Dizziness after childbirth, anyone else?

[strawberrycake]

My LO is 11 days old and over the course of the day dizziness has set in. It started off as feeling a little swimmy when standing and now I feel sick and faint. I'm scared to pick up baby as so unstable/ worried I could go over. Is this a normal stage? Will it pass or should I get it checked out?

Yep London.

I've taken pain killers which has helped. Still stomach pain and cold, but not actually shaking now. Still bleeding bright red.

Tbh it's affecting me emotionally after days of feeling like this, I feel wrecked and just end up staring at the baby. Feel like I can't settle him and not producing enough milk for him. I feel a bit dead looking at him, not a rush of love. Awful isn't it.

Hello, saw this and wanted help! Don't be fobbed off: I was v anaemic post birth, one m/w spotted it and sent me to hosp next day, transfusion, and I was transformed, couldn't be left with ds before as scared would keel over, just felt distant and weird, then fine. Ask them check your iron urgently.And could be infection, know it's really hard and you probably not feeling up to it, but try to be forceful and make them do their jobs and help you! Is not a favour from them

No, it's not awful. You're not well, and you're exhausted. How you're feeling at the moment has no bearing at all on your abilities as a mother. Anyone who doesn't feel like they're doing it all wrong at some stage in the first six weeks isn't paying attention.

New GP, I'd say, and a second opinion...

I was very anaemic post birth for a long time. Can you get some spatone? It won't affect breastmilk and will help your iron levels (unless this is because of something else). Get some spatone, take it 2x/day with orange juice or a kiwi or a pepper (something rich in vitamin C - OJ isn't the best, but it works). It's at boots and easy to find. In a box ime, and orange. It tastes like nothing (really, nothing) and you can just pour it into a bit of OJ and drink it.

that no one is helping you at the gp/hospital. Keep pushing for it if you don't feel right. Don't let them fob you off.

Oh, and how you are feeling about staring at the baby, no rush of love...etc is pretty normal when you're absolutely exhausted. It is so hard being up all the time breastfeeding a newborn as the breastfeeding takes a lot of energy out of you as well. You will produce enough milk for him.

Are you eating enough? Drinking enough water? You may also be dehydrated? Please drink loads of water.

I had a lot of dizziness about a week or so after giving birth and felt like I was getting weaker instead of stronger. It turned out I was allergic to the ibuprofen based painkillers the hospital had given me.

just wanted to add, apparently iron deficiency post birth often goes undiagnosed and women are told they have pnd; i can see why that happens cos of how I felt, and was v lucky that that particular m/w came round. It was like magic how felt better when levels restored, really hope you can get some help. O, and congrats, boys are indeed great!

Do you have any sore spots on your breasts? The first time I had mastitis, I started out feeling like this and didn't realize it was mastitis because everything was so sore already (cracks, bleeding...etc.).

Dehydration is also a real possibility, though. Please push them to take a closer look at everything.

I think it's starting to play with my head. I almost feel like I've made it up because I can't cope. I feel he doesn't deserve a mother who can't be a mother.

sweetheart. You are doing everything that you can for him. All good mothers worry that they are not good enough mothers, but they are - more than good enough.

You're exhausted. All of the emotions that you are feeling are quite normal. I had these same thoughts! The physical stuff needs to be checked.

Sweetheart - it will be ok. You feel like this because you're not well and you're struggling but you aren't doing anything wrong and your baby will be fine.
I had a post partum infection with dd1 and the day before the doctor came to see me was just awful. I couldn't settle her and I could barely sit up straight. Dh came home to find me a gibbering wreck beneath the duvet whilst she screamed in the other room.
We are going to get this sorted though.
When you spoke to the hospital before did you mention the previous antibiotics?
I think you need to:
Go straight to A&E if you feel even a bit worse than you do now. Say you are concerned about infection and they will have to take a good look at you.
Ring the community midwife team tomorrow - the GP practice should have a number for them.
If they won't come out to you ring the hospital and ask to speak to the supervisor of midwives. Ask her if she feels you've had adequate post natal care.
If that doesn't generate a response ask your GP for another appointment that day and take dh with you. I think you need your BP checking, a thorough physical examination, blood tests looking for markers of infection and for anaemia and possibly some vaginal swabs looking for the same. Ask every medical professional you meet tomorrow why they don't think that's neeeded and then decide if you're happy with the answer. If you think they're fobbing you off then tell them so.
You can do this and you will be ok. i'm so sorry you're having such a struggle but DON'T stop striving to be seen till you're sure you're ok. Get your dh on board - he needs to push for you as well.

