Postpartum depletion is a term used to describe the physical, mental and emotional state a mother is in. Symptoms that contribute to postpartum depletion include but are not limited to; exhaustion, fatigue, brain fog, hyper vigilance, anxiety, overwhelm and feeling depleted, like you have nothing left to give.
Postpartum depletion can hit at any time and can even occur years after giving birth. If you are feeling like you're not really yourself and have any of the above symptoms, then the best place to start is by getting a blood test done through your GP. You want to be looking at things like thyroid health and thyroid antibodies, iron and iron stores, hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, b12, vitamin d and insulin for example. Depending what these bloods show, you may even start to look into nutrient stores like calcium and selenium.
A lot of us dismiss our postpartum depletion signs as 'just being a mum' but the truth is 'just being a mum' shouldn't make you feel like crap.
When we tackle postpartum depletion, we need to do so by incorporating both lifestyle and dietary modifications. Things like sleep, exercise, diet and mental health all need to be considered for optimal outcomes. Whilst it can sound overwhelming, taking small steps towards bettering your health is most ideal. Here's somethings you can do.
1. Use your blood test as a starting point. Depending on what your test results are, will depend on what you will need to do next. Work with a practitioner to help you navigate through it.
2. Prioritise your nutrition. I feel I push this a lot but food really is medicine and a diet rich in nutrients will work wonders for your body. You also want to make sure you are eating regularly and consuming enough food to fuel yourself.
3. Sleep quality matters. I know it's hard as a mum to get 8 hours of solid sleep each night, especially when your kids aren't sleeping through the night. So try and maximise sleep quality by reducing screen time before bed, getting into good sleep hygiene habits and taking naps during the day where possible.
4. Confide in a trusted source. Communicate how you feel and seek guidance from a therapist where needed. Ensure you can chat to your partner, a trusted friend or family member where you can really open up about how you are feeling. Talking to another mother may also be ideal as chances are she knows exactly how you are feeling and can totally relate.
If postpartum depletion is something you are experiencing no matter how long ago you gave birth, please know you can do something about it. Mum's are superhero's but we don't need to feel like crap whilst doing so.
Keen to learn more about postpartum depletion and ways to prevent it? Shop The Postpartum Bible.