Feeling Drained? Why Tiredness After Birth Isn't Just Sleep Deprivation

You expected to be tired after the baby came. Everyone talks about the sleepless nights, the midnight feeds, and the 5 AM wake-ups. It’s part of the new-mum package, right?

But what if your baby is finally sleeping through the night… and you’re still exhausted?

What if months, or even years later, you're still wondering when the energy will come back?

Postpartum fatigue is very real, it is the most common problem that women face when adapting to motherhood (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0897189716303998?utm_source=chatgpt.com), and it isn’t just about how much (or how little) sleep you are getting. In fact, research shows that new mothers lose an average of 133 nights worth of sleep ( https://www.snuz.co.uk/blogs/sleep-talk/the-truth-about-sleep-snuz-sleep-survey-results?clickid=31pSdBzwMxycT25USeVG0To7UksWNW1QZQhJ180&irclickid=31pSdBzwMxycT25USeVG0To7UksWNW1QZQhJ180&irgwc=1&utm_medium=impact&utm_source=affiliate&vgo_ee=E8xAZL5n5p40KOkjZkBC6N83r3rW%20cB5J5zi59DJh%20Q%3D) in their baby’s first year of life. That’s a staggering number and yet, for many mums, the exhaustion lingers even after the sleep deficit has technically been “repaid.”

So, what's really going on?

Let’s break it down.

1. Your Body Is Still Healing

Giving birth, whether vaginally or via C-section, is a major physiological event. And your body doesn’t just “bounce back” in six weeks, no matter what social media might suggest.

Your body is healing, repairing tissue, replenishing blood volume, regulating hormones, and recovering from months of carrying another human. All of that takes energy, a lot of it.

Even if you're physically "cleared" at your six-week checkup, your internal systems may still be in repair mode for months afterward. That alone can contribute to ongoing postpartum fatigue.

2. Breastfeeding Demands a Lot of Energy

If you're breastfeeding, your body requires additional calories every single day, around 500 extra to be exact. Producing milk is incredibly energy-intensive. You’re literally creating food from your body, on demand, multiple times a day.

Combine that with interrupted sleep and an often inconsistent eating schedule, and it’s no wonder you're feeling drained.

3. Sleep Quantity ≠ Sleep Quality

Sure, your baby might be sleeping through the night now but are you actually getting good, restorative sleep?

Fragmented sleep, anxiety, night sweats, and hormonal shifts can all affect sleep quality, which is just as important (if not more) than sleep quantity. Even eight hours of light, restless sleep may not leave you feeling rested.

Many mums report still feeling “wired but tired,” which is often a sign that the nervous system hasn’t fully settled post-birth. 

Alarmingly, a study published in the journal Sleep ( https://academic.oup.com/sleep/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/sleep/zsz015/5289255?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false)  found sleep satisfaction did not fully return to pre-pregnancy levels even six years after the birth of their first child. 

4. Stress and New Routines

Adjusting to life with a baby means shifting your identity, your schedule, your responsibilities and your entire sense of self.

Whether you're a first-time mum or a seasoned parent, each postpartum period brings unique challenges and stressors. Constantly navigating new routines, managing emotional ups and downs, and handling the mental load of parenting can all deplete your energy reserves.

Chronic stress affects cortisol levels, sleep, digestion, and mood each of which can feed into postpartum fatigue.

5. Nutritional Depletion

Pregnancy and childbirth place enormous demands on your nutrient stores. And let’s be honest it's not easy to prioritize nutrient-dense meals when you’re tired, juggling feeds, and living off toast and cold coffee.

Iron deficiency is one of the most common deficiencies women experience after childbirth, with 50-80% of women worldwide (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11062600/#R13)  suffering from postpartum anemia. Anemia can exacerbate postpartum fatigue leaving women feeling weak, foggy and breathless.

B vitamins, especially B12 and folate are also critical for energy production while adequate magnesium intake can assist with recovery, sleep and stress regulation.
Sometimes, even with a good diet, nutrient absorption can be impaired due to stress, gut changes, or hormonal shifts.

A high-quality postpartum supplement which includes the iron, magnesium and B vitamins can help bridge the gap and support recovery.

6. Hormonal Fluctuations

After birth, your hormone levels go through a rollercoaster of change. Estrogen and progesterone levels plummet, which can affect everything from mood to energy to sleep patterns.

These shifts can take months or even years to stabilise, especially if you're breastfeeding or experiencing irregular cycles. It’s not uncommon for mums to feel hormonally “off” long after their postpartum period officially ends.

7. Underlying Medical Conditions

Finally, don’t overlook the possibility of an underlying condition. Postpartum thyroiditis, for example, is surprisingly common (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1521690X20300658?utm_source=chatgpt.com)  and often goes undiagnosed. An underactive thyroid can cause symptoms that mirror postpartum fatigue: low energy, weight gain, brain fog, and low mood. 

If you’ve ruled out the basics (sleep, diet, stress) and you're still suffering, it’s worth checking in with your healthcare provider. 

Final Thoughts

Feeling tired after a baby is to be expected but staying stuck in fatigue months (or years) later doesn’t have to be your reality.

You deserve energy, clarity, and the strength to thrive in this new chapter. So listen to your body, nourish it well, and know that it's okay to ask for help, this season won’t last forever, and neither will exhaustion.