hormones and breastfeeding

[thegoldenlemon]

Issue no 2..Whilst feeding is going well in that it doesn't hurt and my baby is gaining weight and I like the snuggliness... It is making me have all manner of odd symptoms. Thought I'd post here to see if I'm right in attaching them to feeding and just get a bit of moral support/suggestions as it's making me weigh up if to carry on but I don't want to throw in the towel yet.

So, I feel very very tired (but of course, but beyond what I'd expect), have hot and cold sweats around feeding time and am sometimes actually sick when I get the let down reflex and feel nauseous a lot of the time. I'm still off a lot of my pregnancy aversions and have that heightened sense of smell. I consequently have very little appetite. I have no libido and a lot of dryness (wondering if it's healed over actually!) and worst of all, I feel very down and tearful.

This is an ivf pregnancy and it feels like when I was downregulating to shut off my hormones. I did have a very traumatic pregnancy and was in hospital for most of my last trimester so the trauma of all that might be tied in.

Are these normal breastfeeding things?!

No, they are not normal breastfeeding things....but Google D-MER and see if any of the symptoms of nausea and sickness apply to you.

Tiredness could be anaemia, and feeling down and tearful need checking out. Have you spoken to your HV?

I hope you get good help soon. You should not be suffering like this!

Thanks Tiktok. I don't think I get the low mood feelings with let down but definitely the nausea. Reading suggests it should have gone by now. I actually tick all the pnd boxes hadn't thought of anemia and I have had that in the past, will get on the spatone. Thanks for replying.

I had hot and cold sweats for a good six months after DD was born and was told that was pretty usual by my GP. I used to be sat in the car with the air con on full blast in November one minute, and then freezing and with my coat and scarf on the next. It passed by the time DD was about six months. I also had the libido thing ie had none at all until she was weaned at six months. I'm still bfing once a day at 19 months now and tbh my libido still isn't what it was (although I am pregnant again now so that's probably not helping either). Again, been told that's perfectly usual. Haven't had your other symptoms though so I would go and discuss with your doctor.

I don't think nausea/vomiting at let-down is that unusual, I had it, so did my sister and KellyMom has some articles on it. It's thought to be related to the release of oxytocin which also has effects on the digestive system. For me the nausea and the hot and cold sweats at let-down faded over time.

Libido and dryness also sound very normal, the GP at my 6 week check talked about lube (unprompted) ! It's a bit of a mantra re. breastfeeding but it defiantly gets easier, promise.