Keeping supply up while baby is sick...help please

[Harmony08]

Hi,

My son is 16 months and has the stomach flu. He can't keep breast milk down so we're not nursing right now and haven't been since this morning. Should I be pumping to keep my supply up? He usually nurses 1 or 2 times during the daylight hours and then a bunch of times at night. I've never pumped but I have one I can get out. What should I do?

[Harmony08]

okay so I tried to pump and it didