I know this advice is wrong but now I'm doubting myself, can I just check

[Evenhope]

Just taken 8 mo DD to A&E. She has had this viral thing for 10 days and been vomiting for the last 2 or 3. This morning she BF then brought it all up. Fed again and brought it all up again. (Gallons of it, followed by bright yellow). Yesterday tried her with some sips of water- that all came back as well.

The triage doctor/ nurse I saw said I should stop BF and just give her water, because "like any other milk it curdles in the stomach". Now I know this is wrong but can someone knowledgeable confirm please. You start doubting yourself when someone medical states something with conviction.

(she has had no solids etc for 3 days either)

Kellymom agrees with you.

here

It is crap advice, someone else had a thread about similar advice a while ago. BM is the best stuff for your baby when she's ill. She'd probably throw water up as well at this stage, I know I used to! The BM will eventually help her combat the germs and it will comfort her too.

Never listen to medical peeps about bfeeding, they usually know sweet FA. Especially paediatricians.

I was a children's nurse, and breast milk DOES curdle in the stomach, although it is a lot less. Formula tends to curdle straight away.
If she hasn't had solids for 3 days, and is now vomiting back her breastmilk, then I would take her to the docs.
Is she still having wet nappies, and has she got a remperature??

Very wrong.

I'd write to the hospital to complain about this, actually.

Hope she's better soon.

Definitely wrong. But it might be worth interrupting her BFing if she's taking a lot in one go. But that's true of water too, it's not breastmilk that's the problem but taking lots of fluid in one go - little sips is better than lots, as then she'll lose less fluid if she vomits.

Thanks all. I knew I was right but he was so sure.

Just to clarify I did ring the GP but she said she was too busy and told me to take her to A&E. That went down like a lead balloon at A&E. (Still if A&E complains to the GP then perhaps she'll do something about this ghastly appointmnet system she has?)

I read somewhere recently (sorry can't remember where - may have been here ) that even if she just keeps a tiny bit of BM down for a few minutes then she will have gotten some benefit from it because it is absorbed very quickly.

I hope she feels netter soon.

whatever she has you will have too, but your stronger immune system will be producing the antibodies etc to deal with it for you. I understand that your dd will be getting at least a little of this through the bm. Therefore thisalone should be of benefit enough to keep going IMO - but please remember that I am not a Dr and this is just my opinion.

I hope your dd gets well soon!

Evenhope - I received pretty much the same advice for my ds in May this year except I was told to stop for 24 hrs and give him "something like Ribena".

I ignored the advice, posted on here, got lots of encouragement and then once ds was recovered, I complained about it. They fobbed me off, quoting something completely out of context from their online reference resource, so I took up their invitation to speak to the clinical director of the out of hours service. It probably had no effect, but advice like this shouldn't go unchecked because it is just plain wrong.

Hope your dd is better soon.

Yes,we all followed Mawbroon's story avidly (and you can bet what you said WAS listened to Mawbroon. NHS take complaints very seriously. I know, I work for them.)

Give just water to a tiny baby??
Fucking idiot.

Hi Evenhope

It's when they're so bloody sure isn't it? Even though you know they're wrong, they are, after all, medical professionals and surely... surely there's a chance they're right?

And especially when you yourself are in a vulnerable state after watching your lo be so ill...

Hope your dd is feeling much better soon.

jacanne below is right. plus, putting her to the breast transfers the virus to you which primes your body to keep making the antibodies she needs to fight the infection.