Feeling weak 3 weeks after birth

[mum2bee123]

Hi everyone

I gave birth (vaginal delivery with episiotomy so fairly straightforward) 3 weeks ago. I am obviously very tired post labour and with getting up during the night with a newborn. What I am taken aback by is how physically weak I feel - it's a different feeling from tiredness. Literally my limbs feel like jelly, my wrists have started to hurt to the point that pulling myself up on the bed to feed is an effort and I am sometimes a bit shaky getting out of bed on my feet and my fingers are sore and still swollen. I feel like I have no muscle mass left. My stomach muscles are shot and are hidden under a layer of jiggle if they are still there.

I did gentle exercise up until 6 weeks before giving birth, but unfortunately during my pregnancy due to morning sickness I was not exercising regularly. I am finding this hard as prior to getting pregnant I was fit and strong and exercised 5 times a week.

I suppose I am wondering if anyone else experience this feeling of physical weakness, how to overcome it and if it did pass. Why might my fingers and wrists be hurting?

Any advice or experience please do share!! Thank you

Ask for your iron levels to be checked. Mine weren't for months and even a short walk exhausted me.

I’m nearly 4 weeks in and I’ve struggled too. An hour out the house wears me out.

Are you bf? If so you need to ensure you’re getting enough calories for yourself and to produce the milk. I have a naturally small appetite and I’ve had to really push myself to eat more. It’s given me more energy though.

I also second the pp and get your iron levels checked. Mine is also low and I have been prescribed tablets.

Hi OP - 9 weeks pp here and been on iron tablets since birth due to PPH. I am still extremely weak and having bloods this week due to extremely painful joints so they are checking my inflammatory markers. Its soul destroying as struggle to hold DD and feed her. Not BF as the shock of birth killed my milk so at least DH can feed her at times but feel awful he has to do so much :-(

I would speak to ur gp Hun as like others have said could be iron levels etc x

I was exactly the same! I did have a PPH & very low iron too. But 3 weeks isn’t a long time - think of what you’d body has gone through. It’s bound to take time to repair itself. I was very naive, I thought I’d be back to my old self about 2 weeks after birth 🤦🏻‍♀️ How silly was I !!!

I felt the same it was low iron levels.

I sympathise. I’m sorry to say it took me 12 weeks to get most but not all of my strength Back. Take it easy, be good to yourself and get as much sleep and help as you can get. I had too high expectations that I would be out running again a month later. It’ll pass quickly although it’s crap when you’re feeling so weak. Time is the best healer. Good luck

Feel more relaxed after reading this thread. I am 8 weeks PP & am feeling weaker by the day. I had my 8-week check yesterday, told the G.P I am having daily migraines, fatigue & my bones ache all over. Of course I googled it & it says all sorts of scary conditions. The G.P did say about my iron levels, however that I cannot get a blood test for at least 3 weeks. I had stopped taking the Pregnacare for BF as I become horridly constipated. I am still not like I was before. Is there any advice for what I can do in the mean time. Google said to eat more kale, spinach & to take iron tablets too. I hope you ladies are feeling better from pp 💜