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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Should I give breastmilk or water to a vomiting 11-month old?

35 replies

morningpaper · 02/09/2006 16:30

My bab yhas been vomting for nearly 24 hours - three major vomiting sessions have happened after her last three big feeds. She has brought up loads and loads projectile-stylee with her whole body convulsing. She seems to keep water down better, but I thought that breastmilk should be the first thing offered to a vomiting baby? Can anyone advise?

OP posts:
auntymandy · 02/09/2006 16:35

If she is bringing up milk but happily drinks water I think Iwould give her water just to keep her hydrated. I maybe wrong here and someone else who knows better might give you better advice!

nothercules · 02/09/2006 16:56

i always bf

tiktok · 02/09/2006 17:02

morning, it's really important to breastfeed and this is by far the best 'treatment' for her...she may bring some of it back but the anti-infective properties in it will still do their work. If you feel she isn't keeping enough down to remain hydrated then you can give her water as well, but first choice would always be breastmilk. If you are concerned a call to NHS direct should confirm this...hope things go better soon.

beech · 02/09/2006 17:04

I would worry it may be something I was having that is upsetting the baby and stick to water for 12 - 24 hrs to see if baby gets better, also there is a risk of dehydration?

SenoraPostrophe · 02/09/2006 17:16

yes breastmilk def fine. not that i imagine you need a second opinion after tiktok has given hers.

beech: it's not a good idea to starve an 11 month old for that long without seeing a doc.

SenoraPostrophe · 02/09/2006 17:16

hope she gets better soon, mp!

Original poster
morningpaper · 02/09/2006 18:05

Thanks all - thanks tiktok. I gave her a good feed about an hour ago and she has perked up and kept it down so far, which is great because at least something will be being absorbed!

Thanks Tiktok grat service as always.

Thanks SP good luck with your feeding too. XXX

OP posts:
Original poster
morningpaper · 02/09/2006 21:08

Baby kept milk down but threw up shedloads 4 hours later

Does that mean it is just sitting in her stomach or what?

OP posts:
mears · 02/09/2006 21:14

Vomiting babies should difnintely continue getting breastmilk. The g=fact it came up is like any gastric virus - seems as though you vomit the whole amount of food you ate for the whole week! Gastric emptying is probably reduced because o fillness but antibodies in breastmilk will help fight infection.

Original poster
morningpaper · 02/09/2006 21:17

Thanks Mears

God this is shit

This place stinks like human cheese!

And my family had taken the 3 year old for the day so that DH and I could have a day just with the baby

We are feeling VERY sorry for ourselves

OP posts:
goldendelicious · 02/09/2006 21:46

Hi morningpaper - after 3 tummy bugs with DS I know exactly how you are feeling. Is she any better now? If she's still vomiting you should def see a doctor asap - DS was sick for nearly 2 days couldn't even keep water down turned out he had a virus called Rotavirus and was in hospital with dehydration for three days (even tho we kept giving him water it just came back up - he wouldn't drink any milk at all). Does she have any diarrhoea? Sorry don't mean to scare you or anything, babies being poorly is the most awful thing x

Polgara2 · 02/09/2006 22:59

Have to agree on the breastmilk, keep it going. When dd2 was a baby both she and dd1 had similar ghastly v&d bug. Kept breastfeeding dd2 but it still lasted full 10 days . If she hadn't had the milk she'd have had nothing. Absolute nightmare of a time which still haunts me now .

shedevil · 02/09/2006 23:15

Hi all i'm new on MN, my son had same virus as yours golden was also in hospital couldn't keep milk or water down was horrible i felt so crap that i couldn't help him, took over a week but he was soon back to normal.

Beech my doc told me to keep son on water for 24 hours when i first took him, then second doc told me to give milk, what a nightmare I was in tears i didn't know what the hell to do all my little boy could do was cry. In the end he was so dehydrated there were no tears

Peridot30 · 02/09/2006 23:27

i would stick to water only for the next 24hrs. dont want child getting dehydrated. doctors usually tell you to stick to water only when being constantly sick/ good luck hope sickness stops soon x

Original poster
morningpaper · 03/09/2006 10:29

Hello, she was sick a few times in the night but not full-on stomach-emptying every time, mostly just a few mouthfuls. She had a few feeds and they mostly stayed down.

She was TOTALLY sick over DH last evening and he was totally covered - he looked like that butter-man in the Lurpak advert....

OP posts:
Gillian76 · 03/09/2006 10:38

Hope she is better today, mp.

Thanks for the email

footprint · 03/09/2006 10:42

When my dd had this a cuople of months ago, she did exactly what you described - seemed to keep things down and then brought EVERYTHING back up a few hours later. The doctor told us that this is due to the whole system becoming acid. He gave us rehydration salts and we gave them to her a spoonful every 10-15 mins. This was the only thing she could handle. Rehydration very important, he said NOT plain water, has to be lots of sugar in it!

Hope she is feeling better mp.

mears · 03/09/2006 10:52

For all of you who have suggested water/rehydration salts - that is absolutely correct for babies of formula milk or toddlers on cow's milk. Breastmilk should continue to be given to breastfed babies as the mother produces the specific antibodies to fight the virus. Hope she is improving MP.

mears · 03/09/2006 10:53

should I breastfeed sick baby

shedevil · 03/09/2006 11:41

mears, my baby was formula fed so yes that makes perfect sense

JoBaz · 03/09/2006 20:37

How is your baby now?
You must keep breastfeeding. no matter what... it will help her fight off whatever is wrong. also, if she is still being very sick I would ring your Doc as babies get dehydrated very quick & can become ill very quick- is her soft spot on her head sunken? if it is, thats a sign shes dehydrated..... Doctors are always great when its a baby so dont feel worried about ringing them- maybe ring NHS direct is not

Original poster
morningpaper · 03/09/2006 21:31

She is improving slowly - not so much being brought up today

I am starting to feel ill though

trying to repress it

OP posts:
shedevil · 03/09/2006 21:51

Oh no...hope you're not getting it too MP?

Original poster
morningpaper · 03/09/2006 21:53

yes I think so

I feel terrible

Also really bad at coping with vomiting

OP posts:
shedevil · 03/09/2006 21:59

I am too MP I know exactly how you feel. I can't cope with it at all I end up either having a panic attack or passing out. I wait and wait till I can't hold on any longer just in case I 'dont really need to be sick'.

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