Help - baby ill and not feeding as much

10 replies

Sufi · 05/01/2008 10:08

DS1 has got a cold/flu bug (I'm recovering from it, causes sore throat, aches, temperature and cough). He's 8wks old tomorrow.

He's obviously feeling terrible and is feeding less because of it. No temperature yet, but a cough, fussing/crying and more sleeping than normal.

Am worried my supply will diminish. He's ex bf. Should I express? If so, how much? Should I force him to take more fluids (he had v. bad jaundice when born, and I had to give him expressed milk through a syringe)? I've not used bottles before - will he take a bottle (of bf milk)?

Sorry - am having a huge panic as he was so poorly when born and it was such a struggle in the early weeks to get bf going (and I had to fight the hospital to bf him cos he was so jaundiced).

Please help!

Am going to call a doctor out but no doubt they'll not know anything about bf, so need some advice please.

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LIZS · 05/01/2008 10:13

Offer him b'feeds whenever practical, more frequently than normal, your antibodies and the fulid will help. He may need the little and often approach. Before a feed clear his nose. Probably now is not ideal to use a btotle but if you can express then it might be worth a try. A basic cold in an adult can turn nasty in a lo so make sure he is breathing and crying ok too.

callmeovercautious · 05/01/2008 10:15

If the GP you speak to is anything like mine was they will tell you to give water or juice!

Keep offering BF to him and keep an eye on wet nappies. If he stops feeding altogether try a bottle of EBM as he may take it for it's novelty value.

Hope he is feeling better soon.

callmeovercautious · 05/01/2008 10:16

I should add you don't need to give water (or juice) to an EBF baby, they tend to advise it as they know so little about BM.

Original poster

Sufi · 05/01/2008 10:26

thanks for this - really having a panic (typical first time mum!!). His nappies are still wet, so that's something. Will offer him a feed again now. Thanks again. xx

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mandler · 05/01/2008 10:49

My 11 week old ds is going through exactly the same - he is starting to feed better now after a week of cold but I too spent the last week in a panic that he was starving!
Weighed him yesterday and despite everything all is fine.
So if all the other signs are good, I would just be prepared for a few days of hourly small feeds to keep him going, I just scrapped all plans this week and stayed in feeding and cuddling

mandler · 05/01/2008 10:51

mandler · 05/01/2008 10:52

Oops sorry about that!

Original poster

Sufi · 05/01/2008 11:05

thanks Mandler. he's just had another little feed so feel a bit less worried - I think it' cos he got such bad jaundice when he was 3 days old (took him wks to recover) that I get paranoid when he doesn't feed... will take your advice and stay in and feed/cuddle him all day (as if I need an excuse... )

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Original poster

Sufi · 08/01/2008 17:52

In case you guys read this, thanks for the help - DS is much better, did the little and often feeding and he's on the mend, smiling and gurgling and feeding like a trooper again!

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