you.
Tired new mum? Or something more?
While some level of exhaustion is perfectly normal for a new mum, there are some things that you should go to the experts for.
Anaemia is quite common after giving birth, particularly if you had a rough time during labour, or you’re breastfeeding. Keeping an eye on your iron levels is important, and if you find yourself severely lacking in energy then you should call your doctor. You can find a list of common symptoms here.
Likewise, postnatal depression can sometimes include lacking in energy. So it can be hard to tell the difference. If you’re concerned, you can find a breakdown of other symptoms here. There are some great organisations who can support you through postpartum depression, including PANDA. Getting help from professionals should always be seen as a strength, and part of important self care.
