Mothers Battle Early Menopause Symptoms

New Wave of Women Grapple with Perimenopause Soon After Childbirth

A growing number of mothers are experiencing perimenopausal symptoms remarkably soon after giving birth, often mistaking these changes for the lingering effects of postpartum recovery. This collision of life stages can leave women feeling confused and unsupported.

Unexpected Hormonal Shifts Emerge

Lorraine Heffernan, a mother of one from Dublin, found herself experiencing hormonal fluctuations and a decline in energy and mood about two years after welcoming her daughter, Ava, when she was 45. Despite her recent childbirth, she initially dismissed the possibility of perimenopause, believing it to be years away.

Lorraine‘s realization came through personal research, discussions with friends, and her workplace introducing a menopause policy. She discovered she wasn’t alone; menopause workplace consultant Catherine O’Keeffe noted that twenty women responded to her call for stories about perimenopause occurring soon after childbirth.

“It’s a big challenge for a lot of women,” says O’Keeffe. “Starting a family is happening later. And a lot of women are starting to feel perimenopausal before the average age of 45.”

Symptoms Overlap with Postpartum Challenges

Fiona Buckley, 44, an empowerment coach, began experiencing symptoms like fatigue and brain fog about a year after her daughter Sadie was born. She initially attributed these to the postpartum period, but the symptoms persisted and intensified, prompting her to seek medical advice.

Emily Collins, 36, experienced her first perimenopause symptom six months after her second daughter was born. Initially misdiagnosed and treated for thrush, her symptoms, including heavy periods and anxiety, continued. Her suspicions grew when she connected with her cousin, a menopause advocate, and considered her own family history.

“My cousin, 10 years older than me, is a big menopause advocate. She’d just started her menopause journey and was very vocal about symptoms. I began to put two and two together: Maybe there’s another reason I’m sweating and anxious, have heavy periods, and extreme tiredness. Maybe it’s not just having a newborn.”

Dr. Karen Soffe, a GP specializing in women’s health, notes that later-life pregnancies can cause perimenopause and postpartum periods to overlap, creating confusion. Symptoms like fatigue, low mood, and brain fog are frequently misattributed to “baby blues” or “baby brain,” delaying accurate diagnosis.

“Deciding whether ‘this is post-natal depression, perimenopause, or just having a new baby can be a very big challenge,” says Lorraine. “I don’t know if you’d know where one starts and the other finishes.” She recalls experiencing significant memory lapses, questioning if it was “baby brain or brain fog.”

Navigating a Misunderstood Transition

The emotional toll is significant, with women often questioning their sanity when their experiences are dismissed. Fiona found that some women were unreceptive to her concerns, telling her she was “just tired after having a baby,” which led her to doubt her own experiences.

The lack of awareness from healthcare providers adds another layer of difficulty. Lorraine found that perimenopause was never mentioned during her prenatal or postnatal check-ups, despite her age. “Nobody said, ‘You’re at a certain age now, perimenopause might be kicking in.’ Nothing like that was ever mentioned,” she stated.

Overlapping Life Stages Exacerbate Challenges

Experiencing perimenopause while navigating new motherhood intensifies the already demanding role. Emily described a profound impact on her relationship with her daughters due to unexpected bouts of anger. “The girls were two and four when I was going through that, and something as simple as them taking a while to put on their shoes going out, I’d get cross about, and there was no need to get cross like that,” she shared.

Lorraine views the combination as two conflicting forces. “You’re striving to be the best mom you can be. You don’t want to be reacting in certain ways. You want to have a certain tolerance threshold, regardless of what timeframe your body clock is working to.”

Fiona felt like life had fast-forwarded, with two major life stages colliding unexpectedly. “It feels like you have two stages of life overlapping. You’re trying to enjoy your baby and you’re hit with a complete other stage of life. It feels like you’ve been fast-forwarded and you’re trying to slow it down.”

Dr. Soffe highlights that perimenopause often coincides with other life stressors, such as caring for aging parents or career pressures. Adding a new baby or toddler can be overwhelming, making it harder for women to manage mood, anxiety, and multitasking.

A recent study by the Menopause and Health Alliance indicates that nearly 60% of women report their perimenopause symptoms negatively impact their work life, underscoring the need for greater workplace and societal understanding of these challenges (Menopause and Health Alliance, 2024).