Got that "Drained" Feeling? Breastfeeding....

T

thanka2

Registered User
So, I'm :bfeeding: and pumping and I am noticing that I feel DRAINED...in more ways than one.

I went to sleep with my preschooler last night--I went to tuck him into bed and fell asleep with him at 8:30 pm! I slept until 7:30 am this morning and I still feel EXHAUSTED! The more I feed and the more I pump the more I physically feel completely spent.

I'm taking a high-quality supplement and fish oil. I am getting a lot of sleep. My work isn't really all that stressful right now and I'm trying to eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies but...still...I just feel DEAD-tired all the time.

Do any other breastfeeding mamas feel like this? Does anything in particular help you get your energy/strength back?

:gmilk:
 
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I'm pumping and I'm always tired, but I think that's because I don't get my 8 hours sleep a night ;) I NEED my 8 hours sleep. I find that pumping keeps me up later, getting that one last pump in before bed... but I don't think it's the "milk production" that makes me so tired, I think it's the lack of sleep ;)
 
I think it's just a mommy thing more than a pumping thing. Pumping is hard work but it's a personal decision whether or not to continue. I know there are some online forums for exclusively pumping mothers, but I'm sure you've already read them, as it seems you research things quite extensively. Extreme fatigue is more likely low iron or low vitamin D than breastfeeding. Further, If you are trying to lose weight you may not be getting enough calories.
 
rebekah said:
I think it's just a mommy thing more than a pumping thing. Pumping is hard work but it's a personal decision whether or not to continue. I know there are some online forums for exclusively pumping mothers, but I'm sure you've already read them, as it seems you research things quite extensively. Extreme fatigue is more likely low iron or low vitamin D than breastfeeding. Further, If you are trying to lose weight you may not be getting enough calories.
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Hmmm....I dunno...I've been a mommy for awhile now (about 4 years) and have NEVER felt like this before.

But, you do have a good point about it being low iron or vitamin D so I'll check into that.

As far as pumping and breastfeeding goes, at this point, yes, I do have the choice of whether or not to keep going on...but, my choice is really affected by the fact that my daughter reacts horribly to formula. When we tried forumal with her (a very good, reputable, organic formula) she was so sick that she was constipated for 3 days, screamed and cried continually and wouldn't sleep (she has pretty much slept through the night since birth and is so calm and peaceful, rarely cries, even when hungry). Finally, when she passed all of the formula out of her system she was calm again. It was an awful thing to watch. So, that has made my choice to put her on formula somewhat not an option right now. And I do work full-time so pumping is also not an option I can choose or not choose.
 
I'd also recommend checking your B12 levels - i had pernicious anaemia for a bit, & was exhausted. I got a B12 shot & almost instantly felt better. I also find that pumping/working/breastfeeding takes it out of me & am always fighting to stay awake when i put my 2 year old down for the night...sometimes (often?) i lose! hope you can figure it out... it's nearly holidays, so maybe taking one thing (work) out of the equation will help.
 
I second getting your Vit D and Iron checked. I felt terrible after almost a year of breastfeeding and my Vit D level was almost non existent and iron very low also. It didn't take long on supplements to feel a lot better.
 
Excellent suggestions, ladies! I am definitely going to have my blood tested for deficiencies. Laligirl, where did you go for a vitamin B shot? What type of iron supplementation do you ladies use?
 
Thanka2 for my iron supplement I use Spatone, which is a natural liquid supplement. You can't drink it on it's own it tastes like rust! But mix it with half a glass of OJ and you can't taste it. It is safe for breastfeeding/pregnancy.
It is a little hard to get hold of in HK but bumps to babes sell it. It is quite pricey compared to tablets, but I can't take them as they make me ill so this is a great alternative.
 
I had the B12 shot in australia, so can't recommend anywhere here. My GP did it. I can't imagine it would be different here, but you never know!! For iron supplements, I've used Floradix & Ferro gradumet (sp??). I've seen Floradix here in those health foody-type shops (it's a liquid). not sure if you can get ferro gradumet here or not (capsules). Both worked fine, but make sure you keep your vit. C levels up so you don't get constipated (but don't have too much, either - diarrhea!).
 
I nursed my first daughter till she was 15 months and I know I felt drained. It took a few months after we weaned to finally feel normal again.

My blood sugar levels become super high, like diabetic levels, while I'm nursing and was told by my doctor it is most likely that my body is utilizing all the energy it can from the foods I eat to produce milk. The side effect of high blood sugar though is feeling exhausted. After we weaned they returned to normal. Don't underestimate how much energy it takes to produce milk!

Now that I'm nursing baby number 2 I have that exhausted/ drained feeling again... so I definitely think it's related to milk production.
 
carang said:
not to mention that you are now mummy of 2 which is A LOT different to mummy of 1....
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Completely agree with Carang. I am mummy of 1, and I breastfeed and pump. Usually I sleep at 11 pm, have to get up at least once to breastfeed my baby at around 2-3 am, then again to move my baby from his cot to our bed at around 5-6 am (so that my hubby can move the cot out of our room when he get up to work), then I would sleep very lightly (because of my baby movement, hubby waking up, baby playing, etc) till around 7-7:30. Then I breastfeed and go to work. At work I pump twice at 12 and at 4.... go home, eat, watch some TV... bath baby, play with him, breastfeed him, put him to sleep... then I pump again before going to bed.......

I do take supplements though: prenatal vitamin, calcium supplement, soy lecithin (due to blocked ducts issue), fish oil (for extra omega-3)
 
lalligirl said:
I'd also recommend checking your B12 levels - i had pernicious anaemia for a bit, & was exhausted. I got a B12 shot & almost instantly felt better. I also find that pumping/working/breastfeeding takes it out of me & am always fighting to stay awake when i put my 2 year old down for the night...sometimes (often?) i lose! hope you can figure it out... it's nearly holidays, so maybe taking one thing (work) out of the equation will help.
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Sorry for the hijack, but I think you mean B12 deficiency. Pernicious anaemia is a chronic condition, not something you have 'for a bit.' I know because I was misdiagnosed with pernicious anaemia 7 years ago. In my case it took close to a year of B12 injections (3x a week for the first couple of months) before my B12 levels were anywhere near normal.
 
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Koan said:
Sorry for the hijack, but I think you mean B12 deficiency. Pernicious anaemia is a chronic condition, not something you have 'for a bit.' I know because I was misdiagnosed with pernicious anaemia 7 years ago. In my case it took close to a year of B12 injections (3x a week for the first couple of months) before my B12 levels were anywhere near normal.
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you may be right, but at the time my doc said that's what it was & gave me a B12 shot...it was around 7 years or so ago now, so the details are a bit hazy as to time frame, etc. in any case, the B12 helped!
 
I had the same problem and used a supplement called lactaboost, within a couple of days my flow was back to normal and it helped with the tiredness as well.
 
Hi T2, also worth checking thyroid function, thyroid probs post-partum are apparently common and can cause fatigue. Hope you feel better soon....
 
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