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  |  Parent  |  Postnatal  |  Why am I tired all the time?
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Why am I tired all the time?

by Peg Plumbo

question
My daughter is nearly a year old and although I breast-fed her for just the first three months I've only had two periods since she was born. I'm also exhausted all the time (I work full-time), am a few pounds underweight and have a lower than normal sex drive, but when I went to the doctor she could find nothing wrong: I don't have a thyroid problem, I'm not anaemic, and my prolactin levels are normal. Why am I always tired?

answer
Although having only two periods since delivery is quite normal, your exhaustion affects all aspects of your life.

Depression is a possibility. There is some interesting research being done on the need for additional oestrogen in some women to prevent post-natal depression. If you are not getting periods, this sounds like a reasonable hypothesis. Your doctor could prescribe an oestrogen-progesterone combination similar to that used in menopause, which might help.

I would recommend lots of sunlight, an extremely good diet rich in B vitamins — and even an extra B6 supplement — and exercise.

Talk to your doctor again and ask her to investigate further.

I wish you success in dealing with this.

Peg

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