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Original poster

My feet hurt, my knees ache ... is it because I am bfing or am I just knackered now I have had a baby?

33 replies

bumbleweed · 02/09/2006 11:25

Its 10 months now since I gave birth, and the achey feet and knees on a morning have not gone away.

Is it because I am breastfeeding and therefore depleted in nutrients? Or because I am just a knackered old bag of bones now that I have had a baby?

My GP also told me that due to bfing, perineal scar takes longer to heal

Does anyone know anything about any of this or can point me to any links?

OP posts:
tribpot · 02/09/2006 11:28

bumbleweed - from my experience I'd say knackered old bag of bones. I'm pretty sure I was still having the achey knees at that stage, and I didn't bf. It will get better though!

I can't think why bf would make any difference to the perineal scar, it sounds like your GP is talking nonsense to me, but I will let the experts advise on that!

motherinferior · 02/09/2006 11:31

In Kate Figes' book Life After Birth she suggests that if you're still feeling crappy six months after birth it's worth going to the doctor - she points out that far too many women put up with aches and pains because they feel they should accept them. You poor love. I do hope you feel better soon.

Frizbe · 02/09/2006 11:34

Agree back to the doc, they should be checking iron levels etc to make sure your ok!

bogwobbit · 02/09/2006 11:36

I had aching knees and hip bones for a long time after having dd3, probably about 18 months although it did get better gradually. I spoke to my sil, who is a doctor who told me that it was hormonal and would go eventually.
However, I don't see any harm at all in getting it checked out if only to make sure there's no other underlying cause or in case there's something that can be done to help it.

bogwobbit · 02/09/2006 11:37

Meant to say that I was still breastfeeding then and that's why sil thought it was related to hormones.

Pixiefish · 02/09/2006 11:39

I still had it for ages after dd was born. Doc said it's pregnancy hormones that have made all the joints softer

Original poster
bumbleweed · 02/09/2006 11:40

ok I didnt think of iron levels

I keep thinking its arthritis or something..... blooming heck at age 33

I feel like a hypochondriac everytime I go to the doctors, but ....

OP posts:
Original poster
bumbleweed · 02/09/2006 11:42

but feel better knowing others have had it too so it must be something hormonal (I'm thinking bf prolongs the hormone thing a bit probably)

OP posts:
mears · 02/09/2006 11:43

bumbleweed - the symptoms you describe have absolutely nothing to do with breastfeeding. Your perineal scar should be totally healed by now and is also unaffected by breastfeeding.

I would ask for a referral back to the obstetrician if you are having problems with your perineum.
I would also ask for a blood test to exclude any arthritic conditions that might be present. Ask him to forget the fact that you are breastfeeding and concentrate on your symptoms.

motherinferior · 02/09/2006 11:44

Breastfeeding means you keep hormones like relaxin in your system longer (this is why it's likely that it takes longer to shake off SPD). But I do, seriously, think we shouldn't just accept that we're going to feel crap after having babies and getting older. Speaking as a 43 year old who needs to hang onto any sprig of spriteliness that she possibly can....

motherinferior · 02/09/2006 11:44

Mears, I love you

mears · 02/09/2006 11:46

bumbleweed - my DH has just been diagnosed with arthritis which started as painful feet and knees. There are other conditions that can cause similar symptoms too. Don't want to alarm you but they should be excluded by proper testing. They should not just be put down to breastfeeding

mears · 02/09/2006 11:49

BTW - I had myself convinced that I had arthritis some time ago - I even posted a thread about it. Once I had been tested and it was ruled out, I actually felt much better. Pain went.

mears · 02/09/2006 11:49

Love you too MI

Original poster
bumbleweed · 02/09/2006 13:55

thanks mears and MI and everyone who responded

okay you have convinced me to go to GP (it was one of my friends who had the feet and knees thing whose GP said it was because of bf)

I have been to gynaecologist about my perineum and she said all okay other than quite a bit of scar tissue but bf causes reduced lubrication down there?

I suppose I have got myself into a frame of mind where I have felt physically and emotionally so rubbish for 10 long months now that I just feel like having a baby has totally wrecked my body and I am confused at what is normal what isnt, as some things have taken such a long time to get back to normal

OP posts:
Original poster
bumbleweed · 02/09/2006 13:56

MI - what does SPD stand for - sorry if being dumb?

OP posts:
motherinferior · 02/09/2006 14:22

Symphisis pubis dysfunction, where the bones in your pelvis go wobbly and painful in pregnancy. Don't worry about it, doesn't sound like you had it (lucky you).

I do remember feeling at around 10 months that surely I ought to be bounding around in my jeans and wondering why I was so physically abnormal. It really does get better.

Original poster
bumbleweed · 02/09/2006 14:25

thanks MI for your support

No thankfully I didnt have SPD.

OP posts:
Mum2FunkyDude · 02/09/2006 14:27

SPD is caused by the same hormones that makes the other ligaments in your body soften. It is called relaxin and stays in your body until you stop breastfeeding.

I had SPD and painful feet up until now (9 months) and the physiotherapist concluded it will go away as soon as I stop BF. I have now stopped for 4 weeks, so will keep an eye on the situation. The SPD is already not noticeable everyday. The feet are only sore when I get up in the morning.

motherinferior · 02/09/2006 14:29

I have to say physios do not, in my experience, tend to know much about SPD. In fact most people don't. Do hope yours goes, though.

Mum2FunkyDude · 02/09/2006 14:30

MI that was my conclusion too and I decided to actively manage mine, as there was no amount of manipulation that can cure SPD!

sleepysooz · 02/09/2006 14:37

I had aching joints for a good year after giving birth to twins, ended up at physio for arms, (not surprisingly)

But did totally recover after the twins were about 18 months old, I put it down to too much strain lifting and carrying continually, obviously once they reached 18 months I wasn't man-handling them so much (expression) they were more capable of walking and helping to get themselves dressed (or not, hee hee)

Good luck

Original poster
bumbleweed · 02/09/2006 19:52

sleepysooz I take my hat off to anyone with twins, sorry if thats a cliche but I often think it

this morning when I got out of bed at ridiculous o'clock to get a crying dd out of her cot and change nappy, feed etc, and whimpered for dh to help me as feet ached like mad and felt (wimpishly) I hardly had the strength in my arms to lift her out of the cot, I did think I'm blooming lucky I have dh and only one dd

OP posts:
2now4 · 02/09/2006 20:48

i to have had really painful knee joints since giving birh to twins - i put it down to putting more stress on my knee joints when standing and lifting anything to protect my c section scar.

morningpaper · 02/09/2006 20:54

I have two and each time has taken a massive toll on my body. I have been to the GP and see a Physio regularly. They have said that my pains are due to SPD continuing, spinal damage when I gave birth, constant carrying of a heavy baby, and a natural tendency to be overly-flexible (I can still put my hands flat on the floor despite having a slipped disk - although not advisable...) so my joints are looser than they should be - and my overall muscle tone is shite because I never get time to exercise, so there isn't the support for my body that there used to be.

All of this makes sense to me. It is not very consoling but I do think that having a professional opinion helps to improve things, by teaching you little things that can change the way your body works, such as picking up baby properly, and simple stretching exercises. I would ask your GP and see what s/he advises. All the best.