HELP!! I've become ill & my milk supply has slowed/nearly stopped!!

[natalieboston]

Hi everyone!
I'm breastfeeding my baby - She's just 1 week old, but I've come down with a nasty bug (on the toilet most of today, sore & swollen throat & migrane!)
I've been worried about the possibility of my little one catching it - so I went to express earlier (so my partner could feed her whilst I rested) but I couldn't get even 1oz from BOTH breasts after nearly 30min of pumping.

I'm terrified i'm drying/dried up! I have my heart set on breastfeeding this time (I couldn't BF my first baby) & up until today its been going fantasticly!

I was wondering if anyone has any useful tips/hints to get my milk pumping again?! :(

Thank you in advance! X

Sorry to hear that you are feeling unwell. Not being able to express is no indication that your supply is low, so please don't worry about that. Plus her tummy will be tiny so she won't need much anyway. This link gives you a rough idea of the size of her tummy. if you look at the chart, her tummy won't reach the capacity of 60 to 81 ml until day 10.

Could you take a couple of paracetamol? Feed her when you can and drink plenty of water.

Plus your milk will give her antibodies and white blood cells so she is much less likely to catch it if you keep on feeding her.

Hope you feel better soon.

Hi, the amount you can express is not an indication of the amount of milk that yiu produce. Some women cannot express at all, but successfully breastfeed. Just keep feeding. Your milk will have antibodies against the bugs that you got, so your baby is much less likely to get it if you keep breastfeeding. Have a look here: kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/illness-surgery/mom-illness/
Hope you feel better soon!

Sorry, didn't mean to say keep breastfeeding at any cost, even if you really need some rest (I realised it may sound so when terrad after posting). Just that you don't need to worry about the amount you can express or about passing bugs. Hope you feel better soon!

I've ebf 2 kids for just under a year each and never been able to get a drop out when trying to express - please don't take this as an indication of your supply.

Lots of fluids, anything you can stomach to eat, keep feed as antibodies will be passed on, and get as much help as you can so you can rest and get better.

Honestly I fed my three well in to toddlerhood but could never get more than a few drops from expressing. Lying down to feed helps. With milk production apparently; I'm sure people have lots more tips. But look after yourself - hope the bug clears up quickly.

Not to worry you but this happened to me and the next day I was admitted back to hospital, ended up in critical care with Sepsis/Tonsillitis/UTI and a Breast Abscess. Your body is weak, your immunity is shot, you need to take care of yourself and your baby. If you feel the need to top baby up with Formula don't beat yourself up about it and please give your MAU a call if you feel any worse.