Hmm so I have a theory, I'm not sure whether I read this somewhere or imagined it, but I'm sure breastfeeding offers immunity benefits to the breastfeeding mother as well as the child. Well now I'm thinking that the demise of breastfeeding hormones and whatnot from weaning may cause decreased immunity in the mother for a period?
Aside from a couple of bugs, from the moment I conceived DD to 18 months after she was born I felt so healthy. Sometimes - lots of times! - as tired as hell but overall healthy and wholesome. DD began self-weaning when I fell pregnant with #2 - in hindsight almost exactly around implantation. I persisted (she was already down to one bedtime feed and however many times she woke during the night) but we've gone a couple of weeks now of refusing, even in the night, and I'm 8 and a half weeks along. The full refusal for this period has correlated with me getting constantly sick! In three weeks, beginning just before her extended refusal, I've had a head cold, gastro, and now a chesty wet cough and another head cold. I never get sick! I know pregnancy can affect the immune system but this is ridiculous and I just have a feeling it's the weaning compounded by the pregnancy.
I wonder if it's like when you avoid getting sick for months of working hard and surviving on high stress and minimal sleep, then you go on holidays and get sick. Your immune system 'holds on' for ages then kind of gives in when you relax. Maybe your body experiences breastfeeding as increased demand and ramps things up to cope... Then let's go when you wean?
I'm having a similar experience in that until two weeks ago I was extremely low in iron, working part time and kid-wrangling two littlies and in spite of them having been sick 6 times this winter, I've survived with only the occasional sniffle which my body has quickly fought off. Then in the space of a week I finished work and had an iron infusion. I should be feeling heaps better, but instead, wham. Sore throat, aching muscles and a cough. Why??!
Ok, sorry, that turned into a whinge too but might explain your experience?
It could be. For while I have been feeling healthy albeit tired I guess there was nothing In reserve in case I did need something extra, and I wouldn't notice no reserves until I needed them and they weren't there!
Certainly hasn't worked that way for me Ladylove. I've never been so sick as I have over the last 14 odd months while breastfeeding DD3. I've had pneumonia twice, every single cold going and a bout of really severe gastro (which I never normally get). My DD3 has also been really sick on a number of occasions so TBH I'm having my doubts breastfeeding does anything for immunity!
Maybe for you now its just a case of pregnancy together with looking after an active toddler taking a toll on you.
Weaning and decreased immunity (in the mother)?
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks