Very fast weight loss due to illness and Breastfeeding. Supply seems to be suffering :0(

[LackaDAISYcal]

quick background.

four weeks ago I had my first attack of biliary colic due to gallstones and have had another two bad attacks since. the second one lasted for five days and this current one has been going on since Sunday . I can't eat as it makes the pain worse and have to take cocodamol and buscopan for the pain.

I've lost nearly a stone since it started up and in the last four days have dropped five pounds.

Everything I've read says that supply should be ok as my body will use up it's reserves before affecting supply......

....but, since it started, when I'm in the middle of an attack DS is feeding every two hours, sometimes more often at night and my boobs certainly aren't getting engorged like they were. I'm also struggling to express anything, which is worrying me as I have none stored and need some backup if I have another bad attack and physically can't feed and when I go in for my gallbladder removal.

I'm really worried that this is the beginning of the end of BFing for me and really sad about it as I was determined that this time around (DC No 3, one failed BFing attempt, one stopped before I was ready) not a drop of formula would pass his lips.

Is it the illness (ie is my body reacting to the severe pain by not functioning properly) or the wieght loss, or the medications?

Also, if I'm not eating, is more of the drugs getting onto my supply? I'm also worried about the effect they are having on DS2, even though they are regarded as safe.

Feeling pretty despondent about it all

anyone?

Poor you!

I haven't got any advice I'm afraid, have you tried contacting a BFC to see if they have any advice?

I've notice my ds feeds more frequently when I have a migraine - I do wonder if there is a link between the pain and the increase in feeds?

Anyway at least it's given you a bump.

thanks BT

I'm afraid this is more of a bump than any useful advice but one of the mums at my mum and baby group had her gall bladder removed when her DC was around 9 months IIRC. She did have enough milk stored for the day of the op but had no trouble resuming bfing afterwards. I don't think she lost that much weight that quickly so I don't know if that would make a big difference.

They fed successfully to around 14 months in the end and gave up through choice rather than necessity.

HTH a bit anyway.

Oh lacka I've noticed that my supply seems to dwindle while I'm ill or exhausted.
No expertise here, but maybe you could try expressing as oten as you can? Even if you're only getting a little bit each time, It should add up a bit, and also help your supply?

Poor you. You must be exhausted without all this worry. Would call the NCT breast feeding help line for advice. They have been brilliant helping me. Sure the drugs won't affect the baby. The co codamol are given after birth and don't stop babies feeding then. If anything they would make baby sleepy! Sure you are just tired and run down
which isn't helping. Would keep feeding as often as you can. Are nappies wet? Perhaps you can get an idea of how much liquid baby is getting like that. Could also get baby weighed to reassure you they are getting enough milk. As long as you keep feeding lots, sure your supply will be fine when you come through all this, whatever you have to do in short term How old is baby?

thanks for the info clutter.

hi annvan. I've got a few dribs and drabs out over the last few days. struggling to get even a couple of ounces, where before I could get 6ozs out of one boob alone.

At the end of the day if we need to give him formula then so be it; it's for unavoidable reasons I suppose and hopefully I'll be able to get back on track after the operation.

4 month growth spurt? I notice you're on the Nov 2008 post natal thread. On the Oct 08 we've all been moaning about 4 month growth spurts. DD has gone from feeding every four hours to feeding all the bloody time! I have no milk left to express and my boobs are not getting full anymore. Could it just be coincidence?

he's 17 weeks sholi, so not sure if this is a growth spurt as well that's making things more difficult. He does seem to be getting frustrated on the boob, and I think he's teething as well which is clouding the issue.

cross post marthasmama!

I've got my period back this week as well, and iirc from when my DD was little, her feeding pattern changed whenever I was on.

Do you ever feel that you want someone to rub you out and draw you in again with everything working? that's me at the minute

DS tended to get more fussy at the breast when he was your ds's age at that time of the month as well.

How have you got on today, Daisy?

fine BT. I've managed to scrape together a few ozs to add to my stash. But it's taken me two days to get enough for one feed

Saw the consultant this afternoon and his secretary is ringing tomorrow with a date for me. He said he'd get me prioritised as I'm so badly symptomatic. He gave me his mobile number though and said if I have another attack to call and he will get me admitted as an emergency, get my pain sorted and then operate the same day. You don't get service like that on the NHS...even though it's the same surgeon I saw when in Jimmy's

Anyway, it'll involve an overnight stay, so if I can't express enough between now and then DS will need to have formula . I will be able to have him in with me I'd imagine, but tbh I don't fancy having to get up to him several times in the night when I've just had surgery and will need to rest. Just need to get my head around him probably having the formula now.

Awwww {{{hugs}}}
But I know what you mean... I don't suppose a sympathetic nurse would be able to bring him to you and you feed him lying down? Perhaps that would help?
Main thing is to get you well again! Anyway, you might feel better than you think after the surgery!

Operation set for next Thursday. DH is going to have bumble at the hospital so I can feed him as soon as I come round. He'll take him home overnight and then bring him back in the morning, so I only need enough milk for a few feeds overnight and when I'm under the knife. I'm picking up an electric double pump tomorrow so I can get as much stored as possible.

bumble has an ear infection and isn't feeding well today, so I've managed to get a bit more pumped by hand as well.

We might just be able to do this without formula after all

Hooray, that sounds positive! Hope it all goes well!
How is the pain now, have they given you any better pain relief?

Pain has settled down again and I feel well for the first time since Sunday . I just have to be vigilant with what I eat between now and Thurday so as not to trigger it off again.

....and coincidently I have just managed to express nearly 5fl ozs! Maybe there is a connection between pain/the body's response to it and supply.

I think I need to do a bit more research on this.

Stress can inhibit the let-down reflex, and if you're in pain then you're likely to be feeling pretty stressed.

I'm really sorry to hear you're so ill and that this week has been so hard for you. I do hope the op fixes it.

thanks grendle . I thought there was some connection, and given the state I've been in with the pain, it has been pretty stressful!! I think the thought of not having enough expressed milk was adding to the stress as well. As soon as I accepted that a bit of formula won't kill him things get better. Although there seems to have been a number of factors involved both in the lack of supply and the return of it. Complicated things these bodies of ours.

I hear (or rather see) that congratulations are in order

Grendle - that explains a lot, I get migraines and DS is fussier and feeds more when I have one.

I reckon it's most likely combination of growth spurt and period. he's classic age for that big growth spurt obv
I have always noticed a dip in supply when I get my period too, and ds2 used to feed like crazy whenever I was due on.

I hope it all settles down and the op goes well.

thanks iwontbite . thankfully period has only lasted a couple of days!!