Exhaustion is often viewed as an inevitable part of new motherhood. Sleepless nights, frequent feedings, and functioning on just a few hours of rest are common with a newborn. How many times do guests or grandparents casually ask: “Did you get any sleep last night?” Only to get the repeated answer: “A couple hours.” That makes it easy to dismiss sleep problems as just part of the experience. Normalizing postpartum exhaustion can make it harder to recognize when those problems require more care.
Many mothers with postpartum insomnia are falling through the cracks. A study found that 13% of mothers met the criteria for postpartum insomnia by six weeks postpartum. Of the 20 women identified, only two had ever received a clinical evaluation for insomnia. [Source] That means 90% suffering from insomnia had never been evaluated. Untreated postpartum insomnia is linked to a higher risk of psychiatric disorders, physical health issues, and chronic sleep problems.
There is an important difference between not getting enough sleep and being unable to sleep. Most new parents lose sleep because their baby wakes them to have their basic needs cared for. A mother with postpartum insomnia, on the other hand, may have a sleeping baby and the chance to rest, yet still struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep. [Source]
Sleep deprivation, regardless of the cause, can affect attention, memory, reaction time, and decision-making. Research shows that getting only four hours of sleep per night for two weeks can lead to impairments similar to staying awake for two straight nights. [Source] For a new mom, this matters—especially when the pressure of measuring formula at 2 a.m., trying to get a newborn to latch to her nipple, or figuring out whether a fever warrants a call to the pediatrician.
Sleep is essential for new parents’ health and well-being.
The postpartum body is also adjusting in ways that can make sleep even harder to come by, whether or not insomnia is present. Estrogen and progesterone levels drop quickly after childbirth, and newborn care hypervigilance, plus stress and anxiety can increase the risk of insomnia. [Source] These changes occur while a new mother is physically recovering and juggling round-the-clock newborn care, adding a layer of risk to an already disrupted sleep schedule.
Effective treatments are available, but only if the problem is recognized. When a new mother mentions she isn’t sleeping well, it’s not enough to ask how often her baby wakes up. We need to ask another question:
Can she actually sleep when she has the chance?
Through our 4th Trimester Care Closets and Movement & Wellness Workshops, we provide supportive environments for mothers to connect and share their experiences, including sleep issues. We also collaborate with mental health providers and healthcare professionals to ensure families can access additional support when needed. Our hope is that these spaces encourage mothers to reflect on their own sleep experiences and recognize when their struggles may go beyond typical postpartum exhaustion.
No mother should have to prove she’s struggling before she gets help. Support 4th Trimester’s work to make sure sleep — and every other postpartum need — gets asked about, not assumed away.
