Bf dc3 while dc2 is in hospital

[diggerdigsdogs]

Dc2 (almost 2yrs) has asthma and has frequent and unexpected (usually 24hrs from first symptoms to being in hospital) trips to hospital. Usually we are in for 24-48 hrs.

I usually do the overnights as I'm a sahm and dh has work. Dh usually looks after dc1 at home (and so works from home for the day) though she'll be in nursery next year 3 days a week.

We also have an emergency child minder/baby sitter. Dh travels for work frequently and she is our back up care. She can do overnights too if need be.

Anyway, dc3 is due in march and I've bf both of my dc exclusively for between 6 and 9 months. Dc3 was unplanned as I hadn't wanted to deal with exactly this!

I'm feeling very anxious about how to feed dc3.

If I bf dc3 then dc3 will always have I come ino hospital with us. Just not practical (dc2 needs to be held/comforted/pinned down for meds) unless dc3 is tiny.

If I ff then dc3 can be left with dh or cm.

Any ideas? Thoughts?

[Browneyesblue]

I know it doesn't completely solve your problem, but if you have to stay in hospital you should be able to borrow a hospital pump to help keep up your supply, and to stop you from getting engorged.

When I had to stay in hospital with DS1, there were pumps available on the children's ward - the hospital pump was fantastic compared to the one I had at home. If they had all been in use, they would have borrowed one from maternity. You could talk to your midwife, or contact the hospital's Infant Feeding Co-ordinator, and get the information you need in advance. The Infant Feeding Co-ordinator may be able to offer more ideas too.

Your CM or DH could perhaps bring DC3 to you for a feed, and to collect any expressed milk?

If it is important to you to BF, perhaps you could try and have an emergency supply of expressed milk in the freezer.

I know that anxious, worried feeling. After struggling with DS1's tongue tie, I was very anxious when I found out I was pregnant again. Making a plan in advance helped calm me down :)

[Flywheel]

I had this with dc 2 & 3 die to dd1s frequent hospital stays. At about 10 days or 2 weeks I started expressing and giving a bottle about every other day. I also buitlt up a stash of bm. Dd had 2 hospital stays while ds was little and feeding was never an issue. He was used to the bottle and there was plenty of milk. Took a little organising, but it wasn't too much hassle really.