Can't physically make myself eat 11 days after birth

[Toli]

Hi,

I'm taking two sets of really strong antibiotics for an infection but I've physically not been able to force myself to eat for three days and (tmi alert) I've not been able to have a bowel movement for about 5 days. I feel sick and food is making me gag. Gave birth 11 days ago. I don't know if it's the side affects of the antibiotics but I'm breastfeeding and worried that there's not enough substance to my milk because I'm only taking in water/juice. Should I talk to someone about it (if so, who?) or is it just the antibiotics and it'll pass? Any advice appreciated, thank you x

Definitely tell your health visitor. Is she visiting you at home? Call your GP and ask for a call back & describe just what you have here.

Could you manage Complan?

Haven't had hv yet because I'm not being discharged from mw until tomorrow, I have a final visit with them and will then be discharged. Sorry @Soola what is that?

The midwives shouldn't discharge you if you're not well! Make sure you tell them about the lack of eating and bowel movements.

The worst part of it is, I don't want to eat either I'm genuinely not hungry and the thought/attempt of eating anything makes me feel sick but I've lost half a stone since birth (I've barely been able to walk so it must be from breastfeeding/ lack of food) but I'm overweight (12st 7lb) and seeing the scale go down makes me want to eat even less than I already do

def ask for some help.
glycerine suppositories are good for constipation
.

Poor you, no wonder you can’t eat. You are doing amazing breastfeeding under the circumstances. Ask your midwife to ring the GP & arrange a prescription for a stool softener type laxative. Also, antibiotics can make you lose your appetite as can infection. Keeping hydrated is good. Can you manage a smoothie or some cereal? Or even small tub of ice cream?

I was the same for a while after birth & lost a lot of weight. I know what you mean, just the thought of putting food in your mouth makes you nauseous! It suddenly just disappeared one morning and I could eat normally again but I only breastfed for 1 week before mixed feeding so I just held out. I think as you are exclusively breastfeeding you need to speak to HV. I’m not a doctor but I just assumed it was my hormones going haywire after giving birth!

I literally can't eat anything, it makes me want to gag and be sick. Have managed to drink which is helping. Just don't want to bother the midwife if it's normal as I've bothered them loads when I was pregnant.

I don’t think it’s normal to this extreme OP. I know it might be pleasing to see the scales go down but talk to your midwife - you want to make sure you’re doing the best you can when bf for baby and I don’t think water and juice will be enough if this keeps up. Please talk to the midwife because it gets any worse

I was on iron tablets after birth and so constipated eating made me feel sick. I forced down some lactulose one night to clear out and it did help a bit

@Aberforthsgoat that's what I'm worried about. I'm seeing one tomorrow to be discharged so I'll mention it then? Just want to go to the toilet tbh but I'm worried about the nutrients in the milk.

Do you think you could drink a meal replacement shake? Something like ensure maybe that might help h

Get some nutrients... I meant to finish lol

Your milk is perfect, because your body will look after your baby first, but you do need to speak to your midwife about the nausea and constipation. You could phone them, that is what they're there for.

I'd phone your midwife now and explain how unwell you are.

Yes, definitely speak to them. It is not normal to be constipated for 5 days and they need to know.

It isn’t ‘normal’.

Have a chat with your midwife . Congratulations on your new baby, OP. Hope you feel much better soon.

I don’t think it’s surprising you can’t poo if you haven’t eaten anything- there won’t be anything to come out, which isn’t the same as constipation I don’t think?

This seems an unusual reaction to anti biotics. I was told not to worry about eating after a GA, then to try soup, yogurt etc after a few says and not worry about solids. But it sounds as though you won’t ingest anything?

Congratulations on your baby op.

I was like this. I was lighter four weeks after giving birth than pre pregnancy. With me it was my mental health but I felt physically sick at the thought of food.

I know it's not the ideal solution but I just had to eat tiny bits of whatever I could, however bad for me. In this house it was approaching Christmas and I think all I ate for one week was mince pies. One a day. Flapjack was another thing. Anything to just get something inside me. Cereal. It was a good couple of months before I could eat a normal meal and my taste buds are all to pot still. I used to love macaroni cheese, any cheese and now can barely stomach it, so strange.

You need to talk to your midwife when they do your discharge appointment. You shouldn't be discharged when you are unable to eat or have a bowel movement.

I'm a midwife, it's not bothering us to tell us these things, honestly, your midwife needs to know you're ok before discharging you. You can stay under midwifery care for a good while yet. I'd want to get you in front of a Dr to review whatever it is you're on the antibiotics for, and to see if there's anything else going on

Speak to your GP or your MW.

Are you on Metronidazole and/or Cefalexin? I was on both after I had DC4 and the combination absolutely killed my appetite and they made me unable to taste anything so food had no flavour so the thought of putting food in my mouth disgusted me.

I know it's not what you want to do but I had to make myself eat, small amounts of fairly bland foods were best like toast, peanut butter sandwiches, yoghurts, rice cakes, apple slices, raisins. I drank milk for the calories and fruit juice for the vitamins. Once I came off the antibiotics (two weeks in total) it took around a week and then my appetite came back to normal, I remember waking up when DD was around a month old and being thrilled that I was actually hungry for the first time in ages.

I really really struggled with eating for weeks after birth. No appetite and food making me feel really off. Stay hydrated, definitely tell your HV and i hope you feel better soon. And congratulations!

"Just don't want to bother the midwife "

You must bother your midwife. You are clearly unwell. One of the reasons you are constipated might be because you are breastfeeding and probably aren't drinking enough fluid. This is not normal, and you do need to seek medical advice.

I thought I had to be discharged by two weeks pp?