D&V and Breastfeeding? Any advice please?

[Learnermamma]

My husband developed Diarrhoea and Vomiting last night and judging by the amount of dirty nappies I have had to change in the last 24 hours, I think our 3 month old daughter may have it too!!!

This in mind, despite carful handwahing, I fear it is only a matter of time til I come down with it too.

Normally, it would not bother me - I would just get plenty of rest and get plenty of fluids on board, whilst cutting out food for 24 hours or so and letting it run it's course, occasionally maybe taking pepto bismol depending on the severity of it.

But can I do this if I am breastfeeding? Would it effect my milk supplies if I stopped eating or would it be okay to keep feeding whilst just on fluids?

And pepto bismol - it's good stuff and usually works for me, but I know that children can't take it - so could it be harmful to my daughter if I took it whilst breastfeeding??

Hopefully it won't come to it but any advice greatfully recieved!

you should continue to breastfeed as normal if you develop d&v. just drink fluids and rest. eat plain foods like toast or crackers if you have an appetite. you have to be seriously malnourished for a long period of time before the lack of food affects your milk. breastfeeding through it will protect your baby.

Suspect no to pepto bismol. Your diet, unless you were severely starving and malnourised, would not affect bfing at all. Bfing's very good for your lo when bugs are around and the best and quickest way to keep your child hydrated and nourished. If you do fall ill, make sure you drink plenty though to compensate for all fluids lost and to avoid feeling crappy as bfing can be draining while you're poorly. There is a good school of thought to suggest that you don't need to avoid food when you have a sickness bug btw but if you're happier not to eat for a day then that's fine too!

BTW, when dh, my parents, dd and all of dh's colleagues have all had gastrobugs at the same time, I am the only one not to get them. I like to think that bfing is magic protection. It isn't of course, but I still like to think it.

I had an awful sickness bug when my son was 3 months, old, I just drank when I could and did exactly what you say you normally do, except for the pepto-bismol.

I really worried about it and even rang the health visitor, who reassured me that my body would make enough milk for the baby. Maybe that's why I felt so atrocious - my body was putting the baby first instead of me!!

I did recover eventually, after my birthday being entirely ruined - woe is me!

Just thought I'd give you the benefit of my experience since we have just been through this

DS (10 weeks old) was first to get it, vomited 3 times over 12 hours (4 feeds in that period, it was the second one that didn't make a reappearance, no idea why!)and awfully smelly nappies for about 24 hours after last vomit. Was just getting on verge of calling doctor, although he was keen to feed throughout episode, didn't seem ill in himself at all, his normal happy chirpy self, wet nappies continued etc, so wasn't too worried.

DH came down with it next, about 48 hours after DS, just felt very sick, and fluey.
I got it about 24 hours later, was sick a few times over a few hours, again felt fluey (achey limbs, temperature, knackered etc).
DH, bless him, looked after DS while I laid in bed for about 12 hours, bringing him up for feeds every few hours. I couldn't eat for about 36 hours, but continued drinking water, although maybe not as much as I should have done.

My supply has been affected, although I had some oversupply issues before I was ill, so supply actually just went down to normal, so no harm has been done. DS is mildly unimpressed that he actually has to do some work to get milk now rather than it just pouring down his throat, but that could be a good thing .

I'd say the most important thing is to make sure you drink lots, as much for you as for him, as it will make you feel a hundred times worse if you're dehydrated.

Hopefully you'll be lucky and avoid it though

Get some Dioralyte sachets for re-hydration. That lack of food won't do any harm but lack of fluids will make you feel awful (if you get it).

Fwiw, current research suggests that with noroviruses, refraining from eating does not speed up recovery, so if you have it and can stomach anything after the initial puking then do! Bananas, rice and toast are ideal.

Hope you escape it!

Oh, yeah, and bfing will be fine. It's amazing what your body can do!

DH and I both had norovirus a couple of weeks ago but dd (16 weeks) escaped. bf-ing her when I was being sick every hour through the night was no bloody fun at all and I discovered that when you throw up, you also get a let down so I was being sick and spraying milk everywhere at the same time.

I was so weak afterwards that I could barely move but some ORS (8 spoons of sugar to 1 of salt in a litre of water) really helped.

I think my supply dipped a little during the illness but we're all OK now. I keep getting flashbacks though, it was like 'Nam or something.