The puerperium or postpartum is a particularly sensitive stage for the new mother, in which she experiences numerous physical and emotional changes. There are some uncomfortable truths in this period , but there is one that happens immediately after giving birth that nobody tells you about, or at least nobody told me and I had a really bad time.
Shaking, shivering, clenching, and uncontrollable shaking are quite common after childbirth, and can occur after either a C-section or vaginal delivery, and while it’s annoying, it doesn’t pose any risk to the mother and passes on its own. the few hours.
What causes tremors in childbirth?
It is not due to a cause, but to a combination of factors that occur at the time of giving birth:
- Decrease in blood flow at the peripheral level produced during childbirth, which causes paleness and cold and which tries to compensate with tremor.
- Hormonal changes : The woman experiences a hormonal revolution in childbirth, including the adrenal hormones, which may be responsible for the tremors after childbirth.
- Epidural anesthesia : anesthesia produces a drop in blood pressure or hypotension, which is also compensated by tremors. In my case, I am sure that this has been the cause of my trembling like a leaf after my second delivery, since in the third I asked for the dose of anesthesia to be lighter and I did not feel tremors. Check out more interesting articles on our site Fit Blog.
- Intravenous fluids : Fluids given through an IV are cooler than body temperature, so they can make you feel cold and shaky.
- Amniotic fluid microembolisms : Small amounts of amniotic fluid can leak into the bloodstream during surgery, causing chills or shakiness.
The tremors can be accompanied by burning, cramps, pain and pale skin, but they are variable phenomena from one woman to another and can last minutes or up to a couple of hours after childbirth.
It is a perfectly expected symptom, but one that probably no one will tell you about . If it happens to you, it is good to know in advance that it is something normal, so try to relax, breathe and that this temporary discomfort does not prevent you from enjoying your baby during his first hour of life .