Had gastro-enteritis this week and supply has almost disappeared! (DS 5.5 mths old)

[LadyPenelope]

Any advice. I had gastro-enteritis 3 days and kept nothing down (not even water for 24 hours). Have been catching up over last 48 hours - eating very little and trying to drink as much water as poss. (Just toast, soup, rice, veggies).

On day I was really sick, only managed to feed ds once and expressed twice and nanny took care of him rest of day/night. I normally feed him morning, evening and 11pm and express once or twice at work. I've never had hugely plentiful supply but enough for him if I'm with him - while I'm at work he needs a bottle of formula for one feed since I can't express enough for him.

Yesterday, I was recovering at home and fed him for all of his feeds and was aware I was a bit dehydrated, but I was hardly producing anything and gave him some top ups. Today, I'm back at work and rather than the normal 10 oz I get from 2 expressions... I only got 4 and this morning and this evening he needed a 4 oz top up to be satisfied.

I really want to boost supply but can't just take to my bed with him (work would definitely complain! and I have a 4 year old dd!)

I'm trying to rest as much as poss (difficult since dd came down with same thing last night so I only got about 4 hours sleep and dh is on a biz trip). I'm panicing... b/f has gone so well and I'm not ready to give up yet.

My midwives recommended white nuts - cashews, brazil nuts etc (not peanuts), putting baby to the breast a lot and lots of rest to boost supply. Difficult when you have so much else on I know but I wish you every success.

bump ...

Lemonade is good. Gives u sugar and energy, I had to drink alot when I had breast abscess!Feed him as much as you can and for as long as he wants.Tbh Ive had problem with over supply so if u ever have too much I know how to reduce it!!!! Sorry not much help really. Good luck

You just need to feed more and you will have more milk. At the weekend, don't give a bottle at all - just feed whenever your baby looks for food - it will bounce back. It wasn't the dehydration or lack of food that was the primary problem, but the lack of feeds.

Thanks folks ... I will certainly be feeding as much as possible to build it back. I've got 2 days to improve the situation.

Aloha - is it really just the lack of feeds? ... I only dropped 2 feed/express sessions for 24 hours and then picked up the next day. When I've done that very occassionally before I've been slightly engourged for next feed and then been able to feed as normal from then on ... no drop in supply. And we are really established breastfeeding team ... he's 5.5 months.

This time it's dramatic and rather frightening. There is hardly anything there.

I don't think I'll be able to go cold turkey on the top ups. Since he's already 5.5 months and he's big and not yet on solids, if I do away with them, he will never get enough. He is getting very frustrated and upset already. It's totally different to a small baby who will keep sucking. DS pulls away in frustration when there is nothing there. I was planning to feed him more often and limit top ups to when he seems like he really needs them. What do you think?

Possibly because you aren't breastfeeding that much to start with (think expressing is never as effective as feeding directly) your supply might be a bit more fragile. But I know that a couple of days of fully breastfeeding really worked for me when I was working in an office three days a week. I'd only have to miss the evening feed because of working late once or twice to see an impact the next day, but a feeding fest over the weekend sorted it out straightaway. Feed and feed and remember, you are never 'empty' so if he still seems hungry, feed again!

Thanks aloha --- that was fast!
I'll try ... wish me luck!

Good luck -

Agree with Aloha - the only was to increase supply is to feed as often as you can. At the weekend when you are off do not restrict feeds at all. At work, try and express more frequently if you can. Do not worry if you do not get much milk - the aim is to stimulate the breasts to produce more milk. Your milk will bounce back.