DS is ill and not feeding well. Should I express?

[PavlovtheCat]

DS is 5 weeks old and has a virus, and he is not really eating very much (Dr not concerned at this stage). He is drinking a little, which i am presuming is due to being thirsty as he has a sore throat and a dry cough. During the night he vaguely attempted to eat a couple of times, but nothing much at all.

Should I be expressing? Should I have expressed last night? I am worried that the hard work DS and I have put in over the last 5 weeks to get my milk supply right will all go out of the window (which I think as of yesterday was pretty spot on) as my milk supply might start to be affected. How long will it take for it to start to reduce?

I am a bit concerned though that if I do express, there will be no milk for him when he wakes. He has taken the odd bottle, but when he is tired he tends to prefer boob (of course he would!) and am thinking he might not want a bottle over the comfort of suckling if he is feeling poorly.

Any advice, suggestions would be greatly received.

If I were you i would express a little so that if he wakes wanting to feed your breasts won't be 'empty'. By the way this is just my opinion and may not be seen as correct by others. As long as milk is being taken from the breast it will continue to be produced won't it? Also if he's not feeding you run the risk of getting engorged.

i am very full on one side, which funnily enough is the side he has mostly wanted to take from!

I might express that side, as it is hurting a little, and the other side will then be full when he wakes so he can have a full feed.

I guess I am worried that the night feeds will dwindle as last night there were not 'needed' so to speak.

I would express as I would be concerned about supply too. Could you express just after he feeds so that you can be reasonably sure he's not going to need to feed again straight away?

He woke up, and fed loads from the full side, so i expressed from the other side, as he has hardly taken from that side today. He then wanted to feed again immediately after so i fed him the expressed milk! Then gave him my nipple to suckle on for a bit for comfort/to get any milk out that was lingering.

He is now feeding again, so think he is feeling much better. I am hoping he will feed a bit more tonight (am i mad?!!!) so that he reminds my boobs that the milk is needed! If he is not wanting feeding tonight, i will express as if he was feeding normally.