Could I be low in something?

[DoulaRelle]

Ok Angus is 12 weeks old now and I have been feeling really well recovery wise from his birth, just the normal sort of tired up until about 3 weeks ago.

I am finding that I am getting even more and more fatigued everyday, even though I am sleeping for generally a solid block of 6 -7 hours sleep. I am not able to get a rest in during the day, but I know I am getting alot more sleep than alot of other mums with young babes. Last night I actually fell asleep in the middle of my DH talking to me at 9.30pm and didn't even stir till 5am.

As well as the tiredness I have been getting dizzy over periods where I am dizzy all of the time and then not dizzy at all. There was a few nights last week where I was that dizzy that when I went to bed at night the room was actually spinning.

Could I be low in some vitamin or mineral? I am taking Blackmores pregnancy and breastfeeding tablets, and I am drinking water and eating reasonably well.

Any suggestions?

[Bathsheba]

Hmm, dizziness can be a circulation problem, you say you are drinking enough water, that's really important. You haven't been ill lately? I wouldn't want to frighten you but have you had glandular fever or any other serious virus recently? Y'know if it continues for more than a few days i'd just go to your GP and request a blood test. Your electrolytes could be unbalanced too maybe?

ETA: found this:

All higher lifeforms require a subtle and complex electrolyte balance between the intracellular and extracellular milieu. In particular, the maintenance of precise osmotic gradients of electrolytes is important. Such gradients affect and regulate the hydration of the body, blood pH, and are critical for nerve and muscle function. Both muscle tissue and neurons are considered electric tissues of the body. Muscles and neurons are activated by electrolyte activity between the extracellular fluid or interstitial fluid, and intracellular fluid. Electrolytes may enter or leave the cell membrane through specialized protein structures embedded in the plasma membrane called ion channels. For example, muscle contraction is dependent upon the presence of calcium (Ca2+), sodium (Na+), and potassium (K+). Without sufficient levels of these key electrolytes, muscle weakness or severe muscle contractions may occur.

Any unbalance can be detected via blood test.

[Lucy]

Relle, the thing that springs to mind for me is blood sugar levels.....(I am no expert BTW!) but after Lexie, I really needed to up my intake of low GI foods, to maintain energy. If I was slack, I too noticed the fatigue and the dizzy spells.......(I was OK as long as I had In-Liven & a low gi diet and LOADS of water.)

But like bath suggests, it could be anything. (Maybe get yourself checked JIC?)

[krysalyss]

Hi Relle,
I am not an expert but DH is a qualified acupuncturist/chinese herbal therapist. This is the chinese medicines view of birth.
In Chinese medicine, birth takes a lot of 'blood' out of the women. Breastfeeding also counts as 'blood' so you are still depleting yourself. This also explains 'baby brain' that can happen after birth - (I kept saying the wrong words etc after DS was born). You need to build up your blood again.
If you are a meat eater you can do this by eating quality red meat. If you are a vegetarian like me, you can see a (accredited) chinese herbalist for some herbs to do the same. DH recommends seeing one anyway to build back up again, especially if you are planning on having more children.

HTH.

[Mother Goose]

Hey Relle!

Dizziness is a symptom of so many things. Combined with the fatigue it really could be any number of things. When I had my bleed, I had really bad dizzy spells with any form of exhertion. The reason was my hemoglobin levels were low (which carry the oxygen around the body. Not enough oxygen going around = dizzy). I was put on a tablet combining iron and folate and have improved dramatically. It is very common for women to be low in iron post-partum. Before you go adding anything else to your diet or taking supplements, I would go to the doctor and get a blood test to look at iron levels (and B12 and some other things to see if they can pinpoint the cause of the fatigue and dizziness). It will probably take 2-3 days for the results to come back.

In the meantime, keep up your fluids and eat a balanced diet. I hope you feel better soon!

Love MG

[Laranna]

With the fatigue, I've experienced the same thing recently (extremely tired, falling asleep during a movie or talking to DP). Turns out I was VERY low in iron and I've been having iron injections. Doc wanted me to do a transfusion but could not get me in before I went on holidays so she just started on the injections. I have a few more to go and it's made a heap of difference. She also got me to take iron tablets (Ferrot Gradumet - white bottle with green lid).

I was experiencing dizziness much though, however my circulation was a bit dodge. My hands and feet were always cold and my hands usually turn blue. Things are better now though with the iron injections.

Get your doc to do some blood tests.

[DoulaRelle]

Hi ladies, Thankyou all so much for your input.

After feeling"ok" for a day or so, the dizziness came back with a vengenance last night after a really busy day. I was actually constantly dizzy/light headed while I was trying to bath Angus in front of my DH and sister and my sister went ballistic telling me I should be going to the doctors asap.

