https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:36:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-weaker-immune-system-postpartum#post-2911359 Sun, 08 Mar 2020 20:11:26 +0000 foodiebee 2911359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@karenbme: Honestly I think the thing that helped me the most was getting a break so that I could recover. I was sick back to back to back for so long that I never really got to recover fully and the cycle was vicious. It's a tough circle to break when you're in it. I'd also say to sleep as much as you can, but hahahaha, I know how that is. ;) I tried elderberry after it was suggested a lot, but I had a HORRIBLE reaction to it! I'd never heard of it before but it definitely didn't agree with me. (I also just read a NYT Parenting article about it that basically discounted it, so I put myself through days of crud for nothing. :silly: But some people do swear by it, so who knows!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-weaker-immune-system-postpartum#post-2911335 Sun, 08 Mar 2020 07:04:03 +0000 meadow 2911335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That was totally me! I attributed it to not sleeping well at all......up every 2-3 hours nursing combined with all the daycare germs!</p> <p>As a teacher I thought I had a strong immune system.....but these 2 variables really threw me for a loop! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-weaker-immune-system-postpartum#post-2911304 Sat, 07 Mar 2020 10:48:27 +0000 hellobeeboston 2911304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@karenbme: I feel like this was me, especially after my first baby. I was sick so much while EBF - luckily the baby barely got sick (until he went to daycare at 14 months, then I was sick all the time all over again)... good luck - try to sleep as much as possible with a newborn and eat well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-weaker-immune-system-postpartum#post-2911301 Sat, 07 Mar 2020 09:17:25 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2911301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m the not birth parent and I got sick sooooo much, and DW who birthed both our boys rarely got sick! We are in Canada so I was off 3 months, her a full year and I caught HFM, ear infection, multiple sinus infections and bronchitis the first year our older was in daycare. Now he’s 5 and other than gastro, we both stay healthy most of the time even with our younger who is 18 months. It seriously sucked so I sympathize...both for the fact you have to go back to work so early and that you are feeling like crap all the time! I attributed it to daycare germs and lack of sleep and high stress, but obviously postpartum hormones are crazy too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-weaker-immune-system-postpartum#post-2911289 Fri, 06 Mar 2020 22:42:19 +0000 bhbee 2911289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>yes me too with the low level crud (or worse) all the time! This past year I’ve definitely been sick more than usual, maybe it is just having 3 kids to harbor germs ... my oldest is 8 and youngest is 1.5 so I don’t really think it’s postpartum but kids did change things in my body I’m sure. My immune system was really a joke during my last pregnancy. I was sick a lot, got the flu pretty badly and finally got shingles at 38w pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-weaker-immune-system-postpartum#post-2911287 Fri, 06 Mar 2020 21:00:07 +0000 mrs.kiwi 2911287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes.. I used to rarely get sick. Then I had three kids and passed 30. I get sick now all the time. I am hoping it’ll be better once the kids are older and I’m sleeping more/exercising more but it is what it is for now.</p> <p>Our bodies do sooo much carrying and taking care of these little people! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-weaker-immune-system-postpartum#post-2911281 Fri, 06 Mar 2020 19:45:27 +0000 karenbme 2911281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Yes, I am in the US, and I do wish I could’ve taken longer 🙁 Sorry to heat pregnancy triggered long term immune issues for you. Glad to hear it’s under control, and I really hope that isn’t what’s going on with me. 😬</p> <p>@foodiebee: Any advice to pass on? Not sure if it’s daycare crud because DH seems to be patient 0 at least for this sinus infection, but his was a normal sinus infection, no fever and it cleared up quickly. DD has, thankfully, avoided everything but a little stuffy nose. Meanwhile I got a crazy fever and two weeks and counting of sickness. I didn’t throw up at all though, so at least there’s that.</p> <p>@Shantuck: I was GBS negative, so I can’t blame antibiotics, but probiotics are definitely a thought. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-weaker-immune-system-postpartum#post-2911273 Fri, 06 Mar 2020 17:44:56 +0000 Shantuck 2911273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've experienced this as well but I was GBS positive for both of my prior pregnancies and always chalked up my issues to all the antibiotics I was administered at birth, which totally destroyed my gut. I'm due with another baby in a week and plan to load up on probiotics this time around to see if that helps at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-weaker-immune-system-postpartum#post-2911272 Fri, 06 Mar 2020 16:46:10 +0000 foodiebee 2911272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, right here. I actually posted about it and asked for advice how to avoid the daycare crud I kept getting. I basically spent months 4-6 postpartum constantly sick and miserable. It's been much better for me in the past month, so I'd say I started to turn a corner around month 8. I'm EPing too, and I felt like I always got everything way worse than my LO. Related, I threw up a LOT during pregnancy and have the weakest stomach now. Everything makes me throw up. It's awful. I hope you turn the corner soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-weaker-immune-system-postpartum#post-2911264 Fri, 06 Mar 2020 14:31:06 +0000 Anagram 2911264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@karenbme: yes. Same happened to me. Are you in the US? It’s a shame mothers have to go back to work so early when their immune systems are still down. </p> <p>For me, I eventually found that the big hormonal changes of pregnancy/birth trigged a latent autoimmune disease in my body (actually 2 of them!) which are now managed with medication. Hope yours is just temporary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-weaker-immune-system-postpartum#post-2911263 Fri, 06 Mar 2020 14:16:32 +0000 karenbme 2911263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, need to vent. I'm four months out from having my first LO, and it feels like I'm constantly sick. I got a cold/fever the first day I went back to work, got over that after ~2 weeks and was fine for maybe 5 days before developing a beast of a sinus infection that sent my temperature up to 102.8 weekend before last. I went to the doctor who tested me for everything under the sun, everything came back negative, and it was labelled a seasonal virus. The sinus infection gave me a bad enough sore throat from all the post nasal drip that I thought I had strep, so I went back to the doctor, negative. And now it's spread to my left eye, giving me viral pink eye. PINK EYE!! I feel like my immune system has totally left the building. I don't know if it's just lack of sleep making me more susceptible to diseases or what, but this is totally ridiculous, and I don't have time for it. /rant</p> <p>Has anyone else felt like they got sicker postpartum? How long did it last? I'm EPing, so I wonder if all my antibodies are just going to the baby (I hope)? </p>