I feel sick :(

[chillybean]

I don't know if this is normal or if something's wrong. Baby is now 1 week old, and for the past few days, we've been out a lot, walking and shopping. I've been ok. Tired and a bit sore but still ok. Yesterday at church I felt fine. The only thing that happened was when my milk came in, I had a night of chills and feeling awful but I expected this as I've experienced it before. Well, last night I was feeling cold again (and of course sweating as I slept) and today my body feel really unable to accomplish anything. I have a headache and my back has been in pain off and on (not unusual) but mostly its skin soreness and all my joints hurt and feeling a little woozy and off. I had a nap this morning and may take another. Is this just normal? Could it be from the group b strep? a different infection? I just feel so sore all over.
Baby is great though... a really sweety.
chillybean
p.s. please pray for me. Tomorrow hubby goes back to work and I need to be well to take care of my four little ones.

 

[olafias]

Oh I hope you feel better soon! I'll be praying for you!

 

[jgonz]

You are Totally Overdoing It. Your body is telling you that it needs time to heal, let your hormones go back to normal, and regulate after giving birth. Night sweats/sweating is a normal reaction to Massive hormone fluctuations. A couple of days post partum is NOT the time to get all active and be out & about... Stay home and REST.

And don't tell me that you've done this after each baby and you were fine before... It doesn't matter how you were before. THIS time your body can't handle it. This is baby #4 and it's Different.

 

[sparassidae]

I hope it is just overdoing it. It sounds to me like an infection- like mastitis.

 

[jgonz]

Yes... it could be mastitis, except that she didn't mention any pain in either of her breasts.... And even if it Is the beginning of mastitis, it's from overdoing it, IMO. I overdid it again & again, and paid for it later each time.

 

[chillybean]

well, whatever it was, I feel better today. I had to basically stay in bed yesterday. It was the nurse's opinion that I was overdoing it too. It also could have been the start of an infection but rest helped it out. I'm trying not to do too much today but its so hard. I carried stuff downstairs and the bleeding got worse. Ugh. Its so hard to stay quiet when I like to be active! And watching the house get messier and messier.... lol. Its showing me that I need to train my boys in cleanliness!!!
What was your experience with overdoing it jgonz?
My last baby I was jogging at 4 weeks post partum and playing soccer 4 weeks after that. Don't see that happening this time!
chillybean

 

[jgonz]

What was your experience with overdoing it jgonz?

Oh I always thought I was doing better than I really was... probably 'cause my mind was Fine, but my body was still recovering from birth. I'd be picking up around the house, getting meals for DH & the other kids, not resting as much as I should have, trying to get the new baby on a basic schedule to fit with the rest of the family (from day 1), just basically trying to ignore the fact that I had just given Birth!... I also remember after 1 of the kids being at the mall at 3 days postpartum, grocery shopping at less than 1 week postpartum after another baby... doing things I thought I "should" be doing, but really had no business doing. I was trying to be superwoman I think, looking back. At any rate, I bottomed out at 2 or 3wks postpartum Every Single Time and it would take me another month to get my strength back (and then I'd be fighting one level or another of PPD too).

The first week especially is really important~ the body has just, basically, run a marathon. The new mom needs to eat a LOT of healthy foods (including carbs), drink a LOT of water, and rest a LOT, so her body can recover from this ordeal. If the mom had any meds during her labor/birth, then she's going to take a little longer to recover because it takes time for all of the effects of the meds to leave her system. The first week (probably 2) should be a time of resting, getting to know the new baby, helping any siblings get used to their new baby brother/sister. Family time, getting settled in and getting used to each other. Breastfeeding patterns are being established during this time, as well as milk supply. It's very important to nurse on cue/demand with a brand new newborn to establish a good milk supply.

I don't mean to harrass you or pick at you~ it's just that I've BTDT and overdoing it after birthing a baby is So easy to do... yet SO hard on the system. And as the previous poster mentioned, it can lead to mastitis/breast infections. Thrush can also be a problem (because your body isn't strong enough to throw it off) especially if you had antibiotics during your labor like you did. It's just better to take care of yourself Well after birth so that you don't make yourself sick. You need to be healthy and strong to take care of your new baby~ who won't have ANY compassion for you not feeling well. lol

 

[RoseofLima]

For me- I give myself 6 full weeks of not doing anything-- all the kids can just run amuck, and I keep my own bedroom neat so I have a retreat from the chaos. I have the whole rest of my life to have a clean house- but each child will only be a newborn for the blink of an eye. My husband cleans up when he comes home. Do NOT sweep or vacuum- it can cause serious issues before 6 weeks. Remember your body has to work harder with each new baby to heal....

Prayers for you

 

[BananaCake]

For me- I give myself 6 full weeks of not doing anything-- all the kids can just run amuck, and I keep my own bedroom neat so I have a retreat from the chaos. I have the whole rest of my life to have a clean house- but each child will only be a newborn for the blink of an eye. My husband cleans up when he comes home. Do NOT sweep or vacuum- it can cause serious issues before 6 weeks.

I wish I had 6 weeks! I'll have a full month, though, so I'm grateful

And I don't sweep or vacuum now; I won't start after I have the baby, LOL!

 

[chillybean]

whats wrong with sweeping or vaccuuming?

 

[BananaCake]

whats wrong with sweeping or vaccuuming?

Nothing's wrong with it I just don't do it. Basically, the stairs are the only thing that needs to be regularly vacuumed, and the vacuum cleaner is heavy. My husband would kill me if I lugged that thing up and down the stairs. And then we have 2 roommates who generally sweep the common areas.

 

[chillybean]

Not that I like vaccuming or sweeping, but Rose of Lima said it could cause serious issues postpartum. Maybe she was kidding?

How long does the tear site remain sore? Is brown discharge normal? I'm still tired.. lol. Wonder why?

Chillybean

 

[RoseofLima]

No-
I wasn't kidding! It can cause hemorhaging...because it breaks of the scab (for lack of a better word) from the placenta site with the motion of the body in those activities combined with the weight.

There is a retired midwife on another site I post on who has said that vacuuming has been the cause of the only recovery time serious bleeding issues she has treated.

 

[olafias]

Man, that is a real bummer because I vacuum almost daily to keep the dog hair to a bare minimum at my house. I guess hubby will just have to take over in that department for a while! Or maybe Mr. Pooch will go live outside...

 

[HappyVonHut]

hmmmm
vac everyday

I rememebr when I was a good girl and did that!

With mastisis, I felt likea serious cold had come on, but my boob hurt so very very bad! and I finally saw a terrible red spot on one.

I hope you are feeling better today.

Also wanted to add,

good luck teaching boys to do their part, or girls too for that matter!

Moms ~ what the world revolves around!