Advice please - BF baby unwell and off feeds

[janou8]

My 7 week old son has had a nasty cold and an ear infection (on antibiotics and improving in himself). He has been exclusively breastfed so far, which although has not been easy, for the last couple of weeks I have felt like we had the hang of it and was going well. He's a big baby and hungry, usually feeding every 2 hours approx, sometimes 3-4hrly overnight, gaining weight really well. Since Monday night when he became unwell however he has hardly wanted to feed at all, and has been really sleepy. When he does feed he won't latch on properly and just wants to suck at the nipple (previously latch was OK, sometimes less good when tired). I have been expressing some milk but haven't given him a bottle of EBM (HV advised to just keep offering the breast). My problems are

1. Should I keep expressing every 2-4 hours to keep my supply up as am really worried it is dwindling?
   It is so unpredictable whether he will feed and if so how much he will take that I'm woried if I express too much there won't be enough to offer him a decent feed at the breast.

2. My nipples have begun to get really sore due to the poor latch. Will he remember how to latch properly once his nose is unblocked/he feels better? Should I just carry on, bear the pain and let him feed as he is?

Would you offer a bottle at this time? (he has never had one)
Just really confused about how to keep things ticking over until he gets better.

Sorry for the long post and thanks for any advice.

Janou, when bf has been going well, it can usually cope just fine with a few days of less stimulation, and then it just adapts by becoming more productive when the baby starts feeding normally again...so longer term all should be just fine from that angle. He won't forget how to latch - it'll all come back

Can you call one of the bf helplines or go to a support group and talk over your options in more detail? Might help you decide how often and if it is important to keep expressing. You won't 'pinch' his milk, BTW.

Hi

I had nipple soreness problems. I continued to express milk and give by bottle. This kept up the flow and as I did not want to use formula it made feel feel beter. Also helps when you need to wean them onto bottles later. I always used Avent and never had a problem with nipple confusion with both DD's.

If your boobs are getting sore then I recommend Lansinoh. Can get from mothercare/boots but £10. I got it on repeat from doctors as they want to encourage breast feeding. Also if the soreness persists try boots nipple shield. They are great and enabled me to feed with sore nipples until they healed.
Health visitors do not recommend nipple shields but they did the trick for me.

Good luck

janou - how are things?

Thanks for your messages, things are better. He is obviously feeling much better and definitely getting back to his usual hungry self! I did ring the nct helpline, and spoke to someone who was helpful and reassuring about expressing. In the end I just tried to express a couple of ounces off each breast to keep comfortbale but have stopped now as he wants to feed all the time to catch up!
Nipples are still sore (previously had used lansinoh and kamillosan so just started them again) but I don't think they are getting worse and his latch is gradually improving as his blocked nose gets better, I think. I had been planning on going to a local support group to get some advice about positioning anyway, so will go when his cold is gone.

Thanks again, was reassuring to read your comments.

Glad to hear it, janou