Let’s talk about postpartum depletion.
What is it?
Do I have it?
Isn’t everyone exhausted in postpartum?
The information around postpartum is currently exploding and it is such a great thing! We are in the middle of a revolution, where women are taking their power back, learning about childbirth, about community and what it means to be deeply cared for and nourished in our early postpartum. Viva la revolution!
So then, what is postpartum depletion? As the name suggests, it is the depletion of vital nutrients in our bodies after we’ve had a baby. The term was coined by Dr Oscar Serrallach in his book, the Postnatal Depletion Cure. It’s a depletion on a cellular level, with so many symptoms that it can be quite confusing and hard to pin down.
Some of the symptoms are: exhaustion not cured by sleep, being tired but unable to sleep, brain fog, irritability, rage, skin changes like crepe paper skin and acne, hair falling out, anxiety & intrusive thoughts. This is by no means a complete list, there are many more but these are common.
Pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding are the most intensive things your body will go through. The body is incredibly clever and if you are lacking in nutrients it will take from your body to give to your baby. And unfortunately simply eating a good diet won’t be enough to replenish you to optimal levels. I think the word optimal is important here because when you get blood tests at the GP they’re only looking for things outside of the reference ranges. Those aren’t necessarily the optimal ranges.
If we consider the fact that postpartum is forever then we can look at this as occurring anytime after giving birth. That is any birth. Abortion, miscarriage, failed IVF rounds, or even when your children are in their teens.
So, how do you know if you’re sleep-deprived or if you’re depleted? As Dr Oscar says, if you’re sleep deprived then having a solid restorative sleep will fix it. If sleep doesn’t help then there are other things that need to be looked at and addressed.
In my clinic, during a session, we talk about the things you notice in yourself and through talking I will be able to pick up the other signs and symptoms you may not notice. We will then talk about testing that is essential to do and the things you can start doing to build yourself back up.
Having kids is exhausting, raising kids when you’re burnt out on a cellular level can be like dragging yourself through mud every day.
I’ve been through it and sometimes slip back into it. But you can come out of it and start feeling like the mum you know you are underneath all the exhaustion.
I’m here when you need,
Alexi xx
