Please can I just have an answer, without comment on circs, to this question?

[IknowImStoopid]

Sorry if title sounds rude.

If I am regularly sick (like, every day, prob more than once a day) will that effect breastmilk?

I would say no. but it does depend on circs, depsite the title lol
i mean, it may depend on why you are being sick

Ummmmmm can I just say - not a sickness bug?!

generally your body will provide ffor the baby first and foremost. even women in 3rd world countries living on appalling diets manage to breastfeed and bring up healthy babies.

you would have to be very malnourished before it had an effect on your milk

It would completely depend on why you were sick.
If it was pregnancy that condition would affect breastmilk.
If it was due to a eating disorder then that would almost certainly affect breastmilk supply.

It's impossible to answer the question - sorry.

In most scenarios it probably would affect breastmilk supply and breastmilk therefore.

ahh reading between the lines here - I don't know it shouldn't do as it's your body, rahter than the milk that will suffer.

Hence the reason that women in 3rd world countries still manage to breastfeed.

If, for example you were asking if a bulimic woman could successfully breastfeed then I would imagine that the answer is yes.

but I am not an expert.

It's a hard question to answer, it depends on so much, but my feeling would be:

• if you have a temporary vomiting bug, that is unlikely to affect your breastmilk.

• if you are bulimic, I would worry that you are already very depleted, but it really depends on how well you are managing to sustain your overall state of health.

I don't know but sorry if you or someone you know is having trouble.

I don't agree an ED would affect your milk unless you were very underweight or dehydrated.

Unless you are seriously depriving your body of nutrients, then no.

If you are making yourself sick, then you really need to get some help for you. If we said that it would affect your breastmilk, do you think you could stop/not go back to it for your baby ?

Just to say, IKnowI'mStoopid, if you are bulimic, don't be ashamed of discussing it or asking for help. I've been there, I know how tough it is.

Thank you. I am holding off, for now, but finding it difficult. Im extremely embarrassed to be honest. cant believe Im even considering it

this is from a page on LLLI

"It is suggested that mothers limiting their caloric intake pay special attention to eating a balanced and varied diet, including foods rich in calcium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin B6 and folate. If adequate dietary requirements are not met, calcium, multivitamin and mineral supplements may be needed. Weight loss medications and liquid diets are not recommended for breastfeeding mothers.

If a mother has a history of anorexia, bulimia or other eating disorder, she can still successfully breastfeed her baby. However, some women with a history of eating disorders experience a worsening of symptoms after birth. If a mother is suffering from an eating disorder, suggest she seek nutritional guidance as well as help in overcoming her eating problem."

Sorry, I meant as in, if you could manage it for your baby, then you can do it for you

To clarify - I haven't made myself sick and am bf. I am feeling the pull to do it but baby's nourishment and successful breastfeeding is paramount.

OP don't be embarassed. if you have an eating disorder it's not something you can just stop and start is it? you aren't doing it on purpose, and if you've managed not to make yourself sick for a while then well done!

FAQ is right that it is your body that would suffer, well before your milk does.

I would advise seeing someone in a professional capacity though, if you aren't already

how old is your baby?

Nobody knows.

Its taken me days to pluck up the courage to even post here! I can't discuss with anybody in real life.

Ill just try to stay strong for baby's sake.

Thanks all

well you know there are always people here willing to talk and help out in any way we can. not that there is much we can do online, but we can give moral support!

Well done for posting then - that can't have been easy. Please keep talking here, at least - you may find you can get real life support if you talk it through here.

It sounds like you are doing really well for the moment. I can imagine baby is a real motivation.

You have been really brave in posting here. Can you take it one step further and speak to someone who knows about eating disorders?

Your bm should be fine, BUT your baby will take all the nutrients from you. If you add poor nutritional consumption it can affect YOU worse than if you weren't bfing, and you need to be as healthy as you can be to look after a small child.

If you feel up to posting in the Mental Health or General Health topics, then there's a few ladies around who are dealing with EDs.

You're doing really well to acknowledge it, and try to resist the pull.

Do you think anything in particular triggers the pull ?

You know this is completely anonymous- if you need to ask questions, or need support-mn is the place for it.

The Eating disorders charity B-eat seem to have good forums and a helpline if you wanted to access some support that way too

THanks so much
DH has just come home so I'm rushing off! I will re read tomorrow