I will go, just need to find an appropriate time without all of the kids as it is starting to really worry me too.

[Mother Goose]

Oh Relle! Hang in there hon and try to rest as much as you can (so hard when we have kids!). Can someone look after the kids so you can go to the doctor? I would offer but I haven't got a spare minute this week... Can you get a locum out whilst DH is home to supervise the kids? It is a little exy but you should get 80% or so back from Medicare (I imagine you are over the threshold having just had bubba ). Is your GP open late on weeknights? Can DH watch the kids then so you can go? Wish I could do something for you this week. Hang in there.

Love MG

[Bathsheba]

Excellent advice MG especially about seeing a GP at a night clinic if caring for your children is tricky.

Is there any other symptom at all? How is your overall health? Do you get tingling in your hands/feet?

I used to faint a lot especially when I was younger as I have naturally low blood pressure, it's a very unpleasant feeling. Is that how you feel? Or is it an 'unbalanced' kinda feeling? Sometimes if you've had a middle ear infection it can play havoc with you sense of balance.

Let us know how you get on darl.

[MrsFabuloso]

Relle you really should go to the dr!! I think you may have low iron (haemoglobin) too. I had the same symptoms up until about a month ago. I lost alot of blood during birth and despite three blood transfusions, I still had low iron stores. I have been on iron and vit.c (helps absorb iron) and eating meat regularly (I usually only have it once a week if that) and only recently I have been feeling more normal. I am still low in energy, but that might be due to being up 2-3 times a night, and it will come back in time and with more sleep....

[DoulaRelle]

awww MG - thankyou so much for the thought babe, but honestly I would never impose my feral children onto anyone unsuspecting! lmao
Bath I would have to say it is an unpleasant feeling, sort of as if you are going to faint but not quite, but you can't stop it either iykwim. I get alot of pins and needles mainly in my hands, alot at night, not in feet much, just the usual if you have been sitting funny for a period of time.

I will try and go to the doctors on friday, that way I only have 2 kids with me as Campbell is in creche and the other two can be restrained in the pram!

I have actually been worried about Angus' feeding as well, and after talking to a wonderful mentor of mine today, I think this is my body giving me a huge warning to slow down a bit. Angus has been reaaly fussy on the breast and I need to slow down and sort that out as well.

Best I get this sorted quickly, cause I am back on call for a birth at the end of the week!

[Mother Goose]

Hey Relle,

Did you get to the Dr in the end? What did they say? How are you feeling now?

MG

[Bathsheba]

Yeah what's the story

[DoulaRelle]

Hi girls,

No I haven't been yet, I was going to go on Friday and then all hell broke loose with the other 2 being feral.

I am still having issues with Angus' feeding and settling through the day now, and think that all of the appointments I have at night have taken a toll as well.

I am actually crying reading your posts worrying about me as I am feeling really overwhelmed atm on the home front and feel like I am sinking.

I have my nephew this friday afternoon, but will try and book into the Dr in the morning.

[Mother Goose]

What are you doing Sat Relle? I'll come and either baby sit or take you to the Dr... Don't cry - we just want to make sure you're ok.


Love and Hugs

MG

[Bathsheba]

Awww Relle yeah don't cry darl... if I've said it once I've said it a thousand times: "this too shall pass". I get that sinking feeling too off and on but then something often happens out the blue and everything changes... plateaus out... and then gets challenging again but in a different way . If you can manage to get yourself to a doctor and get this issue sorted then it will be one less thing to weigh you down. Until then we're gonna be right here nagging you...ahem...mothering you! Oh and I forgot to ask... do you take In-Liven? I've been taking it again recently and I've noticed my mood has been more "even", plus as an extended BFer I have worries about deficiencies too which i think it helps. MG: that's so sweet of you too

[DoulaRelle]

MG - Honestly you don't have to do that! But thankyou so much for the offer. I actually have client appointments booked in on Sat, but I have just rung to make a doctors appt for tomorrow and they are booked out, but she said to try again in the morning for a cancellation, so will do that.

Bath, I haven't taken in liven, but I will have a look into that as well. You are spot on though you know. I have to remember it is just a phase and it will pass, so just deal with it. I think it is just the tiredness making it all so much harder to deal with and that Angus has started waking through the night for a feed after sleeping through for the first 3 months of his life, so now I am back down to 5 hours sleep with no breaks through the day either.

[Mother Goose]

Hang in there Relle... but do make sure you get this checked out. I hope there is a cancellation and you can get in to the doc. Keep us posted.

Love MG