why do some women shake after giving birth? - Page 2

[AstridS]

I shook like crazy after my homebirth. My midwife told me it was low bloodsugar levels. It stopped after I had some juice and an apple, så I think she was right.

[AuntG]

If I remember correctly from my college biology classes, it has to do with low sugars -- you use up all your "quick" sources of energy and your body starts to burn lactic acid which in turn causes muscle fatigue.

But, it was a while back and I did only make a B in the class!

However, it seems to makes sense. Low amounts of sugars for energy. It's not necessarily a bad thing though, not a condition or a disorder. Just the way the body works.

[Slingin'Momto4]

I shook after all my births. 3 hospital, all natural, no intervention and 2 home/water births.

[DoomaYula]

I didn't shake after my last 2, but as a doula I see quite a few women shake. Most of them were epidural births, so I assumed it had to do with the epidural/body temp thing.

[LilWin]

I shook terribly when my DD was born, it was unmedicated but I hadn't eaten so low blood sugar could be the answer to that. When DS was born (also no meds) I didn't shake, but I also had a normal diner and cookies (while watching Grey's Anatomy and breathing away contractions) before he was born, so I had a full stomach.

[minkajane]

I actually shook BEFORE my birth. I had a C-section because DS was breech. I felt really excited at the time because I was about to have my baby, but I guess I was really nervous too, though I didn't realize it. I shook really hard until they wrapped me in warm blankets, which I guess calmed me down some.

[Pynki]

I shook at my last birth, but mine was trauma induced. I was shaking from the pain, and everytime the L&D nurses would "massage" my uterus it would hurt REALLY badly and I would start shaking again. I'd finally get the shaking to stop and it was like they took that as a sign I needed to be tortured again, and they would do it again, and the shaking would start up again.

That said, I lost more blood with the last delivery than I remember losing with previous ones, so that could have something to do with it.

[MonTana Mama]

I was really shaky w both natural births also. Esp. when I got out of bed to pee! My MW said it had to do w the change in blood pressure and volume and 02 reaching the brain. She said the dizziness and shaking went hand in hand.

[momto l&a]

I have shaken after all 3 of our hb's.

Its just for because I was so hot while laboring and then cooled down way too quickly.

The mw's covered me in hot from the dryer towels

[pinksprklybarefoot]

I didn't shake, but was shaky, kwim? No meds, except a pitocin shot at the end. I hemorrhaged, so I think the shakiness was due to blood loss.

[sanguine_speed]

Originally Posted by Pynki

I shook at my last birth, but mine was trauma induced. I was shaking from the pain, and everytime the L&D nurses would "massage" my uterus it would hurt REALLY badly and I would start shaking again. I'd finally get the shaking to stop and it was like they took that as a sign I needed to be tortured again, and they would do it again, and the shaking would start up again.

That said, I lost more blood with the last delivery than I remember losing with previous ones, so that could have something to do with it.

It sounds like maybe the nurses were massaging your uterus so frequently because they were trying to slow your blood loss?

[MommytoTwo]

I think its hormones. I shook after both c-sections

[Kritto]

I was told that it was adrenaline related. Makes sense to me, going from pushing to just laying down post-birth, there's not much of an outlet for all that adrenaline so I shook like when I'm really freaked out or nervous, but much much more strongly.

[wombjuice]

I agree with fourlittlebirds--I think our bodies shake for different reasons.

I have never given birth, but I can almost guarantee that I will shake after I do. I'm just a shaker--I shake when I'm overly upset or when I'm overly happy or when I'm overly nervous. Anytime I feel my face flush and my adrenaline rush, I know I'm about to start shaking. And they're not just little shivers either, they're whole body shakes.

On the other hand, I worked as a veterinary technician for a few years, and the surgery animals always shook while waking up from anesthesia.

So, if I had to guess, I'd say women shake after birth because of either an emotional (adrenaline) or physical (change in temperature/low blood sugar) body response. I'm just guessing here, though.

[broodymama]

I shook after DS' natural hospital birth and after DD's homebirth. Both times I felt very cold and was shaking uncontrollably. After I was covered up with some warm blankets and had something to drink then I felt better.

[Nicole77]

I shook after both of my daughters' births but not my son's. I suspect hormones play a part because of that (different hormone rushes when delivering girls?). I also shook about twice as badly with my second daughter's homebirth, a very quick and intense delivery. If you are planning any future births I found that a combination of a warm towel draped over my head, Rescue Remedy cream rubbed on my forehead and pressure points, and accupressure done by my midwife settled me back down and helped me a lot.

[yaM yaM]

I agree that it is adrenaline-related.
Marathon runners often shake in the same way after running a marathon.

[Potty Diva]

I was freezing cold after all three of my births. I had a fever after each as well. I just couldn't control the shaking. I remember after the birth of the twins I had asked for orange juice and after drinking it I just started shaking and remember being so very cold. I had 4 blankets on me straight from the dryer and I still shook for a good while after they put those on me. It makes me tense just thinking about it.

[mum2James&Bean]

I was shaking violently after my emergency c/s... I thought it was low blood pressure from the blood loss or the epidural or something. I had no idea it happened to vag. births too! Interesting