the science of depletion

Brain fog, debilitating fatigue, emotional lability, and chronic pain. These are a few of the hallmarks of what functional medicine Dr. Oscar Serellach describes as Postnatal Depletion, a “constellation of symptoms affecting all spheres of a mother’s life after she gives birth”.

His thesis is simple: many of the chronic illnesses women suffer from years postpartum can be traced back to insufficient recovery from pregnancy and childbirth. In his brilliant book The Postnatal Depletion Cure, he describes the three main factors that contribute to a mother’s depletion:

1. The maternal physiology being stripped of its own nutrients in the process of growing, incubating and delivering a baby

2. The deleterious effect of chronic sleep deprivation

3. The profound psychological shift experienced nearly overnight as a mother transitions to her new role and responsibilities, coupled with the commonly experienced sense of isolation in new motherhood.

His approach, and the inspiration for ours here at FOURTHOUSE, offers a holistic approach to maternal wellness: identifying areas of insufficiency, coupled with a plan for recovery and replenishment. We go into the depths to assess micronutrient insufficiencies (most notably: DHA, D3, Omega 3, Iron and Zinc), and look at the big picture to understand how and when her depletion shows up, and how to course correct.

This book is truly a gift to mothers everywhere, finally providing a scientific explanation for the mysterious constellation of symptoms that so commonly pop up after childbirth.

Don’t settle for pesky symptoms that weigh you down, instead work with a trusted clinician to help you take hold of your wellbeing.