To think this isn't normal?

[MolliciousIntent]

I'm no stranger to sleep deprivation, I'm used to being exhausted, but what's going on currently is a completely different ballgame and I'm a bit concerned.

Background - we recently nightweaned DD2 who's 10m. She's done really well, sleeps 7-5 and then wakes utterly starving, feeds and goes back to sleep for another hour or two. In contrast to how it was a month ago when she woke hourly, it's incredible.

And yet, somehow, I'm even more tired than I was before. It's almost like waking an hour before morning cancels out all the sleep I got all night. By about 3pm I'm genuinely falling asleep at my desk. End of work rolls around and I desperately need to give poor DH a break but I'm completely shattered and pretty much useless. In bed by 8.

I had all my bloods checked recently and I'm fine, but holy shit, I am so tired. Anyone got any idea why, or how I can change it?

Obvious one to rule out is pregnancy OP

I’ e been feeling utterly exhausted recently and our neighbour said his wife was feeling the same. I wonder if something is going around? Also,my resistance has not been the same since getting Covid in September. Hope you feel better soon.

I genuinely said "oh FUCK OFF" out loud. I'd be really surprised, given that I'm breastfeeding, have the coil and haven't had sex since my last period. But it's a thought. Not a good one tho!

I think you just realise you're tired. When in the midst of night wakes you're on autopilot.

When my dc started sleeping through I still felt tired for about a year, it was like my brain caught on.

I think when you're in the midst of crappy sleep you're running on adrenaline and autopilot.

Once that period is over you suddenly lose that adrenaline. So you feel more tired.

Give it a little time to reset.

You could be waking up while you're in a deep sleep. I sometimes find that when I have more sleep after very little I end up feeling worse before I feel better for a while until I'm fully recovered from the lack of sleep.

Could you put your child to bed slightly later?

Iron levels and vitamin d - this caused it for me when my baby was a similar age!

That made me laugh. There’s a year between my two. I was exclusively breast feeding my DD, my periods hadn’t returned and we don’t remember having any sort of intercourse and yet I found myself pregnant with the youngest 😂😂

Imo the last 10 months you have been running on adrenalin .. Now it's come down time.
Ime.

Breastfeeding is not a form of contraception, especially not when you’ve night weaned. Which incidentally isn’t advised until 12 months, she should’nt be waking absolutely starving.

I've also got the coil.

I was told by my HV that I was OK to nightwean once solids were established, which they absolutely are, baby is a human dustbin. She'd wake if she was hungry, but she doesn't. So I think we're fine.

High quality vitamins changed my life

I was still BF when I got pregnant but if you have coil then it’s highly unlikely. It’s reason my energy took a massive nosedive once DS started sleeping through.

If you have also ruled out post viral fatigue then it’s likely a combination of factors. You we’re running on adrenaline for so long and now that is gone, your sleep pattern was affected by waking up so often so your balance of deep/REM/light sleep isn’t what it should be so you are still tired after waking up and finally it’s winter so your getting less sunlight and that also affects energy levels.

It should come right again, but life is so difficult when your running on empty.

I know this is long shot but have you had your morning cortisol levels checked OP? You could be developing primary adrenal failure (Addison's disease - autoimmune) where your body doesn't make enough cortisol. It is very insidious. I know 2 people diagnosed with it and it starts so very slowly and is often overlooked as a cause of extreme exhaustion and often only gets picked up at crisis stage with vomiting/collapse. You can have it for months/a year before it gets diagnosed.

Alternatively do you take any form of regular steroid - eg asthma inhalers as they are a common cause of secondary adrenal failure - very similar symptoms but not autoimmune.

Breastfeeding is not a form of contraception, especially not when you’ve night weaned. Which incidentally isn’t advised until 12 months, she should’nt be waking absolutely starving.

Babies will wake up if they are hungry. It sounds like OP’s DD was waking up out of habit and/or comfort suck because she is now sleeping through. OP was asking about energy levels not for a subtle dig at her parenting.

You’re most likely just catching up on all the lost sleep you’ve banked