Will my vestibular symptoms flare up if I have a baby? That question was something that weighed on my mind prior to getting pregnant and during my pregnancy journey. I had heard so many horror stories of women who were either diagnosed with VM after having a baby or experienced an increase in dizziness after having their VM managed for several years.

Well, here I am 7 weeks postpartum, and I’m dealing with dizziness like I did when I first got sick. Hormones, man. They definitely put you through the wringer. And the lack of sleep – well, that can make a healthy person feel off balance.

And while I have been dealing with what it’s like to be back at square one with my dizziness, I am definitely in better spirits. When I got sick in 2016, this was all so NEW. I didn’t understand why I felt like I was drunk or why the world was spinning, but this time around it’s easier to get in the right headspace. I know and understand what’s happening to my body, and rather then spiral into a complete panic attack, I’m taking action on how to manage. That’s why I am sharing “5 Tips On How I’m Managing My Vestibular Migraine Postpartum.”

1. Sleep When Your Baby Sleeps

I have to say that one of the largest contributing factors to my dizziness is lack of sleep. Yes, my hormones have been trying to level out these last 6 weeks which is a big part of it, but minimal sleep is the tipping point.

When you’re pregnant you get so much advice from moms on how to manage that first few months and hear the constant jokes of “say goodbye to sleep” or “get as much sleep as you can now, you’ll miss it.”

Now I understand.

When I am up all night feeding and taking care of my baby, it takes a toll on my body. I have always been a productive person and napping during the day (even when I first fell chronically ill) has always given me anxiety. If I’m not producing or being efficient with my time, I feel guilty. I fought this the first few days home with my baby but learned real quickly that I had to nap. I wasn’t getting sleep at night, and if I didn’t nap with my baby during the day, it made my dizziness so awful that I wasn’t able to do anything. I came to the realization that I was actually less productive when I didn’t nap.

Seriously, sleep when the baby sleeps.

2. Rediscovering Your Balance – Find Ways To Get Mobile

Another fun thing as a new mom with a vestibular disorder is that you can’t exactly walk around holding your child when it’s possible you might fall down. Not to mention, sitting and laying down 24/7 isn’t great for postpartum recovery, especially if you had a c-section like me. I was told over and over again to get moving and my recovery would be easier. But how do you do that when you’re dizzy? Well, I found things to hold onto that would support me from falling but wouldn’t put my little guy at risk.

For example…

My bassinet had wheels on it. If I needed to go to and from a room with my baby in those first few weeks, it was easy enough to wheel him from room to room.

My OB also suggested that I start adding walks to my recovery to help prevent blood clots from forming. Thank goodness for strollers.

In those first few weeks when you’re recovering or rediscovering your balance, rely on all of those baby options like bouncers, swings and anything with wheels so that your baby can easily be put down and safe as you learn to walk again.

3. DON’T screw up your HYH diet.

Take it from me. I was so tired that I thought I would try caffeine again after 3 and a half years. I was desperate to have a jolt of energy, but I quickly realized that there was a reason I gave up caffeine. Can you say merry-go-round?

I don’t think I realized how much caffeine had an effect on me until I started drinking it again. It caused for me to be so dizzy that I couldn’t get up from sitting on the couch. My whole living room was spinning. The sad part? It took me 3 days to realize that, “Hmm… I’ve been drinking caffeine for a few days now and my dizziness is WAY worse.” Desperate times guys….

Anyway, even if your VM has become manageable and you think you can reintroduce foods, maybe rethink doing it when you’re experiencing a crazy hormone change and are sleep deprived. Needless to say, I had a harsh reminder on why caffeine is a thing in the past for me.

4. Revisit Your Old Coping Mechanisms

I think everyone who has experienced chronic VM can relate to that point in the beginning of your diagnosis where you will TRY anything and everything to feel better. Then there comes a time where you might have found medications that have managed it or your old coping strategies drop off.  

What better time to revisit some of those old coping skills then when your VM flares back up and you can’t rely on medication while breastfeeding. For me, it was meditation, exercise, consciously wearing my migraine glasses and finding moments in my day to prioritize myself.

With a baby, that looks like…

• listening to calming music or your meditation app before bed once your baby is down for the night.
• Going on a walk with your baby during the day. Fresh air and vitamin D does the body good.
• Being cognizant to wear my migraine glasses 24/7 to prevent attacks rather than just when I’m on the computer or watching TV.
• Taking a shower daily. With a baby that can be a difficult task, but it’s important to feel clean and more like yourself to be in the best shape to take care of your little one.

5. Communicate With Your Partner About How You’re Feeling

This one can be tough for me because I’m very stubborn. To me, it’s my role as the mom to feed, change, and take care of our baby in the wee hours of the night because I’m the one on maternity leave while my husband works. However, if I am not sleeping, it prevents me from being a good caretaker during the day, too.

Literally the other night my husband yelled at me to let him take a shift because I needed sleep. I could have saved us both an unnecessary argument if I just told him what I was needing rather than him watch me unravel. With a new baby you need to be feeling as best as you can and your partner can pick up the slack. Don’t be afraid to express what areas you could use a helping hand.

Besides the sleep factor, make sure to let them know if your too dizzy to perform tasks while they’re home like cleaning the house, making dinner, changing diapers, etc. I have to remind myself that I’m not in this alone – even if I am stubborn and want to do it all. 

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I’m definitely still navigating this whole first-time mom thing, and I expect to endure many humps with my vestibular migraine. However, I will say that I have noticed in the last week that as my baby sleeps more and my hormones are smoothing out, I’m starting to feel better and more balanced.

I also had my visit with my vestibular neurologist last week and we’re going to try a few new medications including the injectable medication, AJOVY. I will write an updated post on all of that once I notice if the medications are making a difference. Stay tuned! 

If you or someone you know was just diagnosed with a vestibular disorder, head to VEDA to find valuable resources and doctors in your area. Also, please donate to my Steps-2-Balance campaign here to help to continue to spread awareness around vestibular migraine and other vestibular disorders.