Can anyone help me with a BF strategy whilst DS2 is ill?

[Washersaurus]

Just not sure how best to cope with my engorgement!

DS2 has broncholitis (sp?) and has only been feeding a small amount over the past few days. I have been expressing some milk off to relieve my discomfort but am not sure what is the best strategy to use when feeding as DS is only taking a small amount each time...do I feed off one side repeatedly or should I switch sides?

oh come on, I know you are all bored of these threads but please help!

LOL!

Remember the rule of supply and demand. Basically, keep expressing off so that when he gets his appetite back, your supply will not have dwindled.

How old is DS? How often is he feeding?

Just wondering if it's worth expressing on the same breast after you've fed him to get the 'food' part of the milk, rather than just the foremilk, which is the drink...

Again, if you switch sides, he's only getting the foremilk rather than the food, but there again, that might be all he wants if he's feeling off colour... Don't worry. It sounds like he's taking what he needs.

He is only 9 weeks old. His feeding is best described as 'sporadic'! He is barely feeding at night due to nasal congestion and what he does have he vomits back up in a spectacular fashion after coughing. During the day he is having very short frequent feeds.

So is it better to express at the start of a feed or after? I'm not actually giving him the expressed milk, just expressing to relieve the engorgement.

It's best to express afterwards because it's more important ds stays hydrated rather than has the food part of the milk at this time.

As long as he has wet nappies and is not too lethargic and floppy when he's awake, then I'm sure you're doing the right thing by continuing with the short frequent feeds (which must be very debiliating for you!)

Poor little thing. Is he on anything?

The doctor couldn't give him anything as it is a viral infection, so we just have to wait for it to run its course.

DS seems fine between coughing/vomiting episodes - even managing to smile.

I smell like manky milk (a combination of leakage and vomit) - in my 2nd clothing change today, so I don't think I will be leaving the house

Thank you for your advice by the way

I notice that everybody else must be bored of these sorts of threads being as it's only me who's put my twopenneth in...

ps I'm glad the computer isn't yet capable of 'smelovision'...!

I'm not taking the lack of response personally - even I have noticed that there have been loads of these threads lately .

Given my washing machine won't be fixed until Friday, I'm thinking I might have to dwell indoors for a few more days yet - we are all running out of clean clothes anyway.