Question for the older ladies of the group

ChavayJakov · February 2012

For a few months prior to pregnancy - my baby is now just a little more than a month old - I was showing some signs of perimenopause. During pregnancy many of those symptoms seemed to dissipate or could equally be attributed to the pregnancy itself.

In the last couple of weeks I've started showing some of those signs again and/or different ones....in particular the "heat waves" which come and go, but when my baby is in the fussy scream clingy combo (he's not colicky, but good lord he's close) it seems to trigger the hot flashes to the point that I'm adjusting thermostats, disappearing with him into the bedroom and stripping down to tank tops and underwear. I can't stand wearing the nursing bras because they are so thick and just get soaked.

I'm realizing this can be an embarrassing thing to be public about; however, I truly hope some might have some coping advice and suggestions.

Dragonflyer · February 2012

Go to the Dr. or mention to your ob. It could be that your hormones are just really out of whack. Pregnancy messed up my thyroid pretty well so I had to go on thyroid meds but felt much better.

Unknown · February 2012

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BrideBuddies · February 2012

Yes, please define "older." <giving you the side eye!>

Strunella · February 2012

Night sweats are pretty common after giving birth...though nobody had ever mentioned them to me! I would wake up soaked. I was also really hot during pregnancy and would run the fan at night, even in the winter. If you really think it's not pregnancy/birth related though, I'd definitely give the doctor a call.

CGleck99 · February 2012

I was 36-37 during pregnancy & post partum. OMG, the night sweats during pregnancy & those first few PP months after. I'd wake up literally dripping with sweat. My ob/gyn referred my for a thyroid check (felt enlarged). The endo I saw told me that after pregnancy some women pretty much go through a mini-menopause, more or less because hormones/body is so out of whack during & after pregnancy. I thought I've heard it can take up to a year to fully recover.

I agree, if you don't think what you're feeling is pregnancy-related, give your dr a call.

Maggee206 · February 2012

Check with your OB but mine warned me that nursing mimicked menopause in many ways. Feel better

NewMrs07 · February 2012

It's probably due to breastfeeding hormones. I remember feeling hot all the time after Adrian was born. I've also had "flashes" all my life and still have times when I break out in a sweat. But I'm not sure it's my age or the fact that I'm running after a crazy toddler or feeling anxious when he bullies other kids at a play date. When I'm anxious I get hot. I think in your case it's probably the nursing, so I wouldn't worry. If it continues after you stop BF though, you could have that checked out. Or take chinese herbs, some of them really help with perimenopause symptoms. There are some pills at the wholefood stores made with specific herbs for perimenopause and they really help with mood swings and hot flashes.