Breast feeding and surviving Gastroenteritis.

[Writerwannabe83]

I was in A&E with DS last night because he has Gastro - even though he is fine I'm seriously worried about my milk supply.

His feeding started to deteriorate on Sunday and gradually got worse (as in not wanting to feed) and yesterday he only fed four times in 14 hours. When he did feed he would suck for a maximum of two minutes and then stop. If I swapped breasts or tried to encourage more feeding he'd just cry and twist away.

I would feel better if over the last three days if been suffering with rock hard breasts so I'd know they were still producing milk but it hasn't happened at all - my breasts have remained permanently soft. I tried to express some milk last night do my breasts would at least think they were still needed but I didn't even get 20mls out.

I'm very worried my milk is drying up and if DS doesn't start feeding soon things milk production is going to cease altogether

I tried to feed him this morning and he half heatedly sucked for about 2 minutes on the right side and about 45 seconds on the left

Has anyone else had to deal with Gastro and come out the other side with an unscathed milk supply?

Sorry for all the stupid typos - I am shattered and my brain isn't working properly yet

Writer, believe me you milk supply will be FINE. He's clearly poorly and needs treatment but he is in the right place.

Milk supply by this stage is not fragile. Your milk supply may drop temporarily but I think your ds is a few months old now and so is robust and will return to its normal state as soon as he starts feeding again as before.

Just continue trying to feed him - your milk is the best thing for him during a gastro attack. It's good to continue trying to express, too.

Hope he starts to feel better soon.

Sorry - I see you did not have to stay in hospital.

Good :)

Thanks Tiktok - I've just attached him again now as he's falling asleep. He seems to feed better when he's tired. I'm going to spend my day topless curled up on the sofa with him and just let him attach when he feels he wants to even if it's just for a few comfort sucks.

You didn't mention your babies age but I found that after 6 months I never had that rock hard full boob feeling even if 2 or 3 feeds were missed but the supply stayed because DD was fully on breastmilk till 10 months and mixed till 14 months.
I'm not a pro on this topic but my interpretation is that your supply is established and you don't need to worry. When your baby recovers and is back to feeding normally I'm sure you will produce what he needs

Thanks Bouncin - he is 6 months old next week

Different illness but for reassurance - my ds had bronchiolitis at 5 months old and barely took a feed for a over a week. I did what you are doing, keeping him close, offering little and often, supply was fine. When he was ready to latch properly he did and picked up where he left off.

I know how intensely worrying it is and you think it's going to be the end, but the breastfeeding relationship is a lot stronger than that and can take a few knocks. Anything he gets from you will be helping him over it, trust that he and your body know what they're doing.