postnatal depletion

This is the continuing drain on the mental and physical resources of a mother after her child is born. Mothers blame lack of sleep, and, in general, the need to set their own needs aside to keep up with the demands of bringing up a child. This, combined with the actual drain on their body during pregnancy as their unborn child takes nutrients through the placenta, means that they never quite feel themselves, never quite feel healthy sometimes for years after a child is born. They suffer from poor concentration, poor memory, and volatile emotions.  This can be made worse by feelings of isolation.  Carried to an extreme, postnatal depletion can have serious consequences for the health of the mother.