Question about keeping Milk Supply

[eenybeeny]

I am breast-feeding my 10 wk old but due to migraine have missed a few feeds, during which time he has had formula as a supplement.
I don't want to express for these missed feeds as I am just too ill.

How long can I do this without it affecting my milk supply?

Each time I go to bed with a migraine i'm worried I won't have enough to feed him later on.

Thanks.

it depends on how often and how long you have migraines and how much formula you give your baby. the more formula the less demand on your body, the less milk you will make. around 12 wks they normally have a growth spurt and the demand on your body at this time can knock your confidence. speak to a bf consultant on one of the helplines. they can give one to one advice regarding medication. can you concievably learn to bf lying down when you don't want to sit around bf? sorry but i have no experience with migraines but know that they can rule your world.

Don't worry, sounds like you're doing fine. He'll build up the supply again afterwards if it's dropped off, by feeding non-stop for a day or so, you have to be very patient, but he won't starve while he does it - he'll always just keep feeding until he's had what he needs.

The whole supply-and-demand system isn't that fragile as humanity would have died out long ago if babies and milk supplies just couldn't cope with normal problems like illness.

You can do it as often as you need to for as long as he's feeding, he'll always be able to build up the supply again if you've the time to let him do it (rather than being tempted to give a bottle 'cos he's hungry') and so long as there are gaps, in between you being ill to enable him to build the supply back up.

You could consider expressing some every day (and freezing it?) so that you're over-supplying already and the drop off is less of a problem, but I find expressing quite a lot of hassle.

When I've been ill, the problem has been leaking, engorgement and blocked ducts. I wish I'd kept up giving the occasional bottle of ebm as now he's older he refuses a bottle and I can't leave him with anyone - so you'll probably find it useful in the long run.

Good luck, don't stress!

thanks both of you for your advice! It's put my mind at ease while I am ill. Sorry for the crap reply to your thoughtful posts but I feel pretty dreadful at the moment! Anyway I am less worried now thanks to you!