Hormonal changes that occur after a woman gives birth can cause postpartum insomnia, Romper reports.
The first thing to note is that unlike postpartum depression, “postpartum insomnia is not a defined disorder,” as clinical psychologist and sleep specialist Janet Kennedy Ph.D. tells Romper.
And while it may not be recognized as a specific diagnosis, postpartum insomnia is still very real and affects many new parents. Postpartum insomnia, which can mean you have trouble falling asleep or that you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back to sleep, is caused by several factors.
“First and foremost are the hormonal changes that occur after birth. Estrogen and progesterone levels drop dramatically, which can cause insomnia. Oxytocin spikes, which feels good, but can cause hyperarousal for some people,” Kennedy says.
