Low milk supply following illness?

[TheLastPickleInTheJar]

I had a sickness bug for about three days this week. It was nigh on impossible to eat and drinking wasn't easy. I was alone with my 5 month old most of the days so was continuing to feed as normal.

However, now i'm over it, i feel like my supply had decreased. I'm not feeling letdowns anymore and i'm not leaking from the non-feeding breast. Both of these were regular occurrences before the illness.

I know the usual answer to this concern is to feed, feed, feed but Ds isn't much of a comfort sucker - he only really feeds when he's hungry - so i can't force him onto the breast more to boost supply. He just won't entertain it! (very unusual and rather disconcerting for me after having two very sucky babies. This one would rather comfort himself with his thumb ).

So far he's having wet nappies and he seems to be pooing okay. His fontanelle isn't sunken. I know these are signs that red not dehydrated.

It's the change in my breasts that has me concerned. They just suddenly feel empty. Could the illness have affected my supply?

It's normal for breasts to feel smaller and emptier with well established breastfeeding and to cease to be aware of let downs. Sounds like you don't need to be concerned. Your baby is fine. Milk supply sounds fine. You just don't get the fullness of earlier breastfeeding cos fat tissue gets replaced with milk producing tissue when breastfeeding gets established.

I had d&v last weekend and felt the same but my boobs were back to normal within a few days just with DD (6m) feeding on demand, I didn't put her on the boob any extra times. At the end of the first day my boobs felt utterly empty but she still had her usual bedtime and dream feed and slept through as normal so she must've had enough!

Thanks to you both. I do know the science behind it all and will happily use it to reassure others but when it comes to me and mine i start doubting it!

Thanks for the reassurance.