Restarting bfeeding after hospital stay

[Oscalito]

I have a seven-week-old baby and breastfeeding was going OK, but then I got swine flu and pneumonia and have spent the last 11 days in hospital away from him. I have been expressing about half his milk each day but my supply has decreased, and he had formula while I was in there. Does anyone have any experience of this, or can suggest ways of boosting my supply again. I'm thinking of just staying in and feeding as much as possible, but I can tell there is not that much milk. Thanks.

Am no expert, so bumping for you.

Staying in and feeding feeding feeding sounds good though. Can you call hv or bf advice line?

Am sure it is possible, good luck

Could you stay in bed with your ds and just bf on demand. Do you have someone to bring your meals/drinks, change & bath ds? If so you stay put with ds day & night. When he wakes up bf - offer him a bf all the time. With this your milk supply will increase to meet his needs.

Hope you're fully recovered soon. Must have been awful and worrying for you.

Thank you PomPotty & Dessen. I was hoping it was just a matter of staying in and bfing constantly, which I am going to do.... luckily my mum is here and can help out with everything else. He is asleep now so must have got enough milk even though it feels like there isn't much there. Will try the redbush tea as well which I read somewhere else.

Was a very weird time, thought it was just a cold and did not expect to end up in hospital, but did get a few full nights' sleep which I wasn't expecting for months yet, and now feel human again so not all bad.

Lots of skin to skin too oscalito
Try switch nursing - ie. offer one breat, then the second then back to the first again.
Keep him close and offer milk often- probably at least every two hours or just when he squawks.
Co-sleeping, if you're not already would mean he has every opportunity to grab some milk.
Hope things work out for you.

Hi Oscalito, sorry you had a dreadful time and glad your on the mend.

I am trying to reestablish bf, my lo is 10 weeks today, I bf for 4 weeks but got infections from the section as was too poorly.

I am drinking Red bush tea (OK with sugar in it), eating lots of porridge, pumping and offering lo breast as much as I can. I will also be getting some fenugreek and blessed thistle, to see if these can help.

I found good advice on www.kellymom.com and the other one I think is www.momtomom.com

Good luck

Thanks Crikeybadger. Have been co-sleeping for a few weeks now as it's the only way he'll sleep, and will take on all the other advice.

Alfiemama good luck with re-establishing b-feeding too. hope it works out for you.

Thanks Oscalito, just make sure you look after yourself as well.

Just wondering how you are doing oscalito? It must be really hard and draining, I really hope it works out for you.

Alfiemama, same to you, take care of yourselves.

I lost my supply and got it back. It can be done. Hard work but worth it. Keep latching on and express an oz half hr after a feed. Took a couple of weeks for me.

Good luck