Help help help - no milk

[Bundleofjoy]

Hi

I was really ill with a sickness etc bug last Friday. I couldn't keep anything down and didn't eat very much at all over the weekend. I have an 18 week old who up until then was exclusively breast fed. I gave him a top up bottle on Saturday and he took it ok. Sunday seemed ok with just breast milk. Today he has been really crabby (v. unlike him) and sleeping loads. I gave him a top up bottle before he went to sleep again. I've just got the breastpump out for the first time ever and have produced no more than a tablespoon in total from both boobs. Aaaaargh. a) I've starved my little boy and b) is that the end of the road or can I do something to get the milk going again. I've eaten LOADS today and tried hard to yesterday. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Have got washables but just haven't got round to trying them yet (husband NOT keen)

Night night and thank you for your help.

USE THE WASHABLES - if nothing else - you get to feel smug

BoJ, your baby will glug down formula, even if he's not massively hungry. It's like being able to squeeze in a slice of chocolate cake after dinner, even if you're full (and I'm NOT likening formula to chocolate cake before anyone jumps on me!). It's a different taste and babies like to suck.

To make more bmilk, you need to bfeed more. If he's still unsatisfied after one side, offer the other. If he's still fussy after that, offer the first again. If he fusses, take him for a walk round the house/garden and try again in a bit.

Try to keep calm too - I know it's hard, but you have done brilliantly so far and you will continue to do brilliantly - just trust your body to provide for him and it will (and don't stress about expressing either) x x x

Yeah, go for it

mmmm.... chocolate cake.... [wanders off fridgewards]

How are things today?

Morning. I fed him at around 5 and was confident that he had a good feed. He then fed again at 8.30 and not sure about that one but in any case a whole load of it came back up again ... lovely.

I'm just going to take the advice to rest as much as possible today (got some bits to do) and drink (definitely need to do more of that) and offer my services regularly. Poor boy!

Thank you for talking last night. I only ever really went on the classifieds boards before. People are very kind.

You're very welcome - hope today goes smoothly for you. Don't give him formula - it'll cloud the issue. Don't worry too much about what you eat and drink - obviously do enough of both to be comfortable, but it really won't affect your milk quality/quantity.

Glad you are feeling better today. Now you have stepped off the classifieds you should jump in to some of the rest

Though you might change your mind about us being kind if you do that

Just a quickie - if you are worried about telling if there has been a wee in a disposable, you could always put a tissue between bum and nappy to see if it is wet, soaked etc. I couldn't always tell with disposables what had happened and this helped me.

Keep on the feeding, as it sounds as if you are doing wonderfully

Thanks again for all of your advice. I'm pleased to report that mummy's house special is back on the menu today.

Brilliant news Bundle.

Yay! Well done you!

Hi BOJ, just seen this thread so dont worry about it if you havent had time to send the Barbie stuff, you've much more important things on your plate (or on your chest rather!)! Am having exact same problem with DD2 6 mo at the moment, it's horrendous isnt it? Want to bfeed her till 1.5 yo like i did with DD1. It's so easy to lose faith in ones ability to produce milk so...
HAVE FAITH - WE CAN DO IT!