Breastfeeding and ill

[Maternityleaveisawesome]

I ebf my 5 month old, in fact she screamed at a bottle of expressed milk so it is me or nothing.

Last night I got sick with a tummy bug and feel dreadful. I am not eating, and am trying to drink, but it is hard when I feel so sick.

My mother has arrived to distract the baby and is just bringing her to me for feeds.

If I can't get enough water down me (that stays down as well) will my milk supply go first or will I just get more dehydrated and my milk be ok?

Your milk will probably drop a bit in quality so baby may want to feed more, but the quantity should be ok. I got a tummy bug when both my children were 3 weeks old (talk about unlucky!). It is hard, but at least you've got your mum.

Good luck. I hope it passes soon & you recover quickly.

Milk will be fine. It's not affected by you being ill at all - drink because it's good for you not to get dehydrated, but you won't get dehydrated any faster than usual.

Also you feeding your DD is the best thing as all of the antibodies your body is creating against this bug will be going straight to her and helping prevent her from getting the bug as well (or if she does get it it will be much milder).

It's grim to be feeding a baby when you feel like crap but it is the best thing for her so try not to worry - your mum has the best approach to try and distract her and let you rest, but let her feed when she really wants to.

Hope you feel better soon.

What Bertie says. I totally sympathise as had to feed my DS through a D&V bug when he was about the same age, but he never caught it and we just dozed in bed together (I swear sick mummy's milk makes babies sleepy).
Hope you feel better soon

Gawd, it's grim isn't it - sympathies. I caught D&V from DS1 twice in the first year and it was horrible. Make sure your mum maintains good hygiene (not implying that she wouldn't, but it would be a bugger if she got it too!).

Snap, OP. I have a stomach bug, and so does my 3-month-old daughter. I found it v hard to drink much yesterday and made sure to offer feeds frequently, all of which she took. This morning I had to eat breakfast, even though it made me feel ill, as I thought I'd faint otherwise.

Lucky you having your mum around! Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you all.

MamaPo, hope you feel better soon. Also hope you have dp around ( mine working away). If my mum wasn't here not sure what I would do, can feed, but not entertain, and even burping hurts too much!

If you can drink it, Lucozade sport (the still stuff, not fizzy) is great for sickness bugs, especially if you're breastfeeding as it does give you energy and perk you up a bit.