What just happened? Need advice.

I gave birth three weeks ago, so I’m still pretty wiped out and exhausted. I’m up every hour or two during the night breastfeeding.

I’m not drinking enough fluids, and even though I try to eat as much as possible, my appetite is basically nonexistent.

My friends stopped by for coffee this morning, and while we were talking, my head just started spinning out of nowhere. I tried to get up to go to the bathroom, but I was stumbling around like I’d had way too many margaritas. Once I got inside, I felt like I was going to collapse, so I grabbed the sink and shut my eyes because the vertigo was insane. I turned on the tap, drank some water, and after a minute or two, things started looking better. The dizziness went away, but my arms and legs felt like jelly—I could barely make it back to the living room. Then I laid down, and even though the spinning stopped, I felt incredibly nauseous. Every time I tried to sit back up, the world started tilting again.

I had about a cup of water plus a little sugar water, and an hour or two later, I finally felt human again.

What do you guys think caused that?

I already deal with low blood pressure, and I’ve had dizzy spells before, but never anything this intense where I almost hit the floor.

Thanks for any help.😘

It could honestly be anemia—you really ought to go get your iron levels checked out just to be safe 😉

That’s perfectly normal—it was the exact same for me after both of my deliveries. You simply have to REST. Lie down as much as possible, stay hydrated, and avoid overexertion... childbirth is an absolute assault on a woman's body. I used to wonder why I felt so drained myself—once, I actually just collapsed onto the floor... you need to prioritize rest with the baby. When the baby sleeps, you sleep. Keep activities to a minimum.

Pressure.
Call your home health agency and tell them to bring a blood pressure cuff over so they can check you.
It’s your right.

It could be anything from that list you mentioned. My iron was super low toward the end of my pregnancy, and my discharge papers said to take supplements, but I barely touch them because they absolutely wreck my digestion.

If I had to guess, I’d bet on low blood pressure.
But if my pressure dipped around 10 this morning, is there even any point in checking it now? It’s probably already leveled out, right?
I grabbed some black tea since I read that the caffeine in it gives you a slow boost, whereas coffee hits you like a freight train—and those sudden spikes are even worse for you.

Pick up some Fersan Forte and eat plenty of cooked apples—it’ll soften things up when the iron makes everything too hard. Whatever you do, don't touch Ferrum; my doctor specifically told me at discharge that Fersan Forte is the superior choice for nursing mothers and postpartum recovery. He warned me against the Ferrum because it absolutely wreaks havoc on the stomach and causes all sorts of issues... I also deal with low blood pressure and iron deficiency, so I'm curious which symptoms you're dealing with. After my first baby, I was terrified by it all, but I was much better prepared the second time around... anyway, stick to Fersan Forte and cook those apples into a compote. Good luck 👍

You’ve just given birth—so you’re already physically drained—and on top of that, you’re dealing with low blood pressure. When it comes to low BP, it is CRITICAL to stay properly hydrated, especially during these warmer months. You mentioned in your post that you aren't really drinking much liquid.
Personally, I have low blood pressure myself, so I am constantly chugging massive amounts of water—and my body tends to crave salt, too, I guess.
I’m not sure if you have a blood pressure monitor at home, but you should definitely keep an eye on it.

Thanks so much, ladies 😘

You guys helped calm me down, though I was already spiraling. But seriously, can my blood pressure really get so low that I feel like I’m about to pass out? It felt like everything was going dark, like the floor just vanished from under me until I grabbed the sink for dear life.
At least I had enough sense to splash some water on my face to snap out of it, which helped, but if that had happened while I was driving on the highway, I would've been a total wreck.

Drink plenty of water. I guess you can get a good amount of iron and calcium from things like chickpeas, sesame seeds, and leafy greens. Everything I mentioned is packed with fiber too, so that should help keep things moving along. I’ll be posting my recipe for a chickpea and sesame spread on another subforum soon. It’s pretty quick and easy to whip up—or maybe someone else can just make it for you if you’re feeling totally wiped out. 😉

Carol Rodriguez16 seriously, once you drop that recipe on the forum, just DM it to me too so I don't have to hunt through this entire site looking for it. 🙂

Also, besides chugging water, what else can I do to stop this from happening again? Any tips on what to eat or avoid when my blood pressure hits the floor?

Everything the ladies on this forum have pointed out is spot on, and honestly, blood pressure is almost certainly what's going on here... it can even make you pass out if it drops too low. If that happens again, just get yourself straight onto a couch or a bed, lie completely flat, and have someone prop your feet up on a pillow for at least ten minutes or so. If things settle down quickly after that, then 99% of the time it’s definitely your blood pressure, though obviously, the smartest move would be to actually get a reading right then...

Carol Palmer44 said:... but seriously, can I really claim it’s just blood pressure? Because I genuinely felt like I was about to pass out—like I was fading, losing my footing entirely, until I managed to grab onto the bathroom sink for dear life.

It certainly could be. Personally, I have to be extremely careful about standing up too quickly—especially during those sweltering summer days at the beach—because otherwise, I get these massive black spots in my vision and start to stumble; it knocks me out completely. And if I’m already feeling run down or haven't been keeping up with enough food or fluids? Well, then it’s game over.😉

Just make sure you're staying hydrated and grabbing some decent, nutritious meals.👍

Sophia Wells72 said:It’s possible. Honestly, I can’t even stand up too fast—like when I'm out at the beach in the summer—without seeing stars and nearly collapsing. It knocks the wind right out of me. Especially if I've skipped a meal or haven't stayed hydrated. Just lights out. 😉

Just drink more water and grab a decent snack. 👍

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Since this could be from iron deficiency after giving birth recently, or just low blood pressure, I'm going to start taking my iron supplements, drinking tons of water for the pressure, and following all the other tips you guys shared.
I just really hope this doesn't happen again because it feels absolutely TERRIBLE.

😘

Always keep some pretzels on hand—pretzels raise your blood pressure 😉

If you're looking for a single remedy that addresses both iron deficiency and low blood pressure, red wine is truly your best friend!
Being a new mom and breastfeeding definitely doesn't have to be an obstacle to feeling better. If you make it a daily habit—and consistency is absolutely key here—by having about one small glass after lunch and another after dinner, you will likely see a wonderful improvement in both your iron levels and your blood pressure readings.
Just to clear up any potential confusion, I’m not just making this up; I actually received this exact advice from my doctor many, many years ago. Back when I was struggling with that specific combination of low blood pressure and low iron, it was actually serious enough to cause some changes in my heart function, which is why I ended up needing a stent.
It really did work wonders for me, and I am sincerely wishing the very same results for you!

Is a glass of red wine okay if I’m breastfeeding?
I mean, maybe like a few ounces a day? I'll check with my doctor first. Thanks for the heads up. 😘

Carol Palmer44 said:Is red wine okay while breastfeeding?...
Maybe once a day... I'll run it by my doctor first. Thanks for the tip... 😘

I wouldn't touch alcohol for anything while breastfeeding. Not happening. You can get your iron from beets... handle low blood pressure by just eating more salt and staying hydrated. Thanks to the baby, who’ll probably end up an alcoholic whenever they feel like it anyway...

In many cultures, enjoying a glass of wine—especially once you've finished your meal—is actually encouraged and viewed as quite beneficial rather than something to worry about.
As for the idea of a baby becoming intoxicated through breast milk, I don't think there is even any point in discussing it because that simply isn't a thing that can happen.