postpartum muscle weakness - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Lola26 · 02-03-2007, 09:02 AM

My DS was born almost 8 weeks ago, and lately I've been having a lot of muscle weakness, especially in my legs. Sometimes when I stand up it feels like my knees are going to give out on me. Has anyone else experiened this? Could it just be fatigue from lack of sleep? I've been trying to go for short walks each day, but my legs really start to feel weak after about 5 minutes. I'm taking a multivitamin, as well as extra calcium, but maybe I need more vitamins/minerals since I'm breastfeeding so often?

Thanks!

b922 · 02-03-2007, 04:36 PM

lola...you are not alone, i thought maybe it was because i had bad knees to begin with but they didn't give me any probs through the pregnancy. my dd is almost 6 wks now and i have the same problem, my knees and legs feel almost numb and i too am breast feeding. it should be intersting to see what is causing this and how many others are feeling it as well.

Lozzy_04 · 02-04-2007, 04:05 AM

Same thing is happening to me. Ds is almost 7 weeks old and having weakness, but in my arms and neck. Ill be just walking, sitting or doig something and all of a sudden they give in a little and drop. I thought it was just fatigue. I am also breastfeeding.

On an unrelated note, I had an epidural during the delivery and half of my bottom is still semi numb. Very strange.

Lola26 · 02-04-2007, 10:30 AM

That is interesting that our babies are all so close in age and we're all having the same symptoms. Perhaps it is lack of sleep? I've been averaging 4 hours a night, with a 1.5 hour nap during the day. This has been a HUGE adjustment since I used to sleep 9 hours a night. Our pediatrician said our son will start sleeping through the night in a few weeks, but I just don't see that happening. I can't imagine him going over 3 hours without food. Once he made it 4 hours, and then frantically latched on like it had been days since his last meal.

If anyone finds a remedy for this (besides sleep), please post! My legs & arms feel like jelly today.