So That's Why Breastfeeding Makes You Feel Wiped Out

There’s a lot going on.

Parents editor at HuffPost UK

The first year after a baby is born can be a complete blur for new parents – I’ve been there twice, and I feel like I was delirious for about 90% of it.

Between the sleep deprivation, the constant state of high alert and the mental and physical recovery, it’s really no wonder so many new parents feel so exhausted.

Those who choose to breastfeed might also notice this makes them feel more wiped – even after months of milk production. (I breastfed for two years and felt just as exhausted by year two than I did earlier on in my journey.)

Google searches for “does breastfeeding make you tired?” have gone up by more than 5,000% recently, according to analysis by Proceive Breastfeeding. The answer is certainly, yes. But why?

Why does breastfeeding make you SO tired?

Well, there are several reasons.

Dr Nikki Ramskill, a GP verified on the healthcare review platform Doctify, and founder of The Female Health Doctor Clinic, told HuffPost UK: “Firstly, your body is doing a huge amount of work behind the scenes. Prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production, naturally has a calming, sleepy effect, and levels rise overnight.

“Producing breast milk also requires extra energy, roughly 300-500 calories a day, at a time when your body is still recovering from pregnancy and........

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