Postpartum Fatigue

[Anonymous]

Second kid and 7 months postpartum here. Both kids are sleeping through the night.

When does the extreme fatigue go away? I am so exhausted that it’s almost painful. I am falling asleep at every opportunity; for example we all went to the grocery store this weekend and I fell asleep during the 10 minute ride. I fall asleep while pumping. I drove to work this morning, closed my eyes for one second once I parked, and woke up 30 minutes later - bizarre.

I have my annual physical next week so are there blood tests (low iron? Thyroid?) I should be asking for, or is this normal? I don’t remember being this tired with my first, although my kids are only 18 months apart so it’s all sort of a blur.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Second kid and 7 months postpartum here. Both kids are sleeping through the night.

When does the extreme fatigue go away? I am so exhausted that it’s almost painful. I am falling asleep at every opportunity; for example we all went to the grocery store this weekend and I fell asleep during the 10 minute ride. I fall asleep while pumping. I drove to work this morning, closed my eyes for one second once I parked, and woke up 30 minutes later - bizarre.

I have my annual physical next week so are there blood tests (low iron? Thyroid?) I should be asking for, or is this normal? I don’t remember being this tired with my first, although my kids are only 18 months apart so it’s all sort of a blur.

if they are sleeping through the night and you are eating enough to maintain supply then no its not okay. maybe normal but not okay. if your kids are only 18 months apart chances are your body could have some mineral and vitamin depletion and/or you are experiencing thyroid issues, PP thyroiditis or just run of the mill thyroid issues that coincided with PP.

if you only get basic testing, then find a functional doctor who will run more extensive testing into nutritional depletion. definitely ensure that they are doing a full thyroid panel. get LFTs done as well.

do NOT let them brush it off as it will get better you have two kids. they are sleeping through the night. it is also not normal to drive, close your eyes, and wake up 30 minutes later. I would also ensure that you are tracking your sleep before your physical so they know you are getting X hours. may be wortwhile to get a sleep study if all labs comes back optimal (not normal, optimal).

[Anonymous]

Yes, with 2 kids close together, iron deficiency is highly likely. Test thyroid also.

[Anonymous]

You definitely need blood work and a full work up. Don’t let the docs blow you off,.

[Anonymous]

I really appreciate everyone chiming in. I unfortunately cannot afford a functional doctor should it get to that point but are there supplements I can take?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really appreciate everyone chiming in. I unfortunately cannot afford a functional doctor should it get to that point but are there supplements I can take?

Get the lab results before deciding on any supplements (but many are pricey without being very effective). You can at least make sure you are taking a multivitamin with Vitamin D and iron. If you can't get enough answers from your doctor, you can also order your own labs from Quest (but have to pay out of pocket).

Also even if everything looks normal, you had 2 kids in 18 months and are working. That's so much stress physically and mentally, no wonder you are tired.

[Anonymous]

OP are you taking a multivitamin? Have you talked to your husband and support system about this? You are at risk of a car crash, and need to take this seriously. Just go see your normal doctor and get your bloodwork done, at minimum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really appreciate everyone chiming in. I unfortunately cannot afford a functional doctor should it get to that point but are there supplements I can take?

The functional suggestion was if you can't get a doc to listen to your concerns. PP women and menopausal women get blown off so much because everything is viewed through that lens.

My experience was that you can be too emotional or it will be anxiety. If you are overweight they will blame the weight. If you are nursing then it will be blamed on nursing. If your baby isn't sleeping through the night they will say to sleep train.

Get a full physical done.

[Anonymous]

Are you getting 7 hours of sleep in a row? This is not normal. Please get bloodwork.

[Anonymous]

That's not normal, obviously

[Anonymous]

It doesn’t. My youngest is 7 and I’m still tired

[Anonymous]

During my first pregnancy, they found that my thyroid levels were off but I was 34 weeks and my obs didn’t want to medicate me that late in the game. They told me that it does happen and usually levels go back to normal after delivery. (This was almost 18 years ago and I think thinking on this has changed since then)

I had my child and was so stressed out and wrapped up in the challenges of it all that I didn’t go to see my regular doc at 6 weeks postpartum like I had been told. I finally got around to it at about 4 months and they discovered that my thyroid levels were 40+, whereas normal is between 1 and 3? So, yeah, not good. At that point, they diagnosed me with postpartum thyroiditis and started me on synthroid.

Symptoms persisted, though, and I eventually went to see an endocrinologist, who discovered my GP had been treating me to the high side of normal and hadn’t checked my vitamin D. He eventually diagnosed me with Hashimotos and Hypothyroidism. My symptoms actually presented more as depression than just exhaustion. I have been seeing an endocrinologist ever since for my synthroid management, including through my second pregnancy, and take a high dose vitamin D supplement.

Thyroid issues are very common among postpartum women and symptoms are very similar to sleep deprivation. They really should test all women for thyroid problems at just about any doc appt, but especially during and after pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Sometime after they graduate college and move out of the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you getting 7 hours of sleep in a row? This is not normal. Please get bloodwork.

7 hours? Wait until menopause where you're awake and 2.30am and can't get back to sleep. I haven't had 7 hours in years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you getting 7 hours of sleep in a row? This is not normal. Please get bloodwork.

7 hours? Wait until menopause where you're awake and 2.30am and can't get back to sleep. I haven't had 7 hours in years.

Wow, this is so relevant and helpful!!!!