Help - I'm sick and my milk supply has gone!

[CluelessMummy]

The whole household has gone under thanks to a vomiting bug.

I haven't been able to keep down food or water since lunchtime yesterday (it's Saturday morning here) and I have a hungry 5wo baby to feed.

I've had an oversupply of milk with both my babies (I can usually get around 150ml with just 2-3 minutes of pumping on my one side) but this has killed it.

There's nothing left to pump (I tested it out) and I've just given my first formula feed.

Will the milk come back when I'm eating/drinking again? What can I do to keep some sort of supply going?

I had issues breast feeding so expressed and bottle fed. I stopped expressing 2 weeks ago, thought I had all dried up, gave away the last of my breast pads.....3 hours later I leaked every where! Couldn't believe it!! Perhaps being dehydrated and not eating much had just made them dry up temporally. Drink plenty of fluids, also try eating ice cream and porridge when you feel better. I read online they help produce milk. With a try.

If you don't produce any more milk don't worry, my baby has been on formula since week 2 (combination feeding) and she is developing nicely, I think the first few weeks of breast feeding are the most important which you managed. You have done the hard work!! I hope you all feel better soon xx

If you possibly can, keep offering bm to your baby. Anything that will stop him getting the same bug has to be a good thing. It will also keep stimulating supply.
FWIW, I could never pump more than a few drops, but fed both babies to 12+ months. Pumping volume isn't an indication of how much milk baby might be getting - unless you are exclusively pumping. Are you sure there us no milk, or just that the oversupply has dropped?

Hope you are all feeling better soon.

Thank you for replying!

Just to clarify, I have no issue with formula feeding (fed is best!) but I would like to BF if I can - I've had a good supply until now and I find it much quicker and convenient than the alternative.

I can't imagine eating right now but will seek out some porridge when I can.

Dunes I am going by the feel of my breasts really. They are normally like rocks after a few hours but after eight hours now they are still small and soft. I've tried BFing but DD2 pulls away after a few sucks (no real "feel" of letdown either) and when I tried to pump each side, only a few drops came out.

Echoing pp who said the amount you express does not reflect the amount of milk baby receives by breastfeeding, they are much more efficient than a pump. Urine output is a good indicator that they are getting enough fluids. The best way to maintain your supply is to keep offering baby the breast. You will also be producing antibodies against the bug which will be being passed through breastmilk to baby, so another good reason to keep breaatfeeding. Try and keep yourself hydrated, although your body prioritises breastmilk in terms of water/nutrient content so that's more for your benefit!

It’s normal for your breasts to stop being as engorged around then. Your supply may be low but there’s some in there. I would just feed as usual unless you aren’t getting wet nappies. You should have plenty of energy reserves in your body and some fluid at least. Nothing wrong with formula though but I’d keep at it if you feel up for it.

A lack of food shouldn't affect your supply unless you were already very malnourished. Dehydration could do. I wouldn't worry too much about eating but try and sip rehydration fluids like dioralyte. Keep offering the breast as much as you can, offer formula feeds if no wet nappies. As others have said engorgement tends to reduce around this stage anyway, so isn't necessarily an indication of lack of milk supply.

Exact same thing happened to me. It turned out to be quite convenient though as I was looking to switch to formula at around 6 months and was not sure how I was going to ramp down my massive oversupply.

I think you know what you are talking about and if your breasts are suddenly not filling up you are not making much milk. I don't have good advice as in my case I was happy to stop, but I suspect the thing would be to drink as much liquid as you can and keep pumping at your regular times even if not getting much (or letting baby suck, but don't let them dry suck for hours and damage your nipples). And keep baby fed on formula as necessary in the mean time.

Good luck!

If you're on Facebook I would request to join the group "breastfeeding yummy mummies" and post your problem on there as there's lactation consultants etc.. on there and thousands of breastfeeding mothers who can help advise you better

Thanks all. I understand that my supply will regulate at a certain point but with DD1, even at 5 months I still had hardened breasts before each feed and would often need to hand express before getting going, otherwise I'd spray her . This is very different. I'm pleased to say that I've kept fluids down today, and I've been feeding and pumping as well as topping up with formula. So I'm hoping I can get things back on track. Thank you again for all your ideas.

Side note: I'm living in a flat currently, but if anyone has a patio spare, it would be great if you could make room underneath it for the couple who knowingly exposed us all to their stomach flu. I have my own shovel!

I’d just keep offering breast milk. Has any medication affected it? I’ve just had sepsis and was VERY ill but we managed to get through it exclusively breastfeeding, whilst I was being pumped through with all sorts. I never ate during this time and I drank very little, I just couldn’t bring myself to eat for about 2 weeks other than very small amounts of things and usually threw it up (I didn’t know I had sepsis until I went into shock).

Just keep offering! Our bodies are amazing

Sepsis is horrendous, poor you.

I'm still offering her the breast first but I'm pretty sure she's in the middle of a growth spurt too and it doesn't seem to be satisfying her, so I'm getting DH to give her a FF while I get on the pump.

DD1 (who is now fully recovered) is keeping me amused by mimicking the sound of my Medela Swing. "Durrrr. Durrrr. Durrrr."

Silly question probably, but have you checked your pump is working properly. I only say that as it happened to me, I thought my supply had gone then after extensive googling checked my pump and the valve was loose, I wouldn’t have known as it made the right noise and suction didn’t feel different. Other than that, as many fluids as you can. Kellymoms had great advice on restablishing supply. Hope you feel better really soon, my patio is yours if you need it😉

Phoenix yes it's definitely working, and thankfully I'm now getting out a little more each time I use it now so I'll keep going until I get back to my "normal". DD2 has been screaming a lot today - I hope she isn't coming down with it too! Thanks for the offer of the patio