Postpartum Dizziness

Diagnosis of Postpartum Dizziness  

Post partum dizziness is a common condition after a long exhausting labour.  It is commonly called post partum vertigo or spinning.   this dizziness is most common after a significant loss of blood or a delivery which overly exhausts the new mother.  Generally after delivery there is sudden dizziness with blurred vision, in some cases the dizziness can be severe enough where the new mom is unable to stand.  There is also possible nausea and vomitting. 

Western Medicine sees several causes:

1 - Positional Dizziness (Vertigo) is one of the most common forms of dizziness postpartum which is diagnosed by only having the dizziness when the head is placed in specific positions.  

2- Dizziness accompanied by Migraines - this is most common in women who had previously had migraines before pregnancy.  Due to the hormonal changes with having a baby this brings on the migraines and dizziness.

3 - Dizziness due to Perilymph fistula - this type of dizziness will come on during periods of straining like blowing ones nose or sneezing.  This is caused by the changes in collagen during the pregnancy.

4- Dizziness accompanied with depression is due to physcological changes.

There are several common patterns which cause postpartum dizziness in chinesemedicine. 

Blood Insufficiency Dizziness

This pattern follows a birth where there may have been an excess amount of blood loss during delivery.  The new mom will also have a sense of cloudiness, poor memory, dizziness, blurred vision, pale complexion, nausea, irritability, fullness in chest, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, fainting, cold limbs, cold sweat, ...

Chinese Herbal Medicine - Ba Zhen Tang

Acupuncture points 

Ren, Du, Ren 4 and 6 (Moxa), Du 26 (fainting), SP 6, ST 36 - fullness in chest- PC 6 - palpitations- HT 7 - bleeding- Moxa SP 1

Blood Stasis Dizziness

Post partum dizziness with this pattern can be caused by several different factors.The trauma of child birth may cause stagnation and poor blood circulation which leads to this type of dizziness. There will be lots of pain which is stabbing and severe in nature, dark clotted lochia discharge, ...

Chinese herbal Medicine -  Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan  or   Wen Jing Tang

Acupuncture points

Du, Ren, Du 26 (fainting), Ren 3, 7, SP 6, SJ 6,...

Alternative Treatment Methods

auricular acupuncture - Shenmen, sympathetic, adrenal, HT, LR, internal reproductive organs