17mo major nursing strike

[Rhododendron]

My 17mo has Hand, Foot & Mouth disease, since Monday morning. She's been unwell/unhappy, it's caused lots of spots on her nappy area and a few on her hands and feet, and I think she must also have mouth ulcers because she's refused breastfeeds ever since! Normally I feed her twice a day, so that's 10 feeds she's missed.

I'm worried that if she doesn't take a bf soon (maybe already??) then my milk supply will be gone for ever. Obv at 17m this wouldn't be the end of the world, but I'd be very disappointed. I've tried pumping several times, but have got very little milk out; today it dropped to about 5ml! Earlier in the week one breast was quite engorged but the other not, and now neither is.

I can't find information on how long it takes a milk supply to dry up; what's been your experience? And suggestions, please.

I've been feeling really emotional about this.

My dd had a nursing strike at the same age, and never went back to it , despite the abrupt stop i was able to squeeze milk out of my breasts for months afterwards, and stopping so abruptly never made my breasts engorged. I think i probably fed her 3-4 times per, but otherwise quite a similar situation.

I hope it works out for you.

My friend's son just had hand, foot and mouth and he too went on strike but did resume. I don't think your supply should dry up that quickly, my supply dropped due to pregnancy when dd was a similar age. She then started dropping feeds and would often go days without feeds but there was still a bit of milk there even with pregnancy

Hmm, so a bit mixed. Thanks for the info!

I'm really sorry to hear you lost out on this one, Janek!