Postpartum health issues and breastfeeding struggles

casualmoose14 said:Oh my God, if she isn't telling the truth, nothing moved... I felt absolutely terrible when I first got home from the hospital. I couldn't even hold my head up straight because of the epidural, the dizziness was just unreal. My mom actually had to practically bribe me for an entire day just to get me to eat a single bowl of soup.
After about two weeks, my stomach felt so constricted that even four spoonfuls of soup was way too much. I was basically living on pills... one for the headache, one for my back, and one for hemorrhoids!

So there you have it. Now we finally know the truth—you guys stay so thin just because you're constantly popping pills.😁

Carol Garcia said:Ladies, how long does it actually take to fully bounce back after giving birth?
It’s been six months already—and I’m just constantly sick and feeling run down. Honestly, I'm starting to get on my own nerves.
I’ve been swallowing every vitamin under the sun—Centrum, Emergen, various immune boosters—you name it, I’ve tried it.
The other day my husband picked up some royal jelly from the drugstore because I thought it might help my energy levels.
But I’m just perpetually exhausted, dealing with headaches, colds, a runny nose, and a cough that sounds like an elephant. My teeth are acting up, my joints hurt, my muscles ache, digestive issues... everything. And I wasn't always like this; I used to be pretty solid and healthy.
Not to mention my mental state—some days I feel like I'm about to snap.

Shouldn't I be feeling more like myself by now? How do I fix this?

This isn't from the birth itself—it’s just classic sleep deprivation mixed with accumulated stress. Once you finally manage to get a few hours of actual, deep sleep, you'll start to feel human again. If you can carve out even a little bit of "me time" to recharge, you'll find your footing. 👍 (It took me about three and a half years to truly settle back into myself, so I know the feeling. 😢)

silentraven6 said:Oh please, don't lie to us crazy people; this whole thing is a complete fabrication 🤣

Bladder issues... I was told it's because of the catheter and that I need surgery, and even Kegel exercises aren't doing a thing.

Ugh, and don't even get me started on the urinary incontinence.
I can't even bring myself to laugh about it anymore, honestly.
I'm constantly wearing pads.😵
I really thought things would improve over time, but clearly, that's not happening.
I've had a catheter inserted at least five times now, as far as I can count.
Not to mention how much it stings and hurts afterward.
But there's more to it than that.

northerntiger9, give me a break. Three and a half years? I'd just end it all right now.☕

Carol Garcia said:northerntiger9, please—don't even joke about three and a half years. I’d just give up right now. ☕

We're doing okay now—he's almost 4.5 months and mostly sleeps through the night, aside from the occasional diaper change. 🙂 Honestly, I'm just jealous of everyone whose babies actually sleep; this whole process has completely drained me.

Carol Garcia, you might want to get your iron levels checked just to be safe.
Whenever I’m feeling completely wiped out and just... blah, I usually spend a few days taking some magnesium. It really helps during those stretches where stress is through the roof and I can't seem to catch any sleep.

I'm putting my two cents in alongside northerntiger9 and Amanda Moore61. It sounds like you might be running low on energy, so you should definitely get your iron levels checked out—it can be super sneaky 😁 because I used to have really high numbers and never thought twice about it, only to suddenly start feeling completely wiped out. I don't mean just being tired, but more like that heavy, desperate lack of willpower and this cloud of low mood hanging over me, even though I've never really been someone prone to depression; turns out, it was actually the early stages of anemia setting in.

casualmoose14 said:Good grief, if she isn't telling the truth, I've never felt worse... when I first got home from the hospital, I couldn't even hold my head up straight because of the epidural; the vertigo was just unreal. My mom actually had to talk me into eating a single bowl of soup one day.
After about fifteen days, my stomach had shrunk so much that even four spoonfuls of soup felt like too much. I was basically living on pills... one for the headache, one for my back, and one for hemorrhoids!

I am so sorry you had to go through that, though I suspect it’s actually the exact opposite for most new moms.

Both times leading up to labor, my appetite was nonexistent, but after giving birth (both times, I felt fantastic!), I ate like a horse—actually, more like two horses.

