Why does breastfeeding make me feel so tired?

The Fatigue of Breastfeeding: Understanding the Causes
Breastfeeding is often heralded as a beautiful bonding experience between mother and child, but for many new mothers, it comes with an unexpected side effect: fatigue. If you’ve found yourself feeling unusually tired while nursing, you’re not alone. This phenomenon can be attributed to several interconnected factors, primarily hormonal changes, energy demands, and the physical toll of caring for a newborn.
Hormonal Influences
One of the primary reasons breastfeeding can lead to feelings of tiredness is the release of prolactin, a hormone crucial for milk production. When you breastfeed, prolactin levels rise significantly, which not only facilitates lactation but also promotes a sense of relaxation and drowsiness. This hormone works in tandem with oxytocin, another hormone released during breastfeeding, which can further enhance feelings of calm and fatigue. The combination of these hormonal shifts can make it challenging for mothers to stay alert during feeding sessions.
Energy Demands of Milk Production
Breastfeeding is an energy-intensive process. Producing milk requires a substantial caloric expenditure—typically around 400 to 500 calories per day. This demand can leave mothers feeling drained, especially when combined with the physical exertion of holding and nursing a baby. The act of breastfeeding itself can be physically demanding, leading to muscle fatigue and discomfort, which can exacerbate feelings of tiredness.
Sleep Deprivation and Newborn Care
Adding to the fatigue is the reality of sleep deprivation that often accompanies new parenthood. Newborns typically wake every few hours for feeding, which disrupts the mother’s sleep cycle. This lack of restorative sleep can compound the exhaustion felt during breastfeeding sessions. The cumulative effect of hormonal changes, energy expenditure, and interrupted sleep creates a perfect storm for fatigue.
Coping Strategies
While the fatigue associated with breastfeeding is common, there are strategies to help manage it. Ensuring proper nutrition, staying hydrated, and seeking support from family or lactation consultants can make a significant difference. Additionally, finding comfortable positions for breastfeeding can alleviate physical strain, allowing mothers to relax more during feeding times.
In conclusion, while breastfeeding is a rewarding experience, it is also a demanding one that can lead to significant fatigue. Understanding the underlying causes—hormonal changes, energy demands, and sleep deprivation—can help mothers navigate this challenging period with greater awareness and support.

How long does it take for hormones to balance after breastfeeding?

The return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels can vary greatly, but generally hormones will normalize within three to six months. If you are breastfeeding, as you wean from it, your prolactin and oxytocin levels will drop—potentially leaving you feeling sad, anxious or irritable.

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 …

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 is nursing a baby so exhausting?

Breastfeeding by itself isn’t tiring. However many babies and toddlers are obsessed and want to do it throughout the night. So they wake up crying and then you wake up so naturally you are tired too. The babies usually have one or two naptimes during the day to recover and the mothers don’t.

Why is nursing so exhausting?

Factors Leading to Nurse Burnout
The odd hours nurses work also can make it difficult for them to maintain a typical sleep routine, leading to sleep deprivation and chronic exhaustion. High-pressure work environment – Nurses must often provide care quickly and be ready during an emergency situation.

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.

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.

Why do I get super 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.

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.