Nutrition, Dieting & Breastfeeding

I try to eat healthy, but I'm still always tired!

I know being tired is a common complaint of parents of toddlers.  I try to eat a healthy diet but that doesn't always happen.  I still take prenatal vitamins, but I'm wondering if that's enough and maybe that's partly why I'm so tired.  My daughter still nurses at least 6 times a day if not more. Are there any special concerns I should I have for my diet as she gets older?





It is true that being a mother of a toddler is tiring, but there are aspects of your lifestyle that you might want to examine, and changes that you might consider making to boost your energy.  For example, you mention that you aren't always able to eat a healthy diet.  I am curious about how much weight have you lost since Megan was born, and whether you are still losing weight?  Although I do not know your pre-pregnancy weight, your current weight, or your height, it may be that you are not getting enough calories, and that your body is compromising energy. Remember that you should eat a healthy, balanced diet to improve your health and energy level, but also to be a good role model for Megan.  At 14 months, she is observing what you eat and your eating patterns, and this will influence her eating behaviors as she grows older.  I also suggest that you have your hemoglobin serum iron checked by your physician, to see if you might be anemic.

Then, I wonder if you are getting enough exercise.  Lack of exercise can contribute to feelings of lethargy and fatigue.  Try going for a long, brisk walk after dinner or before you put Megan down.  Although you feel very tired, you may find that the exercise re-invigorates you.

The other thing that comes to mind is the question of depression.  Fatigue is often a symptom of depression.  This is out of my field, but if other things are going on in your life (i.e. stress in your marriage, lack of a support system, etc.) that might trigger depression, you may be wise to seek help.  This may not apply to you at all, but without knowing more about your personal life, I though that it should be mentioned.

Overall, my concerns are more for you, and for how your fatigue affects your interactions with Megan, than about her nutritional status.  At 14 months, I assume that Megan is eating a variety of other foods, so that her nutritional needs from your breastmilk are probably quite small.



 

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