Breastfeeding Side Effects, Not Sure?

Dear K.,
I am sorry that you are having these symtptoms. Remember that the older the child is, the more they eat (which means you need eat and drink more too). If that doesn't help, it could be a health problem. I don't want to alarm you, but dizzyness, nausea and exhaustion could also be a blood sugar problem. (Diabetes or hypoglycemia). Or they could be a viral infection. See a doctor.

Hi:
This happened to me and I ended up becoming hyper-thyroid from breastfeeding. I suggest you go to your physician and have a blood test to make sure your thyroid is in balance. If you are having thyroid issues, it is an easy fix, so don't worry:)

I breastfed two, for 2+ years and the only times I would feel those symptoms were when I wasn't eating right/enough or drinking enough water. I'd start there since that is an easy fix. Eat and drink! Then if you still feel bad, call your Dr. just to rule out anything more serious. Breastfeeding in it of itself shouldn't cause those symptoms, but if you are breastfeeding and not eating/drinking enough then I could see that happening. You may even be anemic.

M.

Water is key - always have a glass of water near you when breast feeding and keep taking those prenatals.

Yes, check with your Doctor... never try to second guess it.

It may also, just guessing here, be a combination of breastfeeding plus, the pure exhaustion and lack of sleep we Moms get with a baby. Try to rest whenever you can... and get needed sleep.

But yes, keep up with feeding yourself too & getting proper nutrition... often times, a Mom neglects to even feed herself because she is so busy or just too tired to think of herself. I was that way too.

Breastfeeding uses up many calories... you need to sustain yourself.

But please, check with your Doctor.
Take care,
Susan

I didn't breatfeed so I don't know what could cause that but when I was pregnant with my first child I was really dehyrated and I got really dizzy. My doctor said don't drink water room temperature because it just goes right through you, to drink it with lots of ice. Also with my second child I became really anemic and was getting dizzy in the shower laying down or standing up from sitting. So over-the-counter iron pills really helped.

EAT and drink more. At 9m they start eating/nursing more and it takes more to produce good milk. I went through the same thing, it gets better. My son is 17m and still nursing, it just took me a while to figure out how much I had to eat and I had to exercise a bit less too. However, I'm at the lightest weight of my life, so don't fear you're eating too much. Keep up the great work!

I have a 9 month old too. That happens to me also and it's occurs when I haven't eaten enough. When your son feeds, he's getting nutrients produced from your body. So you have to consume enough for you and him. So just remember to eat/snack more and have a water bottle nearby so you can have a drink while he's feeding. I know that can be hard at times...

I've also felt very thirsty when he's feeding too. That's from not drinking enough water. You'd think I'd know by now but life gets busy with little ones : ) Good Luck.

I have felt the exhausted part but not nauseated or dizzy. I too have nursed for 9 months and still going with my daughter and did it for 16 months with my now 8 year old son (he wouldn't have anything to do with food so it was full time nursing with no supplementation with him). Are you eating enough? (Seems like a silly or rude question but I get really low on energy when I do not eat regularly) You might be low in Iron as well? Are you still taking prenatals? You body is still giving everything to the baby first and you still get the leftovers so please remember to take care of yourself. I still take naps with my daughter when I can get them and eat lots of little snack throughout the day. Good luck and good job with the nursing!

Check with your doctor, and make sure that you are eating a healthy, substantial diet and getting enough fluids. Eating and drinking are very important factors when breastfeeding.

Hi there is a free breastfeeding seminar this Saturday at mommywood.com's From the Cradle to College Family Expo. It's Free Admission form 10am-5pm at Encino Park (Genesta Park) at 16952 Ventura Blvd. There's toms of other great stuff too check out the site for details mommywood.com

Dehydration certainly causes dizziness, but my cousin started getting vertigo whenever she breastfed her son, so I would ask your doctor about that. I felt dizzier while breastfeeding my son, too, so I think there might be something to that.

You could be dehydrated, eat lots of fresh fruit, veggies and the right kind of fluids. Check with your OBGYN. Don't stop your prenatal vitimins while nursing.
Mother of 3 and grandmother of 14.

