norovirus and breastfeeding

[Justawake]

Hi

Hoping for some help... have a boob addicted ds 7 1/2 months feeds a lot (am demand feeding and he does not do bottles!) Yesterday I came down with this god awful norovirus and have severe sickness and diarrhoea to the point I'm not keeping even sips of water down. Ds had a mild stomach bug last week and is reluctant to eat food (have been blw and has been going really well)

All ds wants is milk and I'm worried about my supply dwindling as I'm hardly drinking anything as it won't stay down. I am drinking small sips but it just come straight back up. this morning i've had to use both sides to feed which is not usually needed and i'm worried also about the hot weather and keeping ds hydrated.

Any tips on how to muddle through this gratefully appreciated...

I had this too when DS was little and I was breastfeeding. Suck on ice or have very very small sips very often and wait for it to pass. Norovirus rarely lasts beyond 24-48 hours in terms of the worst of symptoms so I just toughed it out. If you can get some oral rehydration salts for yourself then even better.

Supply should be fine even if it drops off a little as you have been established for months now. Norovirus is hideous. My sympathies.

Hope you feel better soon.

Have you tried drinking apple juice (the clear stuff) instead of water? Often the only thing I can keep down if vomiting, plus the sugar in it helps.

Thank you! The apple juice helped. Still feeling grotty but at least stuff is staying down. Supply seems to have really dwindled so drinking as much as I can.

I was in your position a while ago. Try to keep well hydrated and eat what you can. Your supply is prob not dwindling. If your baby is poorly too then they are prob feeding for comfort. not because your milk is running out

Ok in a panic now, bug has gone but left me feeling weak and listless, forcing myself to eat and drink my milk supply seems to have seriously decreased and ds is getting extremely cross at feeds (which is not like him) and bashing my boobs with his fist. 4 days ago I had huge boobs, still leaky with the amount of milk and fast let downs but now none of this - just a very cross baby at feeding time. I've had him latched on regularly throughout the day, is there anything else I can do as I really don't want to stop feeding

I went through this and was really scared that my supply had gone, but it came back as soon as I was properly hydrated, in fact I think I had too much for a few days, just dont stop putting baby to the breast even if its frustrating for you both. Get well soon.

God, poor you. I had norovirus when bf and was phenomenally ill all over DD1. I was totally amazed though that even when I hadn't eaten or drunk properly for days, the milk kept coming. The body is an amazing thing. Just wondering, is your let-down ever hindered when you feel stressed? (it does with me). Would just suggest trying not to panic, even if you feel ropy as anything. Just relax, take it easy (easier said than done, of course, I understand), keep putting baby to the breast like curly says, maybe try feeding in the bath or something like that. I would be very very surprised if, given the age of your baby, this spelt the end of bf.

BTW this may or may not apply to you but I spent the weekend with a milder bug and my milk was fine for DD2, but I was much more anxious than normal generally- I have a suspicion that for me when I am ill, weak, listless etc. I get a bit anxious because I feel so bloody awful. Not saying this applies to you but thought I would mention it in the vague hope it might be useful.

Hope you feel better soon. Keep sipping the apple juice.

Thanks for all your helpful replies. Domesticslattern yes I can relate to thr anxiety... I'm trying to relax as much as possible am supposed to be going to a wedding tomorrow for the whole weekend but at the moment its my idea of a nightmare in this heat, 4 hours drive and being on someone elses agenda with a teething, still not fully recovered from bug ds - think I'm just going to send dp (wedding his friends) so at least he can have a good time!