I mentioned in a previous post that I had a blood sugar crash last week, something that typically only happens for me during pregnancy. Maybe you’ll recognize the scientific name for this condition, “low blood sugar” or “low blood chocolate.”
I really didn’t suspect pregnancy since the baby is still nursing heavily. If he got paid hourly, he would be getting a lot of time-and-a-half. I don’t normally get pregnant until the baby has begun tapering off in nursing, and this boy is not tapering unless we’re talking about the taper from his belly out to his head and toes.
After a second and third crash in the past week, I asked my mom for her opinion.
She said that although it never happened when she was nursing girls, blood sugar crashes are par for the course when nursing a boy. Mom nursed 14 children. Case closed.
Apparently the physical strain of nursing a boy is roughly equivalent to actually being pregnant, which could explain why I’m tired all the time even when if I get 8 glorious hours of sleep.
For those who asked, my symptoms are weakness, shakiness (making it hard to stand or hold a glass), wooziness, irritability, pale skin, and – if it’s a bad one – a rushing sound in my ears that tells me to lie down and get my feet up NOW.
I have monitored my blood sugar during pregnancy so I know that it does get very low and I can reliably identify an “incident.”
Like many ailments common to the female gender, the cure for all this is to eat chocolate, quickly. I’ll bet you already knew that.
So you’re not pregnant yet?!?! BOO! I was expecting a surprise ending to that post! Oh well, enjoy your chocolate
Thanks for this information. Off to take preventative measures….
Ah-ha!! I thought nursing Elijah was WAY different than both his sisters….now I know why!
Thanks for that info~
Lori
I have to watch this to and one of my children has to be extra careful to watch what he eats or he gets quite ill. We both do protein snacks (cheese,hard boiled eggs,etc.)and eat frequently to help balance things out.
I’m hypoglemic, and this pregnancy I have only had a few crashes (unlike when I am not pregnant and it happens more frequently), my last BAD one was at church a few weeks ago, I am now not allowed to get in the car to go to church without a Twix bar (uneaten) in my purse. Kim is right though it is not much fun and I get REALLY irritable!
I remember this with my second son. Since I was a gestational diabetic and on insulin during pregnancy, I was very familiar with the feeling of a blood sugar crash. So when it started happening while nursing him (and he was the 8th one I nursed!)I was very confused. Apparently, he was such a vigorous nurser that he really was affecting my sugar balance and I had to pay close attention to my diet during those months!
I was expecting a surprise at the end of that post too. dang! Maybe…. soon?!?!
) hehe
Wait, I thought the cure for low blood sugar was to eat something high in protein? Certainly not as much fun, though…
But yes, having nursed three boys and one girl, I will tell you the boys were definitely more, um, “vigorous”.
I conceived 4 children while ecologically breastfeeding infants (under 6 months of age). It does happen!
It might be useful to eat every couple of hours like a diabetic.
Hope you feel better!
Mama Says
will you test, just in case?
Get your blood pressure checked so I don’t hafta worry about you. You don’t know me of course but I do regularly read your blog. Not to be bossy, but just do it
and of course eat chocolate.
Wow, so that’s what’s been happening to me! I am currently 17 weeks pregnant and several mornings a week around 11:00 I feel exactly as you described – weak, shaky, faint, pale – though I’ve not had the rushing in my ears sound. Once I eat something I feel better. But how do I stop this from happening? I’ve been trying to eat more often but I’m not that hungry in the morning (especially that soon after breakfast). Does eating sugar really help, or would protein be better?
Thanks for the info! I experience crashes during pregnancy and they have always cleared up afterwards. But after this last delivery they didn’t clear up, this one is our first boy. Wow, they are so different!
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/treasurekeeper
I do try to eat regularly and that really does prevent crashes, but I tend to get wrapped up in what I’m doing and forget. It also helps to NEVER eat breakfast cereal. I love it, but cereal makes me crash every time. I don’t even have time to get hungry afterward – just a sudden crash. Ugh.
A bit of sugar or other carbs will get your blood sugar up quickly, while protein and/or fat (which are absorbed into the bloodstream much more slowly) will help keep it from crashing in the first place.
When I have a crash, I find that a combination of the two will make me feel better for a good long while. Payday candy bars are a good solution to keep in your purse, and the “fun size” is just right for a boost w/o overloading on sugar.
I wasn’t kidding about chocolate, though. Dark chocolate is absorbed relatively slowly since it has a little protein and a high ratio of fat to sugar.
Yofed,
Are you wondering if I will test, or asking me to?
Kim,
I have a daughter, and then I had a son. I noticed such a difference in the way they nursed. My son was so passionate and I my fertility did not return whatsoever until I weaned him at 20 months. I thought I was basically sterile because of his nursing. I conceived my third child two weeks after he was completely weaned.During this pregnancy , I have noticed my blood sugar levels crashing quite a bit. Blessings!
I am just curious to know if you will test or take the wait and see approach…
Totally unrelated, I thought you might like to read that article… I’d like to see something like this in our countries!
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/04/05/japan.baby.hatch.ap/index.html
Even more proof that chocolate is good for you! Bring on the Easter Bunnies!
Good to know since we’re pretty sure this is a little boy inside.
No blood sugar crashes yet, but we’ve got time yet.
I had the same thing, but I was nursing a daughter who wanted to eat. all. the. time. It was very draining!
I ended up going to talk with a nutritionist after my blood sugar number was a mere 38 when they did a blood draw. I was told not to eat six smaller meals, and a protien with a carb together. Never one or the other, but in conjuction with each other.
I made a basket of nursing food (things I could eat with one hand) and I would do a couple of those Carnation instant breakfast shakes (cheapest at Sam’s Club or a wholesale club in your area).
I had lots of trial and error and actually ended up stopping nursing due to six cases of thrush combined with feeling like I was going to pass out all of the time.
Just thought I would share- good luck to you! I stand in amazement at all you can accomplish!
Sorry “not to eat” meant “to eat.” It is the end of the day here