Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

I'm sick and breastfeeding

15 replies

blushingmare · 14/07/2012 22:13

I seem to have picked up a stomach bug. Am vomiting and can't keep anything down, not even clear fluids. Just want to sleep :-( DD now sleeping for first time this evening after DH took her out for a ride in the car, but she'll be awake again soon enough and I'm really tearful at the thought of getting through the night feeds.

Guess I'm just looking for some words of encouragement as desperately don't want to resort to DH giving her formula as we had to work so hard at establishing BF after a traumatic birth and now we've been doing so well.

OP posts:
TheMysteryCat · 14/07/2012 22:17

go to sleep now! sleep when she sleeps.

I had a stomach bug when my DS was about 8 weeks old, it scared the bejesus out of me.

my mum looked after my DS whilst he was asleep so i could sleep comfortably and when he was awake, i fed him and then we both went back to sleep again.

it was gone after 24 hours, but i know exactly how you feel.

i drank little sips of water and after a few hours managed to keep down a bit of dry toast as well.

notnowbernard · 14/07/2012 22:17

Poor you, it's very hard - I've been there as well - breaking off feeds to puke, sitting on the loo with the splats whilst bf (nice)

Can you just have her lie next to you so you can roll over to feed? Or get DP to stay up and bring her to you for each feed so you don't actually have to get up?

maples · 14/07/2012 22:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CaringMum28 · 14/07/2012 22:19

I had terrible d n v worst ever when baby was 6-7wks old. All I could sip was lucozade and I was terrified of messing up bf. useless doctor said to ff him I did and he sucked up and had wind for 2hrs. Great!! Angry
I produced enough milk for the whole time with barely eating.
Focus 100% on recovery and bf and you'll be fine. Grin xxx

RedKites · 14/07/2012 22:21

Much sympathy. Get as much sleep as you can and let your DH do all the non-feeding stuff - is he home tomorrow? If so, stay in bed all day if it helps you get more rest, with him just bringing DD to you for feeds. Also remember that by continuing to feed her, you're passing on some immunity so DD is less likely to catch the bug, and if she does, will hopefully be less ill than she would have been otherwise.

Coldcuppacoffee · 14/07/2012 22:24

Tough. And even if it is perfectly safe, it still feels a bit odd.

Tuck yourself up in bed, feel lying down and expend as little energy as possible. I was putting DS1 down on the floor and legging it to the loo, but I only had to do that once.

You will get through it! All the best.

LittleCatZ · 14/07/2012 22:24

Definitely good to keep on - if it's a bug then your milk may actually protect baby from having it - or to recover faster, due to the immune system support and the wait amazingly adapts to what your baby needs. All advice above is good.- taking care of you and letting you rest, just see baby for feeds if that is all you can face or co-sleep if you can do that and still relax yourself.

EyesDoMoreThanSee · 14/07/2012 22:25

deep breath.

have been there - awful awful feeling so ill (D&V) while BFing and wanting so much to just feel better. But. One good thing is all that immunity your body is developing is going to your DD and if she does get ill then Breastmilk is easy and gentler to digest and she will get better much faster than you

my DD is 2, she almost died after a traumatic birth, BFing was the only way I could begin to imagine bonding with her. Despite a horrendous start to BFing she is still BFed and now helps herself when she feels like it. Chin up - you'll feel better in 24 hours.

And I had a bug last month where i was physically sick for a week, no food and very little water, my supply was unaffected. DD caught the bug and was better inside of 5 hours.

AuntPepita · 14/07/2012 22:27

yup been there. I had food poisoning when DD was 3 weeks old for about 5 days. ugh.

Sleep when you can, get DH to look after DD when you sleep and bring her to you to feed, then take her away again.

You can and will get through this, though it is hell on earth while it goes on.

TeaandHobnobs · 15/07/2012 01:19

OP I have just got through this - had the most horrendous D&V since Thursday night, and have had to keep feeding DS.

You can get through it, it won't go on forever even though you must feel utterly dreadful and nursing is probably the last thing you want to have to do!

Even if you can't keep anything down, keep sipping water as you will get dehydrated very easily. First thing tomorrow get someone to get you some rehydration sachets.

Can your DH take DD into another room when she doesn't need to feed so you can get as much rest as possible?

You poor poor thing Sad you can survive this Smile

Original poster
blushingmare · 15/07/2012 10:43

Thank you so much for all your comments - it was just what I needed last night and really helped get through the night. You're right we did survive and this morning I think I've just managed to keep down half a glass of water for the first time so am hopeful things are improving now. DH is at work now, but my beautiful little DD is being brilliant so far and just sleeping soundly next to me in bed - hopefully we can eek that out til her Daddy comes back at lunchtime. I just really hope she doesn't get it now - she's only 5 weeks and has already had problems with losing weight. Fingers crossed. Thanks again for your help.

OP posts:
maples · 15/07/2012 10:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

storytopper · 15/07/2012 11:04

I remember this happening to me long time ago. My 20 month DS1 caught a dv bug then I got it while bf DS2 who was 8 weeks old. I was really worried but DS2 was fine - and he was a big greedy baby. He didn't catch the bug either. Good luck OP - hope your are now over the worst.

showtunesgirl · 15/07/2012 11:09

Well done OP, it sucks when you're sick.

I had a stomach bug and was chucking up everywhere and DH took the day off and took care of her apart from when it was time to feed.

The best thing to prevent her from getting it is to feed her as she will be benefiting from your antibodies that have just fought it off.

CaringMum28 · 15/07/2012 19:19

Forgot to say, I was terrified my 6wk old would get it but he didnt. Amazing powers of Bf! And he's 7m now and altho been lots of bugs in house he's 75% bf still and never been Ill Grin all the best xxx

New posts on this thread. Refresh page