Does every parent feel this (physically)?

[Yebap]

I feel constantly exhausted. I have a 3 year old and recently took a sabbatical of 8 weeks. I’m in week two of the sabbatical and I feel even more exhausted than when I was working! I have been sleeping most days, trying to read or watch tv and falling asleep. Had various blood tests which are all normal. Ferritin came back at 52 which I know isn’t massively high but it’s not really low either. I’m taking iron supplements and vitamins.

i struggle to have the energy to cook for myself and so often a day passes and I will not have eaten much until dinner time. I can barely drag myself out of bed to exercise though I can manage a short run if I make myself.

i don’t understand where this issue is coming from. I’m slim and always have been, bmi is normal/lower end.

I can’t explain the feeling it’s just like I want to nap on and off constantly. I am so worried about returning to work as I am starting in a new office with a longer commute. Not sure how I will manage.

For background I did have a traumatic year or so when ds was born until he was around 1. I don’t know if I am still exhausted from that?! I can’t work it out and it’s massively bringing me down. Perhaps it’s normal?

What were your b12 levels, and were you taking supplements at all (even just once) in the 4 months prior to the blood test? You sound exactly like I did when my B12 (and iron, folate and vitamin D) levels were through the floor. Getting on top of those gave me my life back.

Could exhaustion, depression and boredom be causing this? Do you enjoy parenting small kids? I didn’t and felt like you.

Also recommend Mind Your Body by Nicole J Sachs. It's on the same lines as the above but with practical exercises. I'm only on day 3 so can't tell you if it works.

Yes but I do have a no thyroid problem now and have in 3 under 3 is exhausting anyhow but feeling like I've hit a brick wall several times a day with thick tiredness feeling is my norm, the little ones know when mummy says I need 10mins to let me lie on sofa for a quick nap while they play. Some days I have to drag myself around, brain foggy, occasionally physically sick as the tiredness overwhelm me but hey what can I do. On days they go to my parents I can sleep 18 hours straight but it never improves things

I haven't read replies so probably repeating what others have said , please go back to your gp , have you had your thyroid checked ?

I feel.like this but I have 4 kids, 3 older ones all SEN and a 4 month old baby. And I'm 43...

This might sound counterintuitive but what i find really helps with my low energy levels is hard core exercise. Since I started doing lunchtime gym and coached swim sessions I've been feeling sort of revitalised. I've got just the one DC, but I'm a lone parent working and doing a remote MA, so I find myself pushing through the fatigue at around 9 pm to get all the housework/writing done.

I also had my thyroid checked and was normal. So have come to the conclusion I'm just naturally hairy and prone to tiredness.

Burnout I think, it’s like when you go on holiday and you get sick pretty much immediately. When DD started nursery when they reopened after COVID I would have a shower and go back to bed until it was time to pick her up.

This isn’t normal and whether it’s triggered by a virus or another condition, it needs taking seriously. Energy doesn’t always beget energy (e.g. many with long covid have made themselves worse by trying to push through too much on days when they have a bit more energy). Hope you manage to find and address the cause. Don’t be fobbed off by things like ‘life is tiring with young kids’ - you know your own body.

Have you had your iron levels checked? I was anaemic a few years ago (pre-kids thank god) and spent most of the day in bed. Not sleeping, just lying there. Literally didn’t have the energy move. When I went to the GP he told me my iron levels were so low I shouldn’t be alive 😬 got put on iron pills and it completely changed my life. Started taking better care of myself and have been fine ever since. Get them checked!