dd has cold and not feeding

[dcb]

I'm a bit worried about my milk supply - dd has had a cold for 5 days now and is hardly feeding - only 3 in 24 hours and for much shorter tmes than usual (she's 8 mths). she's completely off food (albeit small amounts usually). She's having some wet nappies and she doesn't look dehydrated and she's getting calpol, medised at night and vick's rub etc. i can feel my boobs getting smaller and smaller - i'm just worried that my supply will drop and not pick back up - i know this may sound a bit pathetic, but she's never had a cold before! i'm rubbish at expressing as well. will it be ok - i don't want to stop bf her? and any tips for getting more into her - she doesn't really know how to use a cup yet and won't take a bottle

Is her nose bunged? That might be bothering her and making it difficult for her to feed. You can get saline drops on prescription (and presumably also just over the counter) that you drip into her nose a few minutes before a feed. They may make her sneeze, and so clear her nose, or just soften the catarrh and make it easier for you to suction out. I find that the suction thingies where you use your mouth to provide the suction are easier to use and owrk better than the turkey-baster-type devices.

If she's having wet nappies and isn't dehydrated then she's probably getting enough, but I can understand your worries re supply as I'd be just the same! Hope someone authoritative will put your mind at rest soon.

Are you by any chance over-treating her? Is she getting so much Calpol/Medised that sh'es too dopey to be bothered to make the effort to feeed?

thanks - just giving her 2.5 mls medised at night and calpol alone during the day - was always really against using any thing sedating but it does clear her nose. it is really blocked poor thing and i think she's teething as well. hadn't thought about suction - where do you get them from?

I'm sure she'll be fine, my dd used to go off feeding for 48 hours with a cold. Your milk supply shd pick back up - tho' you may find she feeds more frequently when she's feeling better!

My dd used a spout beaker at around 5 months (NOT non-drip as too hard for bfers to suck). You might find expressing easier if she's not feeding. Try and get someone to look after her to give you a chance to express - early morning is best.

My dd also used to bite a bit if she cdn't latch because of blocked nose - ouch!

Sure you'll both be just fine - and lucky you not get a cold before now

Oh those karpol vaporisers are v. good for unbunging noses at night

If she is very bunged up then you could try one of those nasal aspirators, which look vile but really help. You place it at the entrance of the nostril (not in it though) and suck on the end, and the mucus comes away. This saved my DD on several occasions when she was too snotty to feed without help.

Good luck, hope she gets better soon.

I got mine from Tesco, but I've seen them in Boots as well.

try putting some vic on the top of your breast so she can breathe easier when feeding. Apart from saline drops you can also get sea water sprays to clear out the sinuses - make sure you get a baby strength one & try to keep her lying down for a few minutes after applying so it can drain into the sinuses