I am Riannon Page, a fertility Naturopath and the founder of Mungbean Health and my clinic supports clients from preconception to postpartum and beyond.
Postpartum depletion is something I am very passionate about, being a fertility Naturopath and having gone through my own postpartum journey four times now, I know how important it is to replenish the body.
Postpartum depletion is a term used to describe the physical, emotional and mental exhaustion many women experience after giving birth. It can persist for months or even years following childbirth. I will see mothers 4+ years after giving birth still suffering with postpartum depletion.
It can affect a woman's energy levels, cognitive function and emotional wellbeing.
Other common issues that can be exacerbated by postpartum depletion are postpartum depression and anxiety (which are different than the early baby blues).
The most common issues that new mums visit our clinic for would be exhaustion and fatigue (the kind where having a nap doesn’t change anything & you feel exhausted upon waking, until bed time at night), lots of brain fog or ‘baby brain’, doing silly things like putting the keys in the freezer or struggling to remember a relatives birthday, many mood changes (sometimes they say things like ‘my hubby will tell you I’m crazy’ or ‘I’m not usually like this but my mood is up & down’ etc along with peaks in anxiety or lower moods/ irritability. Other symptoms are headaches, weakened immunity, feeling sore & unmotivated, lots of hair-loss and often weight gain.
Some of the most common causes of postpartum depletion are nutrient deficiencies, hormonal changes, sleep disturbances and stress.
Nutrients
The body requires a LOT of nutrients in pregnancy to grow a beautiful baby and if we choose to breastfeed, it doesn’t stop after birth. We need nutrients like iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium, omega 3 fatty acids and b vitamins, which are often depleted and contribute to fatigue, brain fog and mood swings.
Hormonal Shifts
After birth there is the single biggest hormonal drop in a woman’s life, this is when oestrogen and progesterone drop which can lead to the baby blues- emotional dis-regulation, fatigue and affect general wellbeing, which we support many of our clients to avoid.
Sleep Deprivation
The most common issues new parents face is sleep disturbances. Newborns require multiple wake ups per night to feed, burp & change, leading to exhausted parents. Although there isn’t a lot we can do about the wake ups, we can ensure our bodies are well equiped to deal with these changes.
Stress
Stress is a very common concern of many new mums. Their world has just totally changed (for the better of course) but they are just learning how to adjust to their new life and care for a baby. There are certain vitamins, nutrients and herbs we use in clinic that can support this adjustment and help a new mumma adapt a little easier.
As a fertility naturopath I always suggest to get your nutrients optimal during the preconception phase, but It is equally important to support yourself throughout pregnancy, because as the trimesters change, so do the required nutrients for you and bub.
I find in clinic those that suffer most with nutrient depletion are clients who have back to back pregnancies without supporting themselves throughout! I know it’s not always something we can plan for (babies sometimes come along when we least expect it) but supporting yourself throughout pregnancy & postpartum is in your control. Naturopathy should be a non-negotiable in any pregnancy journey to support the health of you and your growing family.
If you need any additional support, find us at @mungbean_health or visit our website www.mungbeanhealth.com.
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