Extreme stress and supply problem - DS 10 mths

[beanlet]

DS is 10 mths and until this week has still been BF before breakfast, late at night and two or three times in the day. The past week has been hell at work - cock up by someone else jeopardising my major project and failure of said party to find a solution or even communicate with me has sent my stress levels through the roof.

Over the last 48 hours DS has had very yellow urine or dry nappies, and has been screaming at the breast - I've not been feeling letdown much and my breasts feel soft and empty.

Have been feeding him water and formula to deal with dehydration and letting him suckle whenever he likes. I think I had some milk overnight.

Can stress affect supply like this? Will I get it back? And how can I increase it quickly?

He's definitely not self- weaning - he wants to suckle and gets really frustrated if we try to give him a bottle.

Forgot to say he's almost EBF - formula is only for emergencies, and we've only used it a couple of times

I wouldn't have thought stress could affect supply so quickly. I don't have any research evidence, but I was hospitalised with a serious neuro condition when DD was 8m old and was extremely stressed and frightened for a couple of weeks but was able to continue breastfeeding OK. So at least it isn't inevitable.

DD did have a really hungry phase around 10m. Is it possible that he is simply needing some extra calories?

Alternatively is it possible that he is simply picking up on your tension and this is making him a little clingy and fussy because he is concerned that you aren't as relaxed and cuddly as usual? The fact he wants to suckle rather than take a bottle suggests to me that he may just want more mummy-time. I had to go to a conference for 2 nights a month ago and DD fed pretty much like a newborn for 48hours when I got back which I think was just her way of reconnecting.

Yes, extreme stress can affect let down, but it's in the short term only....I'm surprised this has lasted 48 hours. You will get it back, and all the usual things apply, just as if he was newborn....calm, cosy skin to skin snuggles rather than forcing, and feeding ad lib.

Hope things get better soon.

Agree with Veronica, too....he may well be reacting to your tension, yes.

Thanks - am spending the day cuddling with him. Interesting what you say Veronica about reconnecting after being away - I've had two conferences away recently (involving massive pumping efforts before and during!) and he drinks very slowly and thoughtfully when I get home to him.

He's just had a more usual feed, so maybe he's getting back to normal now.

Oh - and yes, he's a hungry monster at the moment!