swabs are for infection not anaemia. Blood tests are for both - sorry, crap typing as am cross on your behalf!

Strawberry You need checking out for anemia and infections asap.
My dsis had bright red bleeding for a few weeks after her DC1. everytime the MW asked her about the bleeding she told her 'bright red with clots'. The MW put 'blood slowing, turning brown'
She also had feverish symptoms and was hospitalised with some retained placenta.

You might not have her problems but you sound like you are being fobbed off.
Why aren't you still seeing a Midwife? You should be able to request a daily visit from 1 until 28 days.

I second Northernlurker Ring GP for a MW number then get 1 to come outt o you. If they won't or try and make you wait tell them you will be off to A&E. That might provoke them into seeing you as they won't want to look like they are fobbing you off.

Get seen as soon as you can. If after tests and examinations you are healthy then that is great. If something is wrong then you are saving your own health

Absolutely Debs - healthy but tired mum is a GOOD result.

Strawberry - I'm going to link to a charity's website that you may wish to look at with your dh. I don't want to scare you and this website may well have that effect but I think it's better for you to be scared and informed and thus empowered to take care of yourself in the face of professionals who aren't listening to you.
Tiredness is a possible explanantion for your symptoms, so is anaemia but infection is another and there is something about your posts that is scaring me so there we go.
this is a charity set up after the death of a young woman from post childbirth infection

Strawberry I would phone A&E/NHS 24 and talk through all your symptoms.

I had a fever/chills and shivering at a similar stage (not exact same as you I know, but like yours these are possible signs of infection) and was fobbed off by midwife - but I went to hospital anyway and I was whisked immediately into a high-dependency ward and stuffed full of antibiotics. I was in for several days and they wouldn't let me out until they were sure I was fine - that is because postnatal infections can be swift and deadly.

It is nothing at all to do with being a good mum - this is simply a health issue and not your fault.

How are you today, strawberrycake?

hope you ok

Hope all is ok Strawberry.

Oh shit, I'm sorry I'm not normally so thoughtless to let people worry. I just took to bed and stayed there I felt so rough. I think it's just stomach flu, temp coming down but still got the runs. Sorry again. Tbh I've given up on doctors etc. THe whole pregnancy has been a nightmare from start to finish with getting help. No midwife until 28 weeks, no midwife visit after hospital and now no hv.

Glad you are ok- (albeit with runs) SC. I think reading that link about the childbed fever freaked me out!

strawberrycake. Just be careful. glad you're feeling a little bit better with lower temp.

Great to hear from you. I echo starexpat - just take it easy and cautiously. If the temp goes up or you have any new symptoms please go to A&E.

Sorry if I freaked people out with the link - it's just a really important thing to be aware of. Especially when medical provision is crap lacking. i really didn't know whether to post it or not but then I thought it is better to be freaked and informed - you never to know when you'll need that awareness - either for you or for friends and family.

It's good someone cares northenlucker, especially at a time when you feel deserted. Thank You.

I was a tad freaked by link, especially as I had fever all through labouf and for 48 hours after which sent everyone at the hospital into panic mode. Thought I'd never escape the place and pushed to leave, was worried I'd been stupid by demanding to go home.

Not stupid at all - home is the best place for avoiding infection . The hospital failed you though if they didn't explain properly why they wanted to keep you in - and what you should look out for when you got home.