to think that there should be more research into our bodies postpartum?

[islandbaby]

5 months after giving birth and I seem to have developed a severe milk allergy, despite never having had any allergies at all in my life. My body is covered in head-to-toe hives if I don't take four different kinds of antihistamine each day. As I have just made the link between milk and this reaction (stopped eating dairy for a few days, then ate some and my lips and eyes swelled right up) I am finding it hard to avoid accidentally ingesting traces of milk (from preparing my son's formula, to not realising that almost all crisps have milk powder in).

On the internet there are hundreds of women giving anecdotal evidence about developing allergies, asthma or hives after giving birth. For some it goes away quickly, for others it never goes away. The nurse I saw today told me that she developed a life-threatening milk allergy straight after having her son 18 years ago, which she still has today.

There are women writing blogs about postpartum allergies, postpartum hives.

Yet there's not one scrap of research into it. Nothing investigating why this should happen to some women. My doctor had nothing to add on the matter, just told me to keep taking antihistamines and try and eliminate if from my diet. I'm pretty sure if mens' ball sacks swelled up to the size of melons and broke out in hives after depositing a load then there'd be money available to investigate it.

Red. Itchy. Angry. Depressed at the thought of never eating another brie and bacon sandwich.

hayfever - never before children
headaches - never got them now maybe once a month
sexual response has changed (not for better or worse, just different) which is a bit peculiar, especially as I had two sections

my mental health is shot to pieces as well, before children I was strong, sane and confident, now I am a bag of nerves

So BOO to that really,

bloody children

I developed thyroidtitis after DS2 (the thyroid goes on strike for about 18mths after having a baby and then self corrects) - one of the hallmarks of it is depression. I have often thought all women who are diagnosed with PND should have a blood test to rule out thyroidtitis as it is suprisingly commonish.

I never used to have senstive sking before having DCs, now I have to be very careful abotut what products I use.

belovedcunt I have the same. After I had DD2 I have been suffering with joint pain in the majority of my joints. DD2 is 2yo next month. My gp has given me some acupuncture on my right ankle and it has worked very well, I am booked in for more on the rest of my joints. I am also being investigated for fibromyalgia.

Ohgoobthen, I would push for a test. My mum was underactive and her joints swelled up and they were suspecting arthritis. Hair falling out is another symptom.

Yes, I've had hayfever this year!

What also pisses me off are all the things you get when you are pg, but can't take anything because no-one tests things for pg women.

I had so many issues, joint pain, spd, insomnia, nausea, stress and anxiety. But all these things were just dismissed as things that happen when you are pg so put up with it

Miles- are to do with the pregnancy hormones. I had melanoma when pg with dd2, they thought being pg had kick started it

I developed a penicillin allergy when pg with dd1. As did my mum & Grandma.

I still have SPD 8 months on, am up to 15 mins walk without pain and that's where I was in December

My mum developed an underactive thyroid after having my brother her second child.

I used to get a lot of colds and bugs then I had my first child and I didn't seem to have a cold for about 3 years and my hayfever didn't bother me until she was 5. I now get colds and some years my hayfever is quite bad but nothing like it all used to be.

I developed Overactive thyroid after DC3 was born, sadly it took nearly 2 years to be diagnosed, despite seeing my GP several times. I was finally diagnosed after going into Thyrotoxicosis, my heart was racing (200 beats per minute before they got it under control) and had lost 4 stone in 3 months. My GP informed me that being exhausted all the time and losing weight was 'inevitable' as a lone parent of 3 under 5's .

I am so angry that I suffered nearly 2 years of crippling anxiety (for which I was referred to a mental health midwife), exhaustion that prevented me enjoying what should have been a delightful time in DC3's life and that I have permanent damage to a valve in my heart, which will eventually have to be operated on. This could have been easily prevented by one of the 7 health professionals I saw taking a small blood sample, rather than fobbing me off as a neurotic pregnant woman/new mum. A thyroid function test is usually part of full blood count and my consultant is investigating why this wasn't completed in my case.

I think that a full health 'MOT' should be completed at the 6 week check, including a full blood screen. A quick chat and a feel of my tummy clearly wasn't enough in my case, and in many others' too I imagine.

I can't believe in this day and age we are suffering with this stuff. Can we start a campaign to get some research into post partum problems? (acne sufferer aged 37).

I am so tired since having DS who is now two. I tire more easily and every bug that hits our family hits me the worse.

