sore feet - related to BFing???

[curlyLJ]

For the last 2 months or so I have had really sore feet, especially when I first get up in the morning when they feel really stiff and I have to limp/hobble to the bathroom...

Someone mentioned that this might be related to BFing which I have been doing for 8 months (exclusively until 6m, now I mix feed so only bedtime and night feeds)

ANyone else experienced this??

[ASecretLemonadeDrinker]

I do. Did you get it in pregnancy? I think it may be something to do with the same thing that causes SPD, relaxes your feet ligaments or something too OR it's because you aren't rolling/moving around as much at night because of BFing Co-sleeping. I may be talking bollocks though

[Fuchzia]

Same for me, was hobbling about 1st thing in the morning and couldn't get down the stairs holding DS. Only feeding morning and evening now so it is a but better but still twinges occasionally.

[Lynli]

I Suffer this all of the time, I have hypermobility.

I think ASecretLemonade Drinker is right.

[MrsFlittersnoop]

Oh dear - sounds like you might have Plantar Fasciitis - an inflamation of the connective tissue in your feet. The giveaway is the early-morning discomfort .

Nothing to do with breastfeeding, but it can be pregnancy related because it's caused by extra pressure on the tendons and ligaments in your feet and we gain weight when PG (and most of us take a while to lose it afterwards!)

I'd go and see your GP for some advice. Gel insoles in your shoes can help.

I am suffering from this at the moment - not PG related - I'm just overweight! .

[TheUnmentioned]

ive got this! dd is 7 weeks but only bf morning and night.

[curlyLJ]

Thanks for all the replies. Seems I am not the only one!

MrsFlitter I know it's not Plantar Fasciitis as that affects the underside of the foot and the pain I am getting is on top. It's like all the little bones that run down the length of the foot are aching. My ankles click a lot too...

The connection to SPD/ligament changes seems to make a lot of sense.

Is there anything I can do to help it? or will it just subside as I BF less?

[AngelDog]

Is it to do with the levels of relaxin in the body which are higher during pregancy and for about 6 months afterwards - not sure if bf contributes to higher levels of relaxin from then onwards?

A quick google found this article which suggested that bf could contribute to these problems lasting longer, but I've no idea whether or not it's from a reliable source.

I have hypermobility too - it's worse during pregnancy and my physio said the bf hormones would affect it in the same way. My worst problems are my wrists - they were pretty bad in my first pregnancy but the day I had a m/c they drastically improved so there's definitely some hormonal link.

My wrists are always stiff and painful in the mornings.

I know for me (on physio's advice) that keeping the joints warm makes a huge difference, as does applying heat (shower, bath or heated gel pack) when I wake up.

[AngelDog]

Sometimes the pain isn't where the problem is - lots of my wrist problems are actually to do with my back, and the side of my body I've been lying on at night is the wrist which hurts most when I wake.

[curlyLJ]

thanks Angeldog

You seem to have a mind full of useful information (not only sleep regressions ) you really should write that book!

[HelenLG]

I get this, I had it before I was pregnant and then a lot in pregnancy, but I noticed it gets worse in the summer which I put down to wearing flip flops rather than shoes.

[AngelDog]

You can tell I don't get out much!