EBF always hungry and exhausted

[Solsticethefloatinghome]

My son is 12 weeks old and is EBF. He’s sleeping from about 21.00 until 03.30 or sometimes he makes it until 05.00 before he wakes up to be fed so I am getting a good amount of sleep at the moment but I still feel absolutely exhausted. I feel like the sleep is just never enough. I’m eating what I think is enough and drinking enough but I just can’t seem to ever get enough sleep. I’m also always hungry. I feel like I’m never full up.
Maybe I’m lacking in something or is it really that breastfeeding is that tiring?
I’m pretty sure I’m making up enough calories and I have a good milk supply. I know motherhood is exhausting but I feel like I should feel better than I do with the amount of sleep I’m getting.
Any advice? Any tips? Or is it really just that exhausting? Anyone else feel similar?

My son is also 12 weeks old, exclusively breastfed. It’s very tiring but it does sound like you’re getting quite a good chunk of sleep most nights so it might be worth trying to take a breastfeeding vitamin supplement to see if that helps, specifically with iron as your iron might be low after birth.
I am also hungry all of the time!

It’s not the feeding. It’s being a mother. It’s absolutely fecking knackering. Basically you ar3 living your life, deciding what to eat, what to wear, where to go but you are also living your sons life. Every bloody minute he’s totally dependant on you. It gets less exhausting as he starts to take responsibility for himself and his entertainment. At the moment it’s physical effort but also a massive mental effort.
get out of the house. Every day. It helps

Breastfeeding takes up an awful lot of the body’s energy reserves, so don’t underestimate how hard your body is working to EBF.
But I also wonder if when you’re sleeping, despite getting a good chunk, if you’re falling into a deep enough sleep? As mothers were hardwired to be in light sleep or at least easily rousable, which is a safety mechanism essentially to keep our babies safe. This might be part of why you’re so tired (amongst everything else that tires us out as mums) as you might not be getting true restorative sleep.
You could always visit your GP if you suspect anything else and ask them to check your B12 and iron levels, as these can make people feel exhausted and run down. If you do go to the GP
don’t get fobbed off by them saying it’s simply because you have a young baby! Get the bloods done for completeness and your own reassurance.

I think you’re right. I do take pregnacare breastfeeding but I had to take extra iron when I was pregnant so maybe I need to take it now too.
Thanks ❤️

Yeah I think I am definitely going to mention it to the GP. I also never even thought about the light sleep element of it but you are definitely right. I wake up to look at him SO often in the night. Sometimes it feels like every 5 minutes, definitely on high alert 😵‍💫

Nothing really prepares you for the mental effort at all. It’s unbelievable. I am absolutely loving being a mum but my goodness it’s SO hard. I don’t want to wish away the time when he’s so little and I try to appreciate every day but some days are harder than others 🫣😵‍💫

I’m only 4 weeks into breastfeeding but the first 2 weeks I was literally exhausted all the time. I also took pregnacare then I decided to switch to seven oceans breastfeeding vitamins and I get a max of 3 hours sleep during the day. Also have a toddler to look after and I feel great. Maybe worth exploring other brands? Don’t know why it made a difference because don’t they all contain the same more or less? But anyways. Something to think about ☺️ ps I’ve been told breastfeeding is an investment, it’s exhausting and hard but eventually it’s worth it. My first born was formula fed from day one and I think it’s harder in the long run but that’s just me. My daughter is 4 weeks and cluster feeds around the clock. The most I get is about 10mins to myself so I get being exhausted. I know mums who are formula feeding and find it easier because they couldn’t cope with breastfeeding and there is nothing wrong with that. Motherhood is a beautiful journey from day 1 and we make all sorts of sacrifices but learning from my 1st born, Your mental state is very important. You’re doing a fab job ❤️