Is it normal to feel tired while breastfeeding?

Understanding Fatigue During Breastfeeding
For many new mothers, the experience of breastfeeding can be both rewarding and exhausting. It’s not uncommon to feel a wave of tiredness wash over you during or after nursing sessions. This fatigue is often attributed to a combination of hormonal changes, physical demands, and the overall challenges of postpartum life.
Hormonal Influences
One of the primary reasons breastfeeding can lead to feelings of tiredness is the release of hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin. Prolactin, which is crucial for milk production, has a calming effect that can induce drowsiness. Similarly, oxytocin, released during milk letdown, promotes relaxation and bonding but can also contribute to a sense of fatigue. This hormonal interplay is a natural part of the breastfeeding process, designed to help mothers bond with their infants, but it can leave them feeling drained.
Postpartum Challenges
The postpartum period itself is a time of significant adjustment. New mothers are not only recovering from childbirth but also adapting to the demands of caring for a newborn. This transition can be overwhelming, and many women report increased fatigue during this time. The physical toll of breastfeeding—requiring energy to produce milk and the frequent feeding schedule—can exacerbate feelings of tiredness.
Physical and Emotional Factors
In addition to hormonal and postpartum factors, physical discomforts associated with breastfeeding, such as sore nipples or back pain, can also contribute to fatigue. The act of nursing often requires mothers to maintain certain positions for extended periods, which can be physically taxing. Moreover, the emotional rollercoaster of new motherhood, including anxiety and sleep deprivation, can further compound feelings of exhaustion.
Coping Strategies
While feeling tired during breastfeeding is normal, there are strategies that can help mitigate this fatigue. Ensuring adequate hydration and nutrition is crucial, as dehydration can worsen feelings of tiredness. Additionally, seeking support from family or lactation consultants can provide relief and help mothers manage their energy levels more effectively. Prioritizing rest whenever possible, even if it means napping when the baby sleeps, can also be beneficial.
In conclusion, while it is entirely normal to feel tired while breastfeeding, understanding the underlying causes can help mothers navigate this challenging yet beautiful phase of life. By recognizing the impact of hormones, postpartum recovery, and physical demands, new mothers can take proactive steps to manage their fatigue and enjoy the bonding experience that breastfeeding offers.

How many hours should a breastfeeding mom sleep?

Like any other adult, a nursing mother should strive for 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. She has to get adequate sleep in order to maintain her health and have the energy necessary to care for her child. She may benefit from short naps throughout the day to feel more rested.

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.

Is breastfeeding hard on your body?

I’m talking wrist pain, back pain, rib pain, numbness, neck pain, tingling, tight muscles, feeling weak, breathing changes… All these changes to the musculoskeletal system and associated senorimotor cortext of the brain can start during a woman’s breastfeeding career.

Why does breastfeeding make you so tired?

Meanwhile, prolactin helps you make and maintain your milk supply. And, similar to our friend oxytocin, prolactin enhances relaxation and calm. Put all the pieces together, and you can see why you may feel relaxed, drowsy, or sleepy while breastfeeding.

How can I get my energy back while breastfeeding?

Healthy snack ideas for breastfeeding mums
The following snacks are quick and simple to make, and will give you energy: fresh fruit with a handful of unsalted nuts. lower-fat, lower-sugar yoghurts or fromage frais. hummus with bread or vegetable sticks.

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 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.

How long does postpartum fatigue last?

At one month postpartum, just over a quarter still experienced symptoms of postpartum fatigue. And a full year or more after their baby’s birth, around 11 percent of mothers still reported being exhausted. There are many reasons you may be feeling wiped out in those first few days at home with your newborn.

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].

Is it OK for mom to fall asleep while breastfeeding?

If you fall asleep while feeding baby in your bed, place them on their back in a separate sleep area made for babies as soon as you wake up. Evidence shows that the longer a parent and baby share the same bed, the greater the risk for sleep-related infant deaths.