Can breastfeeding give you the chills?

Understanding the Chills During Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is often celebrated for its numerous benefits, both for the mother and the infant. However, some mothers report experiencing unexpected sensations, including chills, during or after breastfeeding sessions. This phenomenon can be perplexing and may raise concerns for new mothers navigating the complexities of postpartum recovery.
The Postpartum Experience
One of the primary reasons mothers might experience chills is related to the postpartum period. After giving birth, many women undergo a range of physical changes, including hormonal fluctuations and the body’s adjustment to new demands. Postpartum chills, characterized by intense shivering, can occur shortly after delivery and are generally considered a normal response to the body’s recovery process. This shaking can be triggered by various factors, including hormonal shifts, fatigue, and even the body’s efforts to regulate temperature after the stress of childbirth.
Chills During Breastfeeding
While chills can be a part of the postpartum experience, some mothers specifically report feeling chills during breastfeeding. This sensation may be linked to several factors:
1. Hormonal Release: Breastfeeding triggers the release of hormones such as oxytocin, which not only facilitates milk ejection but can also induce feelings of warmth and relaxation. However, the rapid changes in hormone levels can sometimes lead to sensations of chills or shivering.
2. Physical Response: The act of breastfeeding can stimulate the body in various ways, including changes in circulation and temperature regulation. For some women, this might manifest as chills, particularly if they are feeling fatigued or if the environment is cool.
3. Mastitis: In some cases, chills can be a symptom of mastitis, an infection of the breast tissue that can occur during breastfeeding. This condition is often accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, breast pain, and swelling. If a mother experiences chills alongside these symptoms, it is crucial to seek medical advice.
When to Seek Help
While experiencing chills during breastfeeding can be normal, it is essential for mothers to pay attention to their bodies. If chills are accompanied by other concerning symptoms, such as persistent fever, severe pain, or unusual changes in breast appearance, it may indicate an underlying issue that requires medical attention.
In summary, while chills during breastfeeding can be unsettling, they are often a normal part of the postpartum experience, influenced by hormonal changes and the body’s adjustment to new routines. However, awareness of symptoms like mastitis is vital for ensuring both maternal and infant health.

Is it normal to have postpartum cold chills?

Among the various postpartum symptoms that can arise, feeling intensely cold and shivering right after giving birth is increasingly common among new mothers. “Patients describe the feeling as if they are stuck outside on a freezing winter day without a coat, causing their teeth to chatter and their body to shake.

Why do I get chills after breastfeeding?

Besides causing swelling and redness, mastitis causes breast pain and warmth. An infection also can cause fever and chills. Mastitis most often affects people who are breastfeeding. This is called lactation mastitis.

Why do I feel sick while breastfeeding?

nausea that occurs with let-down during breastfeeding (this happens because oxytocin, the hormone that causes your milk ejection reflex, is also associated with digestion and other gut hormones that cause nausea)

Can you get flu-like symptoms while breastfeeding?

The symptoms of mastitis can come on very suddenly. You may feel like you’re getting the flu before you feel any discomfort in your breast. When you feel that pain or see the telltale redness, call your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor can diagnose mastitis based on a physical exam.

Does breastfeeding cause common cold?

Cold viruses do not pass through to breastmilk. If you take medication, it is best to breastfeed your baby first and then take medication afterwards. Ensure you rest and drink plenty of fluids (eg: water or juice).

Can breastfeeding cause fever and chills?

Symptoms of plugged ducts, mastitis
Mastitis symptoms appear rapidly and include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue and body aches. The pain typically is more intense than a plugged duct, and the person also may notice red streaking on the breasts.

Can breastfeeding make you feel feverish?

It’s common to experience a painful or burning sensation while breastfeeding, too. You might also develop a fever (usually 101 degrees Fahrenheit or more) and other flu-like symptoms (such as chills) — which can sometimes come on suddenly.

Can breastfeeding make you feel shivery?

It may cause you to suddenly feel unwell, with flu-like symptoms such aching and higher temperature, as well as shivering. It can happen when milk leaks into the tissues from blocked ducts, and your body reacts to it, causing redness and swelling, although this is not always a sign of infection.

Is breastfeeding hard on your body?

I’m talking wrist pain, back pain, rib pain, numbness, neck pain, tingling, tight muscles, feeling weak, breathing changes… All these changes to the musculoskeletal system and associated senorimotor cortext of the brain can start during a woman’s breastfeeding career.

Does breastfeeding affect body temperature?

This statement is proven by research,2 which shows an increase in body temperature in hypothermic infants after 1 h of early breastfeeding initiation even though the baby has not been fully breastfed with an increase in temperature of 0.1–0.3 °C.