Can breastfeeding wash you out?

[Bubsmama]

Hi mamas,

I have a nearly 4 week old. She is being breast and formula fed and doing really well on both.
my milk supply isn’t great so I’m expressing to encourage it.

I constantly feel like im coming down with the flu. I’m feeling so washed out. I’ve also had headaches (I know bf dehydrates you) and I can’t drink enough to get rid of my headache.
im absolutely exhausted. This is not because of lack of sleep as I’ve been sleep 7-8 hrs per night as my husband does the night feeds (until he goes back to work next week)
I feel really woozy and light headed.
kinda out of it when you’re fighting an illness.

i did have an internal infection after my c section which I thought cleared up after a course of antibiotics.

Any insight about BF would massively help. Thanks

Has your blood pressure been checked? I felt like that for about the first 6 weeks but it was my blood pressure struggling to regulate not the breastfeeding.

Thank you for the reply. I don’t think I have but am seeing the midwife this week and will ask to have it checked

Have you been prescribed iron? I was prescribed iron for 3 months after giving birth because pregnancy and birth do deplete iron levels.

I really recommend spatone natural iron supplement for this, 2 per day for BF mamas with OJ (or the one with juice in it).

As a side note, I hate to say this but if you are hoping to increase your output you’d do it more efficiently by feeding/expressing overnight as the prolactin (which controls supply) is higher then!

Thanks for this advice.

unfortunately I take meds that knock me out at night 😭

Blocked ducts and mastitis can make you feel like that.