Postnatal depletion is very real.

It is not something that will affect you for just a couple of weeks.

It can quietly exist and linger on for many months…….. or even years.

It’s the fog that lingers, tiredness that hovers over your everyday life with which sleep never refreshes.

Your GP is baffled… your iron levels are within range, as is your B12, there are no signs of infection or virus (c-reactive protein is normal), you are not feeling depressed. You are feeling just simply blah………….

Consider this: If you have given birth within the last 5 years - or 10 years even….. or have had multiple births, it is highly likely that you will be suffering from depletion. Depletion of your energy levels, brain fog, lack of ‘oomph’, issues with memory/too much going on syndrome…. just to name a few!

According to Dr. Oscar Serrallach “The placenta passes many nutrients to the growing baby during pregnancy, tapping into the mom’s iron, zinc, vitamin B12, vitamin B9, iodine, and selenium stores—along with omega 3 fats like DHA and specific amino acids from proteins.” (goop.com, 2021)

“The placenta serves two masters: the growing baby AND the mother. During the pregnancy, the mother supplies most of the nutrients that the growing baby needs, hence why many mothers become low in iron, zinc, vitamin B12, vitamin B9, iodine, and selenium. They also have much lower reserves in important omega 3 fats like DHA and specific amino acids from proteins. The placenta also tunes the mother to the baby, and the baby to the mother. This is no accident. The placenta develops at the same time as the fetal hypothalamus (a hormone-producing gland in the baby’s brain), and the hormones produced by the placenta look very similar to the hypothalamic hormones—again no accident. A beautiful example of this feedback occurs during birth. What causes labor pains (contractions of the uterus) is oxytocin, which is also known as the “love hormone” (goop.com, 2021)

After baby has arrived you try to find your feet again - hormonally, nutritionally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. It is nature’s design to allow the developing fetus to take all that it requires from its mother. “The go-between to ensure that this happens safely is the placenta. The human placenta is interesting—how extensively the finger-like projections of the placenta reach into the womb lining, thus creating a massive surface area. The reason for this lies in the fetal brain and its huge requirement for energy and fat (in the form of specific fatty acids such as DHA)”.

Zuo Yue Zi is the traditional ‘sitting month’ in Chinese culture, whereby the mother does not leave the house for 30 days, no visitors are allowed, and the only job she has is to nurture (feed) their newborn. Warming foods and drinks/teas are given to them to help ‘rebuild’ the mother post-birth and no cold showers allowed. The body, head and feet are kept warm at all times. It is believed that in order for society to prosper the mother must be well cared for so that she is able to be healthy: physically and mentally/emotionally.

WHAT DOES POSTPARTUM DEPLETION LOOK LIKE?

A COMBINATION of fatigue and exhaustion, coupled with a feeling of ‘baby brain’ - a term that “encompasses the symptoms of poor concentration, poor memory, and emotional lability. Emotional lability is where one’s emotions change up and down much more easily than they would have in the past, e.g. “crying for no reason.” There is often a feeling of isolation, vulnerability, and of not feeling “good enough.” It is experienced by many mothers, and is an understandable and at times predictable outcome associated with the extremely demanding task of being a mother from the perspective of both childbearing and child raising” (goop.com, 2021)

SYMPTOMS:

• Exhaustion and fatigue - almost as though constantly low in iron (note: you could be!)

• Waking unrefreshed

• Tired…but wired

• Dragging your feet throughout the day

• Feeling overwhelmed and perhaps not coping with day to day tasks

** Note: Postpartum depletion may reveal similar characteristics as for postpartum depression, it is important to not dismiss above symptoms for just depletion.

CAUSES?

• Having babies later in life. Burnt out in workplace/career and ‘not being able to switch off from work’ and then include demanding social schedules, renovating homes, in other words, just fitting it all in!!!

• Stress! We live in a society where stress is the norm, being busy is normal! We simply really don’t know how to truly switch off.

• Sleep deprivation that comes with having a new baby

• Poor eating habits. Not enough nutrient dense food - grabbing what is there, takeaways, excessive coffee, alcohol……We are often too tired at the end of the day to cook a nutritious meal, let alone have planned our meals in advance to ensure that we have ingested the right amount of nutrients! This only worsens once a new baby arrives.

• Unrealistic expectations for oneself. To get back in shape, to get back to work, to have a clean, tidy, functional home, to take siblings to school/after school activities, keep washing up to date…..

SOLUTION?

• Nutrition/Supplements: ensuring iron levels are adequate and remain adequate especially if breastfeeding, as well as checking vitamin B6 and/or B12 levels are sufficient too. Blood tests from your GP will guide you as to where your levels are at. As all round general advice: vitamin C, Zinc and vitamin D daily. Magnesium for good sleep and for feelings of anxiety, restless legs. A naturopath or Herbalist may have specific supplements they recommend such as Rhodiola or Ashwaganda. Cutting down of caffeine - have one cup per day and make it a damn good one! It goes without saying, but limit alcohol or even better give it up until you have restored your energy levels

• Exercise & Movement - Walking, yoga and pilates (gentle for the nervous system, great for endorphins and energy levels)

• Sleep/Rest - Magnesium supplements; dose throughout the day and specifically before bed to help you unwind and fall asleep. Rest when you can - a 30 minute nap is better than no rest at all

• Support - home support if possible (friend, family, doula). Meal/food delivery service, grocery delivery, laundry service etc.. but not a dog walking service - this gets you out of the house!

Book Recommendation: The Postnatal Depletion Cure - Dr. Oscar Serrallach

Find a registered Naturopath/Herbalist: https://naturopath.org.nz/