Link between BF and foot pain?

[TheBronzeHorseman]

Does anyone know if there is a link between breastfeeding and foot pain/plantar fasciitis?

I experienced foot pain throughout the two years that I breastfed my first son. It was particularly bad in the mornings - the first few steps out of bed were agony. At the time I didn't really connect it with BFing - I thought the pain was most likely down to walking barefoot on hardwood floors all the time, wearing flip-flops, etc. Didn't think breastfeeding was the cause of it. When I stopped feeding, the pain went away and I forgot all about it.

However, 3 years on, I am BFing DS2 (8 weeks) and can feel the old symptoms returning.

Has anyone else had this? Is it a lack of calcium or something?

I love love love breastfeeding and intend to do it for as long as possible but really could do without another two years of pain in my feet

Your thread has reminded me that when I was breastfeeding dd2 more often than I am now I used to have terrible pains in my feet. If I got up after sitting for a while I would hobble around for ages after.

It was one of those things that I meant to get checked and didn't and then it just stopped.

Never thought of the link to breastfeeding.

Still feeding dd2 (27 months) morning and bedtime and no pains now.

Sorry that wasn't much help but I do know what you are talking about.

Hope some one with medical knowledge can give us an answer.

Suiledonne, that's it exactly - the first few steps I take after sitting or lying down are really painful. Sorry you went through this too but glad to know I'm not the only one and of course provided it goes away eventually it's no big deal - just a pain in the foot! Curious to know if there's any way of avoiding it though - any supplements that can be taken or anything.

Interesting! I have very stiff feet the mornings. Not really painful but almost what I would consider to be symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis...

Generally passes after I've been up for about 20 minutes though, so have never given it much more thought. Was worse just after DS was born and I though it may be auto-immune/pregnancy related rather than bf related.

Is it possible it's a hangover from pg hormones that relax the ligaments etc.?

I think TimeWasting is right - I have hypermobility (joints move too much) as well as some other problems and it is much worse when pg or bf. My physio said it was due to the relaxin: apparently the high levels remain for about 6 months after birth, then drop unless you're bf IIRC.

It was really obvious with my first pg - my joints got much worse, but dramatically improved overnight when I had a miscarriage. I get very stiff in the mornings, although my wrists are the problem rather than my feet.

DS is 13 months and still bf, and the pain is much better than when he was, say, 3 or 4 months.

I had this too, I hobbled around like an old woman after I got up in the morning. The stairs were agony.

I thought I might have arthritis but then I read a thread on here saying what AngelDog has posted. I love mumsnet, so reassuring. I am hypermobile too.

I had this too and it was really quite painful. I think it started to go at around 8 months, both times. I did ask about it and was told it was due to pregnancy hormones.

When I saw the musculo-skeletal team at the hospital for my hypermobility, one of their first questions was whether it might have been rheumatoid arthritis, which fits with what MBJ and HC said.

TimeWasting, I'm sure you're right about the pg hormones. Actually it's not just my feet, my knees feel "different" and my hands hurt if I clench my fists.

Yes, LeninGrad, hardwood floors. Will definitely invest in some Crocs.

Thank you ladies, glad to know I'm not the only one. I remember mentioning the foot pain to our paediatrician when I was BFing DS1 but she was a bit and didn't seem to think there was any link between the two.