Feeling woozy weeks after birth

[kittywitty]

I had a perfectly normal, uncomplicated, but fast delivery 6 weeks ago. The day after birth I started feeling woozy, but taking iron and drinking a coke made it better. I think it was blood sugar. Now, the past few days I'm starting to feel the same way. Like I've lost a bunch of blood, but other than very light spotting a few days ago for a couple of hours, I've bled a normal amount and it's been stopped for awhile. I feel like my blood pressure is really low or something. Just...woozy. I don't remember this with my other kids. Is this normal? I really want to start exercising but am afraid to with this feeling. And the soonest I can get into an OB is a little over a month from now.

[quelindo]

I felt this way after my first son was born. My midwife told me to drink water with salt in it, and that helped. I have very low blood pressure and I think that was part of it. Are you taking Floradix? Low iron could cause light-headedness, too.

[kittywitty]

I started taking the floradix again, but my 6 yo just started it for anemia and I can't afford a new bottle atm. I have the pills but they have lactose in them and I'm dairy free with baby's dairy allergy. Are there any other good iron supplements? I eat a lot of salt, but I'll try some recharge I have sitting in the cabinet and see if that helps. I always have low blood pressure, also.

[Jodie8]

"Easyiron"  is really good-and reasonably priced too:)

[MsBlack]

Others have made good suggestions....

Are you able to take your b/p and find out if it's really low?  I'd recommend you find out.  If your b/p is too low for you, then mild exercise could help bring it up.  Between babymooning and our recent cold weather, maybe you are just having the effects of a bit too much rest and confinement?

Otherwise--are eating/drinking PLENTY?  Maybe a diet diary could help you assess this.  Remember that nursing takes a lot of calories and fluid--more than pregnancy.  Moms of more than one, on duty all the time, are especialy prone to being 'last on the list' for proper care!  Usually we don't have anyone overseeing our diets, rest, etc, the way we oversee everyone else in the family.

[kittywitty]

I actually have been doing a diet diary as I had to go dairy free for baby's allergies. I think I've been eating enough but last night and this morning I've made a point of eating/drinking extra. I think I'm slightly dehydrated, too, even though I drink a lot of water.

I'll check my bp next time I go to the store.

I ordered the IronAid stuff. Would that be too much in combination with my Rainbow Light prenatal, though?

[MsBlack]

Originally Posted by kittywitty 

I actually have been doing a diet diary as I had to go dairy free for baby's allergies. I think I've been eating enough but last night and this morning I've made a point of eating/drinking extra. I think I'm slightly dehydrated, too, even though I drink a lot of water.

I'll check my bp next time I go to the store.

I ordered the IronAid stuff. Would that be too much in combination with my Rainbow Light prenatal, though?

Good!  Remember with the heat on, the air is drier than we Southerners are accustomed to--probably need more water than you realize.

As for the iron--ot depends how much is in each supplement.  You might consider taking the 2nd one every other day at first, and see how your system reacts to it. 

[kittywitty]

Thanks! I felt fine this morning but around lunch it hit again. I'm making tons of truffles and caramels and sampling my way through so I don't think it's blood sugar.

[kittywitty]

Well, I went to the ER tonight when I almost passed out. The doc did a thyroid panel but nothing else and says my left eardrum is ruptured (happened in August at the pool-I knew this but thought it healed) and is inflamed and has fluid so he thinks that's the biggest concern.

[HeatherB]

I hope it's just the ear and easy to get healed up!