Low immunity since having baby...

[Anonymous]

I feel like since having my baby 10 months ago, my immune system is shot! Prior to pregnany and baby, I could count the times I've call in sick on one hand over the past 10 years. Since having the baby, I feel like I'm constantly catching colds or worse. Is this common? What can I do to get back to my old self... the self with the immune system of steel?

[Anonymous]

I have no energy what-so-ever. It sucks. I think the baby takes so much of your vitamin reserves while you are pregnant that it takes a while to build it back up and to feel ok. I can barely walk up the stairs or carry groceries w/out feeling light headed and tired. I know I need an iron supplement but I'm sure the baby has zapped other stores as well. Do you take a vitamin?

[zumbamama]

lack of sleep and increase in stress will def. mess with your immune system. Many things you can do: healthy balanced diet, exercise, vitamin supplements, mom & baby yoga to combat stress, herbal teas (green, rosemary, black), acupuncture to tune you back up...and of course sleep! But that will be a challenge in the next few years, so everything else you can do to maintain complete health will help. I used to get sick alot more often before I made cardio and yoga a regular part of my life. And when I do get sick, I don't skip on the gym, I honestly feel the exercise helps circulate the sickness out of me faster when I feel it coming on.

[Anonymous]

Yea, I used to have stellar teeth too - 30 years and never a cavity. Now with DD, I've had to have three fillings! The dentist told me that the preg. will definitely pulls out the calcium in your body...from wherever it can find it.

I second the two PPs' remarks.

Belated congrats though

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the replies so far. I work full time which also sucks the life out of me! By the time I leave work, pick up the kid from daycare, play with him for a little while (the absolute highlight of all of my days!), then do his bedtime routine, I'm pooped! My husband and I are both exhausted at the end of the day. We end up zoning out in front of the TV, then going to sleep. So, I really don't get any real exercise. I also barely eat, I feel I hardly have time.

Okay, so your replies have really got me thinking. It's no wonder I'm getting sick all of the time! I need to make some serious changes. However, I'm thinking serious changes won't be easy. I need to start off small. Maybe just adding a multivitamin and making sure I eat some sort of breakfast, even if it's just yogurt will be a good start for me.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like all of you should be popping the tums! Get that calcium back asap!

It does get easier.

[zumbamama]

I know what you mean about exhaustion. I also work FT, teach 2 cardio classes and have 3 kids. Before I joined the gym, I was low energy, even to cook, tired all the time and 35 pounds heavier. Kids were very young and took all my energy to exercise. The first year is the hardest. But then, like you, I knew I had to make a change. I could either keep finding excuses or just do it! The key is to make the change gradually. Start with energy foods one week....fruit, protein, peanutbutter. Then the next week you could start a moderate exercise routine....maybe a brisk walk twice a week or a workout video (very convenient!). It doesn't have to be a kick-butt workout, it could be a restorative yoga, tai chi video/class. You also have to find out what kind of physical activity motivates you the most, so you WANT to do it. Then as you slowly become more and more active, your energy will increase. Month after month, step it up a notch and before you know it your waist is smaller and you have tons of energy. Your kids will also pick up on this positive change and adapt healthy habits from you. Exercising WITH your kids is also great for bonding time.

[Anonymous]

OP, would it be possible for you to cut out at least one TV show and go to sleep 30 minutes earlier? More sleep will (obviously) help too.

[Anonymous]

Hey, I have been there. I did a fair amount of research to get things back on track. Here is my advice for what it is worth.

Sleep (I know ,but really aim for as much as you can get)
Exercise (walks count) 2-3 x a week
Cut back on sugar
Cut back on wine (at least during the week. . I know-- not fun)
Add in flax (put on yogurt) can buy ground at Whole Foods (really doesn't taste like anything)
Add vitamin (I take my children's scooby doo gummy-- 2) but of course there are better ones out there
Add Kefir (yummy yogurt dring) or some kind of yogurt with the good bacteria in it (the dannon one in green container is really good too)
Relax as much as you can, see friends, and keep up some of your pre baby life. Best of luck to you!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you so much for all of the suggestions!

[Anonymous]

drink naked juice - mighty antioxitants one cup a day

[Anonymous]

Over the last couple years I have improved my physical condition from: no sleep, bad digestion, overweight, high-cholesterol (220), low energy, colds/flus, etc. It took a variety of steps, but it was so worth the commitment! First I took care of my home by replacing most of my "caustic" personal care, cleaning and skin-care/cosmetic products with natural based and eco-friendly ones. Then I worked on the food intake by using great vitamins and other supplements (antioxidants, probiotics, grapeseed extract, omega 3s etc), eat "diabetically" (though I am not) - 6 small meals plus cut out white sugar, cooking more from scratch rather than from boxes (I found a great and convenient menu-mailer). Now I work with a holistic food counselor (she is awesome) and we are tweaking my food plan even more. My new physical condition is a weight loss of 50 pounds, cholesterol of 165, tons more energy and I am sleeping so much better! I even have enough energy to add some more regular exercise - another huge boost. What is truly amazing is that my outlook on life and my relationships are even improving, who knew? I'd be happy to give you some resources/referrals if you'd like 240.472.6832

[Anonymous]

Oh my, I so remember this part. I was sick for two weeks of every month for 6 months. I seriously wanted to pull my hair out. I also got seriously ill every spring and fall. No doctor could ever tell me what was happening.

Between work, baby, husband, and house it can all be too much. For me, holding on to prebaby life did not help at all. Saying no to social obligations helped me to feel like I had more time with my child. I did not enjoy being out with other people who were trying to make me feel like I should be delighted to be away from my child. One of my friends with older kids said she knew I could not imagine it, but that I would eventually want to spend some time without my child and just to wait for that time before embarking on a social life for me. That advice really worked for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I did not enjoy being out with other people who were trying to make me feel like I should be delighted to be away from my child. One of my friends with older kids said she knew I could not imagine it, but that I would eventually want to spend some time without my child and just to wait for that time before embarking on a social life for me. That advice really worked for me.

I'm not the OP, but thank you so much for this. I am at the first part and can't imagine the second half (though one day I am sure it will come).

[Anonymous]

I'm so relieved to see this post. I have a physical next wk. that I scheduled mainly because I am literally scared by how bad I feel.

I have a 5 mo. old and 2-yr. old and for the last 2 mos. have been sick about every other week -- I recover for 3 or 4 days and then BAM, the next thing hits. Baby is fine. 2-yr old and husband are basically fine (maybe sniffles or a cough). But I am in bed with 102 and 103 degree fevers, aches, chills, vomiting, etc. My arms feel like lead weights at times. I've had the same experience with stair climbing because my legs feel so week.

I was not sick at all last winter when I was pregnant and working with 2-yr. old. I wasn't this sick when home on maternity leave with my first child 2 winters ago. So I've started to become convinced I must have something wrong with me. But maybe this is just the result of not taking adequate care of myself.

I've lost 10-12 pounds in the last 2 mos. as well and still sliding. (It may sound great but it isn't -- I'm at a weight I haven't been at in 10 years and it's unhealthy looking). I presume I am not eating enough to keep up with my baby's increased feedings, but it's still scary to feel like the vanishing woman. I don't have the energy/time to cook/eat as much as I need to to keep my weight up so it's a vicious cycle. (I'm trying to partially wean her to make this weightloss stop but even that is a disaster as she won't take bottles from me and screams and screams until I give her the breast.)

Anyway, as unfortunate as it is to see there are a few of us in the same boat I admit I am somewhat relieved that this all is not necessarily a sign of something ominous.