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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Uncontrollable shaking early in breastfeeding?

70 replies

JeanGabin · 12/11/2022 21:10

AIBU to think this may be more common than is recorded?
When I was breastfeeding in early days (I think 1-2 weeks post partum) I had a couple of episodes within 2-3 days lasting 1-2 hours where I felt perishingly cold and was shivering uncontrollably. I may have had a blocked duct, possibly even mastitis though it wasn't obvious, the first time I couldn't get warm despite toasty clothes, sitting pressed against the radiator etc.
Second time I got in a hot bath which helped me feel warmer at least!
I've always wondered if it was stress related but it felt like how people describe rigors. Has anyone else had similar but not got more unwell / needed antibiotics?

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Original poster

JeanGabin · 12/11/2022 21:11

I should add this was years ago! Just always wondered if it was something other people experience and know AIBU gets traffic!

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chillidoritto · 12/11/2022 21:12

I had this too! I have DD followed by 4 DS and had it every time!

AriettyHomily · 12/11/2022 21:13

Sounds like mastitis. I feinted with it, in a shopping centre. Wasn't the best day!

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 12/11/2022 21:14

No I didn't have this and haven't heard of others with it but that's not to say it's not common

Oysterbabe · 12/11/2022 21:15

Yes, I had this after both children. Absolutely freezing cold and shaking while wearing thick warm clothes and under a huge duvet.

Original poster

JeanGabin · 12/11/2022 21:19

@chillidoritto and @Oysterbabe that was quick!
I know fever / bacterial infection can cause this but it was only for a relatively short time and I would have thought infection would get worse rather than better. Lalecheleague had a section on milk stasis which would have made sense - blocked duct but not necessarily infection (I think the theory was that milk entered the blood stream causing an inflammatory response rather than infection) but have kept an eye out and not seen anything in the literature. Did you have other symptoms at the time?

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Original poster

JeanGabin · 12/11/2022 21:21

Arriety, that sounds scary! It might have been mastitis, but thought it wouldn't have got better spontaneously and so quickly if it was - I felt fine in between episodes

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sakura06 · 12/11/2022 21:23

Definitely sounds like mastitis! I had it with my second baby and I felt so ill. Shivering under two duvets! Horrible. Thankfully antibiotics cured it.

Oysterbabe · 12/11/2022 21:25

Mine was also for a short time and cleared up without treatment. I'd fall asleep shaking uncontrollably and wake up soaked in sweat.

CrookCrane · 12/11/2022 21:28

Yeah milk fever my older midwife called it. My Mum was staying at the time and she rung 111 who sent a bloody ambulance, I refused to go with them and felt a bit better anyway by then.

Original poster

JeanGabin · 12/11/2022 21:31

@oysterbabe it was horrible - completely uncontrollable shaking and totally impossible to get warm. I think my OH and parents thought it was a stress thing, but it didn't feel like that to me. Wonder if it's worth a bit of further research, a survey or something. Many health issues women have are dismissed / minimised after all. I'd certainly have felt reassured if I knew it was something other people had experienced and was usually short lived (or not and needed medical review)

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Original poster

JeanGabin · 12/11/2022 21:33

@Crookcrane - aha! Begs the question, why is it not properly documented so women know what is happening? Though I guess some of these diagnoses weren't necessarily verified / validated

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CrookCrane · 12/11/2022 21:39

Yeah it was a really weird thing at the time but I was far too tired to be agreeing to go to hospital. We’d only been home about 8 hrs after a readmission for my DD for feeding problems. The paramedics seemed baffled and said sepsis had to be ruled out.
I’ve read lots over the years about breastfeeding etc and DD wasn’t my first DC. I’d never read anything explaining what I experienced. I agree it would have been very reassuring to have known lots of women experience it.

DucklingDaisy · 12/11/2022 21:39

I had this with my second!

theyalsoserve · 12/11/2022 21:44

Interesting. I didn't get shivering but did notice I got very irritable suddenly when nursing -- not w baby but with everyone else (like PMS - controllable but marked). After all breastfeeding releases oxytocin which is also what is used to bring on labour when you're induced

Original poster

JeanGabin · 12/11/2022 21:45

Crook, yes, I wouldn't have wanted to go anywhere either! I was not leaving my spot by the radiator and my warm clothes (even if they didn't stop the shivering)! I wonder if this needs further research - several positive responses in a short period of time...

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birdglasspen2 · 12/11/2022 21:45

I had something similar twice, each time I felt something different in a breast, can't remember what but my sister BF as well and she told me she had it before mastitis. So I treated it as mastitis, had hot baths, hot flannel on breast, pumped milk in all directions, fed baby upside down (ok not quite!) and a period of feeling like I had a bad flu would come maybe for a few hours, thankfully I could rest and it went away, I never needed antibiotics. I thought by knowing the symptoms early enough I was able to stop it becoming really bad. I've BF three babies now, had it twice with the 1st, never with the 2nd who was the most perfect of feeders (sorry...3rd wasn't!) and had a blocked duct with 3rd which never resulted in the shakes/temperature. Again didn't need antibiotics was able to sort it.

Original poster

JeanGabin · 12/11/2022 21:46

@Ducklingdaisy! You too!

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Original poster

JeanGabin · 12/11/2022 21:48

And birdglass! I think I'm going to ask an O&G dr about this and see if the best way of getting data- sounds like it's not uncommon

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QuestionableMouse · 12/11/2022 21:50

Sounds a bit like shock!

When I crunched my shoulder I went from being fine to being absolutely freezing and shaking!

Original poster

JeanGabin · 12/11/2022 21:50

@Theyalsoserve - good thought, it could be oxytocin related

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Original poster

JeanGabin · 12/11/2022 21:52

@Questionablemouse - it does sound like shock! I'm a doctor and it makes me think septic shock, but it resolved and I was fine an hour or two later

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Greengagesnfennel · 12/11/2022 21:58

Yes I had this. Whole body uncontrollably shuddering with cold.
I still get it at night very occasionally when I am on a diet and losing weight and have done a big exercise thing that day. (Never happened before kids) I think it's related to my body converting fat to energy overnight. Which obviously goes into overdrive when breastfeeding.

user267451 · 12/11/2022 22:00

I had this a few times after giving birth to my second - not related to breastfeeding though I don't think. First time it happened was in ICU and doctors were all rushing around but midwife said it was pretty normal in some women.

destiEos · 12/11/2022 22:08

I had this twice at home in the early days after giving birth, it didn't last very long either time. I assumed it was due to the post c-section morphine-type meds? My DH was pretty frightened, I just couldn't get warm and my teeth were chattering, just went away in under half an hour both times.

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