I am currently trying to eat soup while curled up on sofa with bad tonsillitis I can hardly swallow!

It's all so glamorous isn't it?!

I've recently been diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease which is an auto-immune disease where your body attacks your thyroid. Got 2 kids who are 2 and 4, not sure if it is related..

I think Hashimoto's is what I have, though I've never actually been told, just handed a prescription and told I'll then be normal. Thyroid disorders are covered in the work place under the Disability Discrimination Act. Dr didn't tell me that either.

Ha, I didn't even get a tummy feel at my pn check. I got asked if I felt ok, and that was that. None of the issues I have have been adequately addressed, despite numerous visits. Started to feel like a bother, so am just 'keeping' them til they're better. Or til dh gets annoyed enough on my behalf to nag me to go again. Currently struggling with a bleeding arse, no pelvic floor despite an emcs birth, painful sex ... My undercarriage is a disaster!

I would love to know where to begin with highlighting this under-researched area, to try to get some attention given to it. If there's was a better understanding of the changes that our bodies go through with being pregnant and giving birth, then there would be the potential for stopping some of these problems from developing.

Reading some of these responses, I guess I am relatively lucky to have only (so far) developed a milk allergy, which I can control with a bit of dedication, even though it does hugely affect the pleasure I take from scoffing cheese and chocolate, cakes and biscuits.

I hope some of you others who have been suffering postpartum receive the medical help you deserve.

I will continue to press this issue with my doctor and an allergy specialist.

After two of my three pregnancies I had some kind of virus type thing at around 9 months post partum. Fevers, headaches, dizziness and loss of weight. Always wondered if it was actually some kind of process following birth.

Ooh yes, me too!

Had asthma since a child - peaked as a teen (hormonal???) then basically didn't give me much grief at all throughout my 20s (even though I smoked til I was 25, stupid me).

Had DD1 at 30 and my asthma went absolutely BONKERS straight after she was born and I've been on the steroid preventer inhaler ever since, even though I never needed it when I as a smoker who lived in damp rented places! Had DD2 at 31 and exactly the same, after she was born asthma went even more mental again.

Have a friend who has suddenly got really bad psoriasis after pregnancy.

It is known that arthritis improves during pregnancy and comes back after the baby arrives. Your body seems to shut down some parts of the immune system (I guess to prevent an immune response to the baby - we all carry a few cells that came from our children).

I wonder if a lot of the immune related changes, asthma, allergies etc are connected to the shift back to "normality" not quite working as it should?

Since having my second DC if I bump myself even lightly it is very painful and I bruise very easily. The doctor thought I was a bit mad when I explained it but they sent me for tests but everything has come back normal. I am convinced there is something wrong and and must be deficient in something but can't work out what it is (not iron which was my first thought!). It definitely started after having DD!

I developed visual disturbances (migraine light shows without the headache after thank goodness) with associated nausea after DD1 that went mental while pregnant with DD2 and has not stopped yet (3 years on)

Slightly tangental but here's a bit about the immune system going wonky and its effect on pregnancy in some women.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-464381/My-body-tried-kill-baby.html

V interesting thread

I had shingles (face and head) 10 days after my DD was born. The doctors, who were extremely thorough and sympathetic, definitely thought it was related to the pregnancy and a 'difficult' birth.

My 6 week check was an absolute joke, I had actually thought they'd have a look but just asked if I was ok. You would have thought with the shingles and all they'd be a bit more alert to testing me for various things.

Now pregnant again, I will definitely be more aware of post-pregnancy symptoms based on the posts above.

My immune system is shot after 3 DC, I catch everything and pretty much have a permenant cold, having developed SPD with my 3rd, nearly 9mths on I am still struggling to walk and try and regain even a small amount of my previous physical fitness.

What I found so ridiculous was that post birth I was unable to move my legs at all, the only "support" I was offered on the postnatal ward was to cathetrise me so that I didn't end up weting myself, I discharged myself as I did not feel that this was a suitable alternative to an adequate level of support.

My husband fortunately received paternity leave, then used up all his holiday and was then given some compassionate leave so that he could care for me.

The support offered was a weekly physio sessions which I had to try and get myself to and from (couldnt walk let alone drive) once he was back at work, the fact that I also had to take a newborn baby was of no consequence, I had to try and arrange childcare for each appt. there was no consideration given to the fact that I had just given birth at all.