Breast feeding making me constipated ?

[JKDcot]

Hi ladies

I don’t know if this can be possible but I’m sure breast feeding is making me feel unwell and screwing up my digestive system. I’ve been EBF for 12 weeks and every few weeks I seem to come down with a tummy bug symptoms. I get tummy ache, constipated and feel nauseous.

Is this possible? What can I do to stop it happening? I assume it’s because I might be getting dehydrated?

Any one else experience this or any advice please?

I drank enough water to keep the qe2 afloat.

Big jug and a pint glass beside you and keep sipping at it.

Remember breast milk is high percentage water.

@serialreturner do you think it is sure to dehydration my tummy is all over the place?! Is that possible?

You've given me a lightbulb moment. My baby is 5 months and I've been getting close to constipation a bit recently. At the same time I've stopped using my massive water bottle because I can't get it properly clean.

Time for me to put down my glass of wine and have a pint of water 😅

Hopefully this was helpful!! I only just realised that the days I drink less water I feel such bad tummy....

I was terrible. Baby feeding all the time and not drinking enough. Made myself ill. Drink twice enough then double it.
Your uterus also contracts when feeding so could be part of tummy cramps.

Thank you @Rubytinsleslippers I didn’t know about the uterus contracting but that makes sense it’s what I’m feeling.

When you said you felt ill what symptoms did you have? I feel tired, headache, nausea...

You definitely need loads more water. Headaches, constipation, nausea are all classic symptoms.

BF made me feel so unwell. Everyone was ‘You must drink more water’ but I drank and drank and drank (6 litres plus a day) and I still felt dehydrated and awful no matter what I did. I only started to feel back to normal when I gave up at 6 months - I was like a new woman.

Yeah, headaches, tired, tummy sore. Then the constipation - and the joy of piles and soreness, sitting became awful.
Water and salt and vinegar crisps! I obviously needed salts too!!
Loads of cloudy apple juice, dried apricots etc to get things going and water.
Thankfully symptoms got better quickly, but still... Nasty at the time. Take care

Definitely sounds like you need to drink more water and being dehydrated can make you constipated which will then effect your tummy.