Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Flip

Original poster

Weird dizzy/fainting spells after bf'ing

20 replies

castlesintheair · 27/02/2007 14:03

I had a c-section & my gp said it was to do with the epidural drugs they gave me and they would only stop when I stop breast feeding. Is this true? I have cut back to only feeding DD2 at morning & night now and it hasn't really made much difference. This morning I fainted at the wheel of my car Thankfully it was post rush hour and I managed to pull over straightaway but I had my 2 girls in the car with me. What if something terrible had happened? DD2 is 13 weeks old now. She is my 3rd DC & I didn't have any problems with the other 2 plus I drink lots of water! I fainted a couple of times during pg (low bp) and had everything else checked and it was okay. I'm so worried. Does anyone have any advice?

OP posts:

Jillyadoodledoo · 27/02/2007 14:26

Sorry - I have no experience of this - poor you though.
Oh - and bump

luciemule · 27/02/2007 14:27

I would definitely go stright back to the GP. I had epidurals with both DCs and a section for the first too and never experioenced any dizzy/fainting spells. I BF my DD 'til she was 18 months and DS 'til he was 21 months so bit strange what GP said, unless it was specifically related to your low BP. But if you're fainting whilst driving something is certainly wrong. GP needs to explain it properly to you. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

JodieG1 · 27/02/2007 14:29

See your gp, could be low iron, low bp, or something else. Hope you feel better

MrsBadger · 27/02/2007 14:30

This doesn't sound good.

I can't think of any medical reason why it should be due to the epidural drugs or linked to bfing - what else did the GP say?

Have you been in touch with your mw and/or obstetric consultant about this, as if the GP doesn't have anything helpful to say I'd think about getting a second opinion.

If it is low blood pressure it must be damn low for you to faint while sitting in a car - normal culprits are standing up suddenly etc.

Are you eating properly? It's not low blood sugar is it?

twinklingstar · 27/02/2007 14:38

This doesn't make any sense to me at all - breastfeeding doesn't make mothers faint - please go back to your doctor and get checked out. Thank goodness noone was hurt, but you faced a real scare in the car - and what if it happened that you fainted in the bathroom with the kids in the bath, etc? You have valid concerns and need to have some proper answers asap. Might you be diabetic? (You mention drinking lots of water, is that choice or excessive thirst?) It is simple to do urine and blood tests and you need to find out what is going on.

Thinking of you, Castlesintheair - Please keep us posted as to what happens.

Original poster

castlesintheair · 27/02/2007 14:41

Thanks for the responses.

MrsB, I was just thinking about ringing the hospital where I had DD to see if they have any advice. My GP is being quite unhelpful - comments like "well, if you will breast feed" etc. My alarm bells are ringing and I am starting to wonder if it's diabetes or epilepsy. Am I going mad thinking all this?

OP posts:

Original poster

castlesintheair · 27/02/2007 14:43

Thanks twinkling star, x-posts. I drink water because I think it might help with the fainting not because I'm thirsty. I had lots of test during pg as I blacked out (when DCs were at home alone with me) and ended up in hopsital. Everything seemed okay then but I think I have to go back. Thanks everyone

OP posts:

twinklingstar · 27/02/2007 14:46

castlesintheair - you are not going mad, but you certainly aren't well and I feel so and at your GP. If he is so misinformed to make comments like that about breastfeeding then how can he be trusted to give you accurate advice on your health? Try to find someone else and don't pull any punches when you tell them just how close a call you had earlier today.

Take care.

Jillyadoodledoo · 27/02/2007 14:56

Your GP sounds like an absolute dick. Sorry, but he does. How much water are you drinking? Too much can be as bad as too little (Though it would have to be alot I think)

See a different doctor or consultant.

Gemmitygem · 27/02/2007 14:57

castlesintheair, I would definitely ask to change GPs, because yours really sounds stupid and unprofessional, I can't believe he said that! You've every right to change GP...

Sounds stupid, but are you eating enough yourself? (not easy with a baby).. I know I feel very faint unless I really eat well and also snack between meals (also bf)...

best of luck, and please ditch that GP!

Jillyadoodledoo · 01/03/2007 09:23

Just wondering how things are going? How are you feeling and have you managed to see a different Doc?

Twiglett · 01/03/2007 09:25

I'd even consider reporting him for malpractice .. there is patently no connection with BF .. it is something else and if he hasn't run any tests then he should be shot

hope you get to the bottom of it

and hope you get a decent doctor too

what an arse on your behalf

yellowrose · 01/03/2007 09:38

castle in the air - bf hormones can make you feel relaxed and laid back - they shouldn't make you faint. That is biologically illogical.

I am not a doctor, but GP's often blame bf for something or rather when in fact it is something else.

Have you had your blood pressure/sugar/iron levels checked properly ? It may be low blood pressure, this always made my mum faint when she had it.

Hope you feel better soon

yellowrose · 01/03/2007 09:40

Also are you eating a well balanced diet ?
I know when I didn't eat much when ds was that young I felt light headed and exhausted. You need to eat well for good energy levels.

theUrbanDryad · 01/03/2007 13:50

i have had similar experiences in the past few days. no practical advice - just wanted to say you're not alone! please share any advice you get from health professionals. i wondered if it could be something to do with going back on the pill?

Jillyadoodledoo · 01/03/2007 15:08

I hope castlesintheair won't mind me copying and pasting this - but she put this on her p/n thread (I went looking coz I was kindof worried when there was no reply"

"I went to see another GP at the practice y'day, a female who has just returned from maternity leave. She said my "episodes" are absolutely, no way, nothing to do with bf'ing so I'm going to have an overhaul though it's very unlikely to be anything sinister as I was thoroughly checked when I blacked out during my pg. She thinks it's stress. This woman was amazing! She thinks there might be a trigger that sets me off as I'm so anxious about it happening IYKWIM. Not sure what I can do about that but I'm also off to see my homeopath for a chat! And, I'm going to keep bf'ing. That's the best bit surely. "

yellowrose · 01/03/2007 18:53

Wow, a GP with a brain ?

Original poster

castlesintheair · 02/03/2007 14:02

Sorry not had much MN time and only just saw this. Thanks Jilly for posting my bit from the PN thread! It's amazing isn't it - I really thought I was starting to go mad and that I would have to give up bf'ing. Just speaking to the other doctor (who just happens to be a mother ) made me feel so much better. I have had bp tested (fine), and bloods for iron etc. No news so far. I still feel quite feeble a lot of the time but I think the fact that I'm not worrying about having to give up bf'ing is helping and also baffling over why bf'ing was allegedly causing me to feel this way IYKWIM.
Sorry you are going through a similar thing UrbanDryad take it easy and don't end up fainting like me.
Thank you all so much for you support, it really helps and I'll let you know if there's any further developments.

OP posts:

Original poster

castlesintheair · 02/03/2007 14:08

Oh and btw, I told the new doctor some of my concerns about my usual GP and she just went "mmm" and then later on she told me he is going on a looooooong holiday from the practice ... Ooh, I say !!

OP posts:

yellowrose · 02/03/2007 15:30

That's good news Castle. Hope all the blood tests come back ok too.

Your new GP sounds much better

Flip