I have this terrible stomach bug, but am still trying to nurse my 5 month old. I asked the pedi nurse and she said it was okay, just to be careful not to get dehydrated. I'm doing my best, but there's only so much you can do. We're supplementing with some saved milk and trying to nurse. Will my milk come back after this bug is gone, or should I resign myself to being finished?
Thanks everyone! I'm still not 100%, but being able to stay in bed and only have to worry about nursing has helped a lot. I feel a little better and since I'm able to keep stuff down my supply is getting better, too. My little guy has been quite a trooper during this and I'm glad I'm going to be able to continue to nurse him. Again, thanks for all your support!
Yes, it will come back. Don't give up. Just rehydrate as much as you can as soon as you can hold it down.
Mine came back pretty quickly after I got over a nasty bug.
If you really want to continue nursing, and your supply doesn't seem to be restoring itself, there are a few things you can try to boost your supply.
Pump after every nursing session, so your body gets tricked into thinking the baby is demanding more.
Fenugreek supplement.
Have a lay-in, where you spend a day in bed with the baby, getting lots and lots of skin-to-skin contact and latching baby on as often as possible.
And yes, lots and lots of water. The amount you are typically supposed to drink daily is 1/2 of your body weight in oz. (like, if you weigh 150 lbs, you should drink 75 oz of water daily.) because you have been sick AND are nursing, I would up that a little bit... But make sure you are getting AT LEAST that much.
Good luck!
I got a nasty, nasty bug (let's just leave it at that) while still nursing DD. Your milk is a "clear liquid" for the baby, so keep nursing if baby gets sick. I would NOT resign yourself to being done. Nurse as much as you can and remember that being this sick is temporary. You can recover and resume normal supply. Just nurse as you can, even if you do nothing but have DH bring you the baby.
One trick I've used since that illness was have someone crush ice for you and put a spoonful at a time in your cheek. It will hydrate you without hitting your stomach and may help you recover. One spoonful every 10-15 minutes, to start.
I've had my share of stomach bugs while nursing my 3.
Keep hydrated, get some pedalyte and sip on that to help keep your electrolytes up. Keep nursing as much as you can. Nursing will also help give your little one antibodies to help prevent them from getting it or at least keeping it mild.
While it was always hard while I was sick, I just kept at it and once I got better my supply caught back up and we were good to go. I nursed all 3 of mine well into and past toddlerhood.
With patience, it will come back.
When my son was 2 months old, I ended up with both a severe strep throat infection AND stomatitis... (my mouth had dozens of tiny cold sores)... AND we were on an orientation trip for an upcoming job transfer..... I couldn't eat or drink much of anything because of the pain from the cold sores... I lost 11 pounds in 3 weeks....
I kept nursing, and drinking as much fluid as I could, but my milk did lessen a lot.... I don't really remember what we did for supplementing for my son, since none of my kids really would take bottles..... I think I just nursed him as much as I could, and for 3 weeks, he didn't get as much as he needed.
Anyway, once things healed up, I was able to eat and drink normally, and I continued nursing him until he was close to a year old.
Try some popsicles.... the cool liquid in small amounts may be more soothing and tolerable to your tender tummy.
Don't stop nursing! The antibodies you are producing can help your baby not get the bug that you have. As far as staying hydrated, try sipping pedialite (if you can stomach it) or watered-down Gatorade to replenish electrolytes.
As far as supply goes, your body will bounce back as long as you give your baby the opportunity to nurse. Hope you feel better soon!
I echo what everyone else has said. I remember being so miserable and sick with a stomach bug and trying to nurse my 7month old. But it's true, you just need to continue nursing as much as possible--your milk supply will dip significantly--but it will come back. Skin to skin contact is also great for baby and will help baby keep from getting sick (most likely). Definitely stay hydrated. Try to rest as much as you can. Good luck!
Drink lots of water and if you can pump. If you feel up to it, keep nursing. It won't pass on to baby. I nursed through lots of crud and neither of my babies ever got what I had.
Good for you for hanging in there!!
