Baby sleeping through but I'm still so so tired

[Jumperoo222]

Hi there my 6 month old has been sleeping through for 2 weeks now which is such amazing stuff I'm eternally grateful...its just I'm still so so tired even though I'm getting over 8 hours a night. Any ideas why? I was thinking maybe its not deep sleep if I'm always listening out for her? Or maybe it's a nutrient deficiency? Or just parenting is exhausting??? I used to get up at 6, work 10 hours in the city then go for drinks and dinner in town...but now I'm in bed..well..now!

(She sleeps 6.30 till 6.30 fyi)

I think it takes a while to catch up! You’ve been seriously sleep deprived for months, so there’s a big deficit. Parenting also often means you don’t get a lot of downtime during the day, which you probably did when you were working etc.

I also think you just never sleep as deeply after you’ve had a baby!

Agree with pp.

It took me months to not feel like crap even though I was having decent amount of hours on a night time.

We don't ever stop during the day so even though your not having to get up on a night time it's still as exhausting!

You're catching up!! Take it easy, enjoy the unbroken sleep and put your feet up when you can x

When you’re at this stage it feels like the more sleep you get, the more you need! As others have said, take it easy, do not try to turn into superwoman, and enjoy the unbroken sleep!

You probably won't be sleeping as deeply, which is what you need to feel rested. I have a fitbit so I can compare my sleep before the baby to after the baby and I definitely get less deep/REM sleep and spend a lot of time in light sleep or awake (although my nearly 3yo still doesn't sleep 'through' reliably - and through is 7.30-5.30 here).

Plus a 12 hour day looking after a 6mo is hard work!

Thanks so much all I thought there must be something wrong with me! I'll try and enjoy catching up rather than worrying about that too!! Thanks again ladies

DS1 has been sleeping through for 2 months now and I’m only now starting to feel well rested😬 DS2 is due in ten days

It takes a while to catch up and you don't sleep as deeply - I wake up at the slightest noise now. Even if you're not fully waking you're still on alert.

Are you breast feeding still, because I think that takes something out of you, even if not doing night feeds any more.

Make sure you are looking after yourself properly - good diet etc. It's easy to forget about that and live off what ever is left over from baby's lunch etc

You could be anaemic. Might be worth a check up if you continue to feel this way.

If it persists you could always ask your GP - iron deficiency/ vitamin D deficiency etc can affect tiredness levels. But I’m not sure what they’re doing with regards to the blood bottles shortage. All the best x

I would always recommend getting your Vit D and
Iron level checked.

If you're breastfeeding, that can make you exhausted.

Get your iron checked though, as you could me anemic. That makes you exhausted.

Parenting is exhausting.

However if your skin and/or nails are falling apart and your hair lost continues then you may have a nutrient deficiency.

If you don't start to feel better then it might be worth getting your iron levels checked.

Probably just catching up, but get your bloods checked esp iron and thyroid function.

I'll get that all checked at the docs I think and start a supplement...I did read that when you stop breastfeeding it can make you tired as hormones rebalance...I was only expressing once a day until last week when I stopped...maybe this could be causing?
Thanks all!!

My youngest is 7 and oldest 15, one in the middle. I have been sleep deprived in one way or another until the last 12 months or so, my DC have all been bad sleepers, even now the youngest will wake up at least twice a week in the night. I'm knackered all the time. I don't think you ever sleep deeply again once you're a mum, you're always on red alert and wake up at the slightest noise, or at least I do. Maybe once all DC are certain age things start to get better and deep, restorative sleep comes back. I would suggest however you ask for some blood tests, specifically request b12, they will do iron and folate as routine but not b12. My b12 was non existent after my babies and it's a crushing, exhausting sort of tired when that's low.

Mines 2 and been sleeping through for a year and im still always tired....

I'd reckon it's probably going to need to be as many nights as you had disturbed ones. I still struggle if I go to bed later than about 10:30 now and DS is 4 and sleep has been decent for about 18 months...

It's not unusual for parents to be semi permanently half asleep when they have babies. It takes a while to get used to such a big change and for hormones to return to how they were.

I'm glad your baby is sleeping so well, that is marvellous - and virtually unheard of.

You'll be fine. Sleep well and enjoy, sleep is bliss.

Thanks so much. I'm so so lucky and grateful she's sleeping through! Hoping to make the most of it !

You're catching up! But also make sure you're looking after yourself. Are you taking multi vitamins? If not then it might be a good idea.

After I had my DC I went through a phase of being exhausted. Turned out I was folate deficient and needed folic acid and iron tablets.

Good, you deserve it. You have a gem of a baby. I know, we all know, women who do the equivalent of climbing Kilimanjaro two weeks after giving birth but most are knackered for ages. I certainly was.