Looking back, my mother-in-law would bring over fruit pie, and I’d polish off half the plate all by myself while watching TV. I assume that hunger is logical; you're establishing lactation and need the fuel, but beyond losing the baby's weight, the placenta, and the amniotic fluid, it took me several months to get back to normal.

For me, those first few weeks were actually wonderful memories. I'd just sit on the sofa with the baby nursing or sleeping (both of mine latched perfectly from day one), watching shows, reading, and eating... and eating... and eating... 😁

Lisa Ramos74 said:I'm so sorry you had to go through that, but I honestly think it's actually the opposite for most new moms.

In both of my pregnancies, my appetite was practically non-existent until I actually gave birth. Once the baby arrived (both times!), I started eating like a construction worker—actually, make that two construction workers...

Looking back, my mother-in-law would bring over fruit pie, and I’d end up polishing off half the plate all by myself while just zoning out in front of the TV. I suppose there's a biological reason for that hunger; you're establishing lactation and your body needs fuel. Beyond just losing the baby's weight, the placenta, and the amniotic fluid, it took me several months to feel balanced again.

Those first few weeks were some of my fondest memories. I’d just lounge on the sofa with the baby—mine both nursed perfectly from day one—watching TV series, reading, and eating... and eating... and eating... 😁

But you know, for me, that period was actually the lowest point of my life, mentally and physically.
I came home feeling half-dead; all I wanted to do was sleep and have everyone just leave me alone... I didn't feel any of that instant "connection" people talk about with their babies.
I won't lie to you... it wasn't even close to being an idyll.
I felt terrible—out of shape, unattractive... my head was such a chaotic mess and I could barely walk, sit, or lie down comfortably, so you can imagine how little I cared about food at the time... oh, my blessed mother...🙏

casualmoose14 said:Honestly, I was going through the absolute worst period of my life—mentally and physically.
I practically crawled home feeling completely dead inside, wanting nothing more than to sleep and be left alone by everyone... I felt absolutely zero connection to my baby.
I won't sugarcoat it... it was anything but a fairy tale for me.
I felt disgusting, bloated, and just plain ugly... plus, the mental fog was so heavythat even basic things like walking, sitting, or lying down were struggles. You can imagine how little I cared about eating... bless my mother.🙏

What you’re describing sounds exactly like postpartum depression.
I am so sorry you had to go through that.

casualmoose14 said:Honestly, I went through the absolute worst period of my life—mentally and physically.
I came home feeling half-dead; all I wanted was to sleep and be left completely alone... I didn't feel any connection to my baby at all.
I won't lie to myself... it was nowhere near some beautiful picture-perfect experience.
I felt disgusting, overweight, and just plain ugly. My head was such a mess that even walking, sitting, or lying down felt like an ordeal, so you can imagine how little I cared about eating... thank God for my mom.🙏

Ugh, I was exactly the same way. Only, I spent most of my time bouncing between different hospitals, which just made everything feel twice as intense.

Looking back, I still feel pretty much the same way today; things haven't really improved that much.
I actually lost another 2 pounds, meaning I'm down 26 pounds from before I got pregnant.
But my mom isn't around to help anymore...

Carol Garcia said:Oh, I was exactly the same way. Only, since I spent most of my time bouncing between different hospitals, everything felt twice as intense for me.

When I really think about it, I still feel pretty much the same today; things haven't actually improved that much for me...
I've actually lost another 2 pounds, which means I'm down 12 pounds from before I got pregnant...
But there isn't a mother figure nearby to help out...