Actually, K., it sounds like you've hit the nail on the head. I had the same problem when I breast fed and when I went to the doctor we found that I was anemic (i.e. lack of iron in my blood). I had been anemic during pregnancy and it was resolved by taking prenatal vitamins and an extra iron pill. The doctor suggested that I go back on the prenatal vitamins and drink extra fluids while I was breastfeeding and it worked like a charm. Good luck to you and your little one!

Hi K.,
That has and is happening to me. I realized that when I eat well, more than three meals a day and rest I don't get dizzy. I am tired, so I take breastfeed him in bed everytime now and take a cat nap while he eats.
Don't forget to continue taking your prenatal vitamins and you might want to check for anemia.
take care,
ceci

Hi K.,
Could you have a brest infection? I experienced 1 w/my daughter and it got me so sick I felt i had to stop nursing her, but found out later that i could have continued. I do know that there is a chemical released in our bodies when we nurse our babies, I forget what its called, but it makes you feel light headed and tired; it has something to do with milk let down...anyway hope youre ok
blessings,V.

Remember K. preg tests arn't 100%...but your symptoms sound like you may be a little dehydrated. Its been hot and humid and the humidity will dehydrate you even more. I am not sure what the docs are suggesting now but when I was breastfeeding 16 years ago they said at least a liter a day of water.
Good luck.
L.

i used to feel like that when i wasn't eating enough food or getting enough vitamins. but just to be sure it isn't something worse, definitely check with your doc.

This shouldn't be from breastfeeding. Although, when I was BF & didn't hydrate enough I would experience some dizziness. Make sure you are eating enough & in a nutricious way & drink plenty of water. I also suggest seeing your doctor, as you wouldn't want to overlook something medical.

I don't know where you are in your cycle, but maybe take another pregnancy test in a week or so to be sure!

Are you still taking prenatal vitamin supplements?

You are not eating enough!!!! Eat eat eat!!! You loose 800 calories each feeding!!!! Eat, please! I found anight time snack of almond butter on an apple helped with night feedings. Try black sesame seed butter with cucumbers, onions and tomaotes on sprouted wheat bread to help with your iron and folic acid. it also has great amount protein. And drink a LOT OF WATER. Good clean water. That should help you out immediately. Please eat!

I was going to say Gatorade, but realized your son is 9 months. He should be getting a lot of his calories from solids now, so he shouldn't be taking that much out of you. I drink at least 20 oz. of Gatorade a day to avoid bad headaches, but my son is 4 months and hasn't started solids. I would make an appointment with your doc, and until then try the Gatorade and increase your calories!

That is how I get when my blood sugar is a little low. Just eat something good for you, not sugary or it could cause it to repeat itself. Talk to your doctor and make sure it isn't anything really serious like thyroid or diabetes, but I know that breastfeeding burns an additional 500 calories or something, you might not be getting enough for you to sustain.

When I was breast feeding I would find that especially when my son had a larger appetite that I HAD to make sure that I was getting plenty of good food and LOTS of water. EVERYTIME before I would sit down to breast feed I would pour myself a large glass of water and drink the whole thing while breastfeeding! I had a lot of issues when I started breastfeeding and one of the major things that the lactation specialist told me is that me eating and drinking plenty of fluids - especially water - were very important to my health!! Sounds like you just need a bit more food and water! Hope it all gets resolved ASAP! :)

Yes, I had the same thing happen and it was from dehydration. Drink tons of water!

Did you take a blood test for pregnancy? Sometimes the at home tests don't work as well.. And, once the baby starts eating solids, you tend to become more fertile... from what I heard...

Regardless, I would go see your dr. You don't want it to be something serious. I suffer from hypoglycemia, and I feel dizzy and nauseated when I need to eat. But, it may be, like you said, that you need more water or more calories. Did you start exercising more recently?
Blessings,
K.

Hopefully you are still taking a prenatal vitamin, or a vitamin for lactating mamas?

Make sure you eat several meals a day and get plenty of protein. Also water, water, water.

You are giving your son the best possible gift by continuing to nurse him! Great job!

It sounds like you need to see a doctor. If you were having "side effects" from breastfeeding, it would have happened before nine months. I hope you feel better soon!

hi-
have your gyno or doctor do a thyroid test. might be hypothyroid. or, maybe.....do a pregnancy test!!
good luck!

Are you eating enough? Getting a GREAT vitamin, not just a cheap one? Do you track you water intake? If the answer to all these is yes and enough then I would see the doctor. A healthy woman should not suffer from breastfeeding.

A great vitamin is Nutrilite XX and can be gotten from we-us.mychoices.biz

If you can't find anything wrong see a chiropractor. You might have pressure points on your spine from your posture while you nurse. Good luck, Jacque

You know the saying: "You are what you eat." So, hopefully, you are eating well balanced meals. Also, while breastfeeding, you should be taking vitamins. Have your doctor check for anemia because that would cause dizziness and fatigue. Also, have him check your blood pressure. Iron pills will take care of anemia. Drink plenty of fluids, because, remember, your baby is drinking YOUR fluids. Drinking plenty of fluids will prevent dehydration and a drop in your blood pressure. Good luck!

Hi K.. Your dizziness sounds akin to what the Chinese call "blood deficiency", and definately corresponds to a lack of nutrition. You most likely need more iron, B12, and/or folic acid, as well as consuming plenty of fluids. Excellent food sources of iron and protien are spirulina (a micro-algea), seaweeds, broccoli, and red meat. Spirulina is also great for folic acid, and has some B12. Nutritional yeast is a fantastic source of B12. And a diet rich in whole grains, sprouts, green foods, vegetables, and healthy fats like avocado is essential for building your blood, and will also build your breast milk. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that must be consumed daily in order to keep it circulating into your breast milk. You can get nutritional yeast at a health food store and sprinkle it on cereal or oatmeal.

blessings to you and your new one,
L.

A little about me:
I am a 30 year practitioner of chinese medicine and acupuncture who loves helping women get pregnant and stay healthy.

You are probably dehydrated, start drinking much more water. When you nurse, they take away your fluids and you need to replinsh them two fold. You don't want your supply to go down either because your body is fighting to keep some fluids. Just try drinking about 3-4 more glasses of water a day and see how you feel after that. Make sure you are eating enough as well.

Getting enough water is a must. You may not be taking in enough calories. Anemia is another one that is common. Let the doctor run some blood work. Feel better soon!

Hmm, so funny that I just read your request, because I just went and bought a pregnancy test, because I've been feeling the same way for a week. My daughter is nine and a half months and she's a nursing pro. I'm not prego either so maybe what you said, nutrients or water, maybe even a lack of protein. I'm interested in the responses you'll get.
Good luck,
S. G.

K., there right. You have a child that is becoming more active, have been great in continuing to breasfeed and care for your child. However, these signs you are having are signals that something is not right. Holding your child and feeling dizzy; nauseated; exhausted must be scary. It may be that Mama needs more nutrients (as they suggested), and I support the other Mama's that you consult with your doctor. So, you can continue feeling better; healthy and help that little precious one along. Take Care Now.

Sounds similar to what I have felt on and off, which until today I never really thought could be low nutrients on my part. I also have been breastfeeding a boy for 9 months. He is doing great for the most part, but I have been quite tired the whole time, even though he is a great sleeper and I get quite a lot of sleep. I have always chalked it up to "just breastfeeding" or "being a new mom".

Meanwhile, recently I have been wondering whether I should be supplementing our son's diet (he is on solids but not a great eater yet) with a baby vitamin. One of the people I consulted assured me that as long as I was getting enough vits and mins (mostly mins), he would be fine. She then asked how I was feeling and I had to admit I have been quite tired, even though I seem to eat and eat and eat! She suggested a) switching to a different multivitamin and b) upping the dose.

I would consult your doctor or nurse practitioner to rule anything more serious out. In the meantime, think about your own nutrition and hydration, as you suggest. Keep a big bottle of water next to wherever you breastfeed, and fill it up regularly. Good luck!