Missing breastfeeds for EBF 8 week old as stuck in A+E :-(

[Penguin13]

Being a complete idiot I managed to badly slice my finger open on the lid of a can tonight. It is quite deep so was advised to get to the emergency department where I am now. Although I was really disappointed that this would mean giving DD2, 8wo and up till now ebf, formula it seemed like the sensible option and had made peace with that although I would have preferred it to be a more considered choice to mixed feed. It will be the first time I have been away from her for any length of time but it didn't seem sensible to bring her along with me and I figured that it was the best I could do given that I have no frozen supplies (with a 2.5 year old in the mix as well I have no time to express in addition to bf).

I had thought I was likely to miss one feed as DD usually has a chunk of 4-5 hours sleep at the beginning of the night. Waiting time just went up another hour though (currently 3.5 hours) and there are 6 people in front of me before I am even seen. I am worried that I will now miss 2 or even 3 feeds. Does anyone have experience of this? Do you think it will have a detrimental effect on my supply if I pick up again after those missed feeds? I fed DD1 to a year and really want to do the same for DD2. Am I panicking needlessly? I reserve the right to panic about my boobs exploding whilst I wait

Feeling miserable as it is that my first separation from DD is so unplanned and for such a stupid reason.

[PickAChew]

If you can do it one handed, it might be worth trying to hand express a little, even if you're going to end up dumping it.

[CheeseandGherkins]

Hope you're ok. Just wonder why you didn't take the baby with you, that's what I would have done.

[Akire]

The human race would have died off long ago if missing a few hours stopped your milk supply totally. Your boobs on the other hand my just explode :)

[passthewineplz]

I'd probably speak to a member of staff that you're BF, and ask if there's somewhere you can express.

Then feed your DD as soon as you get home.

Just remember though that BF isn't an effective form of contraception, and one missed feed can trigger ovulation and the start of your periods....

[iamAlexandr]

I can't say it any better than Akire did. Any chance that someone could bring the baby to you?

[Penguin13]

I did consider it cheese but the emergency department didn't seem like the best place for her be with potential exposure to infections and since she is not the deepest sleeper now she is past that newborn stage. I also thought that people who are ill and in pain or distress may not appreciate having a crying baby adding to their distress!

I may well try hand expressing pick mastered my technique recently whilst cleaning the bout of mastitis I had on mon/Tues (which is another reason I am a little concerned about missing feeds).

I'm fine cheese thank you. Mainly feel like a wally and feel bad for being a drain on stretched NHS resources thanks to being a plank but it definitely needed to get seen sooner rather than later.

[passthewineplz]

Glad you're ok. Just feed feed feed feed when you get home, and if you feel like your supply is a bit low try some skin to skin.

[Penguin13]

Ooh some cross posts whilst composing my long - winded reply. Thanks pass I am aware but good to be reminded just in case pretty sure the abstention method is 100% foolproof but that's a whole other thread

No-one to bring the baby unfortunately as DH needs to stay at home with our 2.5 year old.

[Penguin13]

The siren call of the hospital vending machine may soon prove impossible to resist. Chocolate is practically medicine right?

[CheeseandGherkins]

Sorry, didn't mean to be unsympathetic, I really am. If you aren't seen soon I'd be off home as I wouldn't be able to leave baby for that long not fed. I can't even leave dd5 (9 months now) for long as she feeds every couple of hours!

Are you still bleeding? Can you just wrap it and see gp tomorrow? Feel as though if it was spurting they would have seen you by now.

[Penguin13]

Oh don't worry Cheese I didn't take it badly at all DD will be fed just with formula not my milk. It's not ideal and wouldn't be my preference but I'm sure a couple of formula feeds out of 12 months of breastfeeding won't harm her and her dad is with her. Was mainly just concerned about keeping up my supply. Not bleeding profusely no thankfully as am a complete wuss but 111 advised me to come im urgently despite that - think the main concern is possible need for a tetanus shot.

[Verticalvenetianblinds]

hope you get seen soon. Or you have plenty of battery (and change for the vending machine!)

[AntiHop]

There might be a pump you can borrow. Ask the nurse in charge.

Hope you get seen soon.

[passthewineplz]

Chocolate is medicine! Get some down you! 😊 🍫 it can also be better than sex! Haha!

[Penguin13]

Thank you everyone for your replies. All glued up and tetanus shot done so hot-footing it home to my DDs Had an emergency twix to keep me going Didn't get a chance to express as was called in so boobs look like I have had some bags of marbles inserted as implants attractive! Only missed one feed though which I'm very happy about. I luffs the NHS.

[allthegoodnamesalreadytaken]

I had complications with my C-section and ended up in a+e and hospital ward at around the same time (6-8 weeks ish) My DH gave her a bottle of ready made Aptamil and when I returned I resumed breastfeeding. She is now 10
months loves breastfeeding and refuses to take a bottle so didn't do her any harm

[Penguin13]

Thanks All. Sorry to hear about your complications, hope you are all better now. Been feeding as normal today, perhaps slightly more than usual given the heatwave but everything seems fine - phew!