Can breastfeeding make you extremely tired?

Understanding the Exhaustion of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is often heralded as a natural and beneficial way to nourish infants, but many new mothers report feeling extremely tired during this period. This fatigue can be attributed to a combination of physical, hormonal, and emotional factors that come into play during the breastfeeding journey.
The Physical Demands of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding requires significant energy. According to various studies, producing breast milk can burn an additional 300 to 500 calories per day. This energy expenditure, combined with the frequent feedings that newborns typically require—often every 2 to 3 hours—can leave mothers feeling depleted.
Moreover, the act of breastfeeding itself can be physically taxing. Mothers often find themselves in awkward positions for extended periods, which can lead to muscle strain and discomfort. The physical fatigue experienced can be exacerbated by the lack of sleep that often accompanies caring for a newborn, contributing to an overall sense of exhaustion.
Hormonal Influences
Hormones play a critical role in the breastfeeding experience. When a mother breastfeeds, her body releases oxytocin, commonly known as the “love hormone.” While oxytocin promotes bonding and milk ejection, it can also induce feelings of relaxation and drowsiness. This tranquilizing effect can make mothers feel sleepy, especially during those late-night feedings.
Additionally, the prolactin hormone, which helps in milk production, can also contribute to fatigue. Increased levels of prolactin are observed during breastfeeding, and this hormone is associated with promoting sleep and relaxation, which can further intensify the feelings of tiredness.
Emotional and Psychological Factors
The emotional toll of adjusting to motherhood can also play a significant role in fatigue. New mothers often face a myriad of emotions, from joy to anxiety and even postpartum depression. The stress of caring for a new baby, along with the societal pressures to breastfeed, can lead to mental exhaustion. Sleep deprivation, compounded by the emotional rollercoaster of new motherhood, can create a perfect storm for fatigue.
Strategies for Managing Fatigue
Recognizing the causes of fatigue is the first step toward managing it. Here are some strategies that may help breastfeeding mothers combat tiredness:
1. Prioritize Sleep: Whenever possible, mothers should nap when their baby naps. Sharing nighttime duties with a partner can also help ensure that mothers get more rest.
2. Stay Hydrated and Nourished: Drinking plenty of water and eating balanced meals rich in nutrients can help maintain energy levels. Foods high in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates are particularly beneficial.
3. Seek Support: Joining a breastfeeding support group or seeking help from family and friends can provide emotional relief and practical assistance, easing the burden of continuous caregiving.
4. Practice Relaxation Techniques: Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or gentle yoga can help alleviate stress and promote better sleep.
Conclusion
In summary, while breastfeeding is a profoundly rewarding experience, it is also accompanied by significant physical and emotional demands that can lead to extreme fatigue. Understanding the root causes is essential for managing and mitigating this tiredness, allowing mothers to enjoy the nurturing experience of breastfeeding while taking care of their own health and well-being.

Can breastfeeding cause extreme fatigue?

Postpartum fatigue is a normal condition that most women experience. Breastfeeding is often associated in women’s minds as contributing to the feeling of overall perceived fatigue, and many women indicate that they have ceased breastfeeding because of fatigue.

How much energy is lost during breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding can also help you manage or lose your postpartum weight. Moms burn about 500 extra calories a day while producing breast milk, which could lead to faster weight loss after birth. Although that doesn’t mean breastfeeding is a weight loss miracle, it can jumpstart the process.

Does the act of breastfeeding make you tired?

As well as using a lot of energy, nursing also triggers the release of prolactin, the main hormone involved in milk production [3]. Prolactin can increase your body’s dopamine and oxytocin levels, which can also cause you to feel more relaxed and tired.

Why do breastfeeding moms get more sleep?

In a US study, exclusively breastfeeding women averaged 30 min more nocturnal sleep than women who used formula at night, but measures of sleep fragmentation did not differ [25]. Lactation hormones such as prolactin help mothers adapt to the stresses of caring for an infant, including broken sleep [13, 26, 27].

How long does postpartum fatigue last?

The answer is different for everyone. Postpartum fatigue is most common in the first few days after childbirth, but it can stick around for months or even years.

Do breastfeeding hormones make you sleepy?

Research also shows that, overall, breastfeeding mothers get more sleep than mixed- and formula-feeding mothers. This is for a number of reasons, including the impact of natural hormones and chemicals released for baby and mother when breastfeeding at night.

What does breastfeeding deplete you of?

In the diets of lactating mothers, dietary inadequacies were observed in the intake of some vitamins, such as folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and vitamin D, and in the intake of certain minerals like calcium, iron, and iodine; polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies, primarily in eicosapentaenoic acid and …

Is it normal to get really sleepy while breastfeeding?

Prolactin and oxytocin are two hormones that have everything to do with breastfeeding because they contribute to your milk production and letdown reflex. But you’ll notice that these hormones do more than just produce your milk. They might make you feel relaxed while breastfeeding — which can lead to drowsiness.

What is the 3 month breastfeeding crisis?

The third crisis occurs after three months, at this stage the baby has much greater suction strength and will take faster feedings as he is able to empty the breasts with greater speed, that is to say, take more in less time, this period coincides with the development of their hearing and vision, that makes everything …

What is the 5 5 5 rule for postpartum?

The 5-5-5 postpartum rule prescribes 15 days of rest for moms following childbirth – five days in the bed, five days on the bed and five days around the bed. It encourages moms to take a break from housework and caring for older children, and simply spend time with the new baby.