As for me, thank God, I can finally say that after 11 months, I’m back to my old self—maybe even a better version of her! 👏
What helped me tremendously was just talking to myself; we’d have these little internal debates where we’d basically talk each other through the rough patches and calm one another down...😁
Personally, I always tried to find a silver lining in every difficult situation... for example... when I was totally exhausted or running on zero sleep, I’d soothe myself by thinking, "Well, at least I'll lose weight faster." When everything was aching or I had no appetite, I’d tell myself, "Hey, I'll just end up losing more weight" (since I was so stressed about those 23 pounds I gained during pregnancy). Luckily, I didn't have any major health issues, and neither did my little one; the only thing that was a bit haywire was my own head. Honestly, I think that happened because, right up until the day I gave birth, I lived like royalty. Everyone catered to me—my mom would cook, clean, and do all the laundry... I spent my whole 33 years living life with everything handed to me on a silver platter, and then—boom—this new little princess arrived. Suddenly, I was the one who had to cater to her every whim and jump at every little movement she made. It took some time to mentally "abdicate the throne," but I finally did...👍
What truly saved me, though, was getting back to work. Now, half my day is my old life, and the other half is this new chapter... that's how I like to look at it!

casualmoose14 said:Thank God I can finally say that after 11 months, I’m back to my old self—maybe even better than before 👏
Talking to myself actually helped a lot; we’d just debate things and calm each other down.😁
For instance, I tried to find a silver lining in every rough patch... like when I was exhausted and sleep-deprived, I’d tell myself I’ll lose weight faster soon. Or when everything ached and I had no appetite, I’d think, "Well, at least I'll drop more weight" (since I was obsessed with those 50 lbs I put on during pregnancy). Luckily, I didn't have any major health issues, just some mental clutter. Honestly, I think that happened because I lived like royalty until the day I gave birth. Everyone catered to me—my mom did the cooking, cleaning, and laundry. I spent all 33 years of my life being pampered, and then boom, a little princess arrived who needs me to serve her and jump at every whim. It took a minute to abdicate the throne in my head, but I finally did.👍
What really saved me was getting back to work. Half my day is my old life, half is this new one... that's how I look at it.

It’s definitely easier for new moms who grew up learning how to do laundry, fold clothes, and cook at home.
I’ve worked since high school, but at home, everything was always done for me. Before I had my girl, I wouldn't even change a bedsheet. Fortunately, I didn't jump into motherhood straight out of my parents' house; I moved in with my husband when I was a year old, so I learned the basics—like ironing when things get desperate, scrubbing the bathroom once a week, or vacuuming. But realistically, the two of us were rarely home, so there weren't many chores, and whatever we did have, we split.

I don't think my parents did me any favors by not making me do anything around the house, and I hope I don't repeat their mistake.

So, here I am, totally unaccustomed to housework, giving birth to a baby who won't sleep or eat right, and man, I don't know how I survived.

I could have easily gone to psychotherapy, but it wouldn't have helped. What I actually needed was a nanny and a housekeeper; they’re the only ones who could have kept me sane.

But hey, I survived. And I won't let it happen again.

I’m honestly terrified of getting mastitis again. With my first, I had such an oversupply—it felt like I could have fed four babies at once—which sounds like a dream, but it took four agonizing months for everything to finally stabilize... for the soreness to fade, for the sensitivity to die down, and for me to stop dealing with milk spraying in every direction mid-day. Over three and a half years of nursing, I managed to battle through about three bouts of mastitis...

Now, here I am with my second, and once again, the milk is coming in by the gallon. I actually thought it would be easier this time because I figured my body would be more prepared, so I let my guard down a bit... instead of staying on top of the massages, I just kind of winged it at home, and well—here I am, reporting my very first case of mastitis just fourteen days after birth.🙂

ironbadger9 said:Giving birth brings so much joy to some people, but for others, it definitely comes with its own set of little issues...
I didn't want to open this thread in the Health subforum since that's supposed to be strictly for pregnancy complications, labor, breastfeeding, carrying babies, and all that... and man, there's a lot of it...
Back pain, hormone swings, skin stuff, breast issues, circulation problems, teeth, veins... yeah, the whole list... haha...

Personally, I’m reaching out because of one specific thing that's been killing me for about ten days now.
JOINT PAIN.
In the mornings, my finger joints ache, my wrists hurt, and once I actually get up, I can barely walk because my knees and feet are throbbing. The worst part is I can't even pick up my baby properly, and things just keep slipping right out of my hands.
I've been doing some Googling and everything points toward rheumatoid arthritis—honestly, I'm praying that's not it since there's no cure—but I'll definitely get some tests done as soon as the holidays and my time off are over. In the meantime, I just needed to vent here.
Has anyone else dealt with something similar? Can someone please tell me this is just temporary?
Could breastfeeding a six-month-old possibly drain my calcium or magnesium levels?

My wife gave birth five months ago, and honestly, my joint and spine issues got ten times worse after the pregnancy and delivery. Unfortunately, my neck scans weren't great either; my arms used to go numb and weak, I had issues with my lower back, scoliosis, balance problems, dizziness... you name it. And our little one is already weighing in at quite a bit, so carrying her around is tough. While I was nursing her for five months, the only way I could manage was sitting in one specific position where I'd hunch my neck. So, it's totally possible to end up with all these issues from the physical strain of pregnancy and childbirth. Even now, my hands and knees still act up.

So, I’ve run into yet another postpartum issue
It’s nothing life-threatening, but it definitely caught me off guard.

I have several piercings—five holes in one ear and two in the other.
I used to be able to shove an iron stud in and just go about my day for five days straight without a single complaint.
Now? I can't even wear gold or silver for two hours before my skin turns bright red and starts stinging.

And this is happening even in my original piercings—the ones I've had since birth, the standard single lobes that most American babies get right after being born. Plus, those are the earrings from my godmother at my baptism, of course.😵

It’s the exact same thing for me. I put an earring in just once, and my earlobbs started swelling up within a minute... I had to rip them right out and douse everything in some antiseptic spray. It felt just like an allergic reaction. And honestly, I’ve never had any issues with jewelry before this...

ironbadger9, how are those joints holding up? Have you had a chance to run any tests yet?

It turns out it was exactly what another lady on this forum mentioned—just a Vitamin D deficiency...
I’ve always been more of a homebody anyway, and between breastfeeding and those rough first few months, I barely saw any sunlight at all 🙂 Just those quick little walks with the baby twice a day, and that was about it.
I actually started giving the little one some Vitamin D drops for a while, and honestly, I felt so much better after that.

Hey ladies, I have a quick question for you all... did any of you deal with horrible nausea and headaches while riding in a car after giving birth? I get hit with these intense waves of nausea where I feel like I’m going to throw up, but it doesn't feel like typical motion sickness. It’s always accompanied by this crushing headache—almost like a migraine—right around my eyes and through the middle of my head. It usually happens when we're out on a longer drive; my husband is behind the wheel and I'm just sitting in the back with the little one... but I know it isn't because I'm riding in the rear. We even cleared out all the strong scents from the car, and we even tried switching to our other vehicle, but nothing seems to help.

Oh man, what topics... I'm just here 🙂
I haven't had even a single day of actual rest since giving birth... and of course, everything just piles up at once. The thing that caught me most off guard was this sharp pain in my right arm, right above the elbow, stretching all the way down the muscle. It hits whenever I lift my arm above my head—feels like someone is literally slicing me with a knife... And then I start thinking about those old wives' tales, you know, the ones where they say breastfeeding moms shouldn't lift their arms above their heads. Like, are people actually serious about that? 🙂 It eased up a tiny bit after taking some Tylenol—which I definitely needed anyway because of the fever and that looming threat of mastitis.

Now my back is acting up. My little one is still so tiny and sleeps through most of the night, so I don't carry her constantly, but when I have to pick her up to burp her, I naturally lean back, and that specific movement is just the worst for my spine. On top of that, I've been dealing with diarrhea since this morning. I took some Prolife... now, hmm—what are the odds of passing this diarrhea onto her? 100%, right? Is it enough that I'm taking probiotics, or should I be giving her something too? She's only 5 weeks old.
Oh, and just to add to the list, I've been taking a Previa every day just in case, since there's still some leftover from the pregnancy, and I figured it wouldn't hurt... just a few vitamins to hopefully save me from catching a cold (since it's got plenty of Vitamin C) and maybe help with things like postpartum hair loss and stuff like that. 🙂