I am tired all the time.
My sleep is restless.
I wake up and I’m already ready for a nap.
No amount of sleep is enough sleep.
All of these are phrases I used to describe how I had recently been feeling to my doctor’s nurse practitioner. I know what you are thinking and I thought so too.
That’s just normal motherhood.
Maybe this is true. But I was not content to go through my life exhausted and drained just hoping to wake up the next morning with more energy and less dark circles from a sleep full of night sweats, tossing and turning. This does not have to be what motherhood looks like for me. I chose to advocate for myself and my health despite what society says is normal for mothers.
So I did.
In December I went to my Family Doctor’s Nurse Practitioner, who is a new mother, and to my surprise, she listened. (I realize the extreme privilege of having healthcare at my fingertips and I am forever grateful). She changed the medication I take and did blood work. Three months later when my blood work was normal and nothing changed I went back. She listened again and offered me solutions that fit with my lifestyle and still breastfeeding toddler. There was no judgment, in fact, she said she experienced the same thing and the solution she offered me was the same she did for herself.
Why did it take me so long to go? Why was I so scared?
Society? My own shame and guilt? Fear that it’s all in my head? Refusal to take time to care for my own health? The glorification of busy? All of the above?
This, whatever “this” is for you doesn’t have to be your new normal mama if you don’t want it to be. You have the power and the strength to make a change, to advocate for yourself, your body, your health, your mental stability. And if advocating feels a little scary your tribe is there to speak up for you when your voice feels silent.
What are you refusing to accept as normal? How are you going to change it?
Whatever it is;
We got you.
