The body’s natural response to physical exertion is fatigue. Most often, the cause of fatigue is lack of sleep, stress, boredom or poor diet, and these problems can be solved to get rid of them. Fatigue can sometimes be a sign of an underlying medical problem.

However, two new studies from the National Institutes of Health point to a specific type of burnout dubbed “parental fatigue,” with symptoms specifically associated with responsible parenting. Mothers in particular often feel overwhelmed by pregnancy, postpartum depression and ongoing parenting duties.

 

Why Do Mommies Get Tired?

She always woke up tired, she was always exhausted but she couldn’t figure out exactly why! Annoyed, she put a surveillance camera above her bed. When she saw the footage she was speechless

Mommy fatigue is a type of exhaustion brought on by experiencing both physical and emotional exhaustion from parenting. Fears of not being good enough, giving up control, and losing her identity are common among worn-out mothers.

 

Mommy fatigue varies from professional burnout in that its symptoms are directly related to parenting, such as physical and emotional exhaustion from taking on too much, emotional estrangement from children, and a general sense of incompetence as a parent.

 

Additionally, unlike professional burnout, mommy burnout cannot be resolved by relocating or changing careers. There is a strong sense of being stuck in a circumstance with no obvious way out.

Why Do Moms Get Tired?

The most frequent reason for tiredness in pregnant women and new mothers is sleep disruption. Although further research is required to confirm this, hormonal changes may contribute to sleep disruption during pregnancy. Due to the infant’s feeding pattern, a postpartum mom who is constantly weary has a tendency to sleep more during the day and less at night.

 

Mothers have been reported to lose an average of 41.2 minutes of overnight sleep throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Breastfeeding mothers lost a little more sleep. In each situation, the mother’s relationships, work, parental competence, and physical and mental health were negatively impacted.

 

Mommy burnout is more frequently associated to the responsibilities of parenting than it is to sleep deprivation among moms of children older than 18 months old. Notably, the symptoms nearly always include a dread and incompetence component at their core. Mothers who are experiencing mommy burnout frequently go above and beyond in their attempts to be perceived as the ideal mother, taking on an excessive amount of work and attempting to anticipate and respond to their child’s every need.

 

These exhausted mothers have a propensity to overcommit to their maternal position for a lengthy period of time, to the point that dread becomes the real source of their weariness. The constant striving to achieve unrealistic goals—whether set by society or the mother herself—eventually takes a toll on physical and emotional health, whether it be the pressure of raising clean, well-dressed, and well-behaved kids, preparing fresh meals every day, or securing their children’s future.

 

This parental anxiety typically centers on three main issues:

 

being an inadequate mother

dropping the ball

losing one’s identity

 

Mother Burnout Signs

In keeping with the three major difficulties mentioned above and the theme of fear, common signs of mommy burnout include:

 

Perfectionism

Self-pressure

Projection

extreme physical and emotional weariness

Living on automatic pilot

not forming bonds with kids

Self-hate

Shame

Loneliness

Guilt

 

How Can Mommy Burnout Be Prevented?

Take action if you think you might be suffering from mommy burnout. Realize that there is no such thing as the ideal mother. Avoid letting internal or external demands instill irrational standards that undercut your capability and self-assurance.

 

One of the main causes of mommy burnout is the worry that one is not a good enough mother. Long-term, you’ll be a better mother to your kids if you can learn to be good enough rather than ideal.

 

Recognize that each family’s circumstances are different. More significant than providing for your children or continuously planning for their future is cultivating strong relationships with them and enjoying your time with them.

 

The Perils of Being an Exhausted Mother

It’s time to act if you identify any of these warning signals that you might be an exhausted mother. Typical signs of mother burnout include:

 

being physically and emotionally spent

separating oneself emotionally from your kids

losing control with your kids, either verbally or physically

an exhaustion-related sense of guilt, humiliation, and loneliness

the anxiety of criticism

Considering hurting your kids

 

Make sure you seek the right assistance any time you discover that you are overly striving in your mothering duties and experiencing stress and exhaustion as a result. You don’t have to handle anything by yourself. Inquire for assistance from a relative or a reliable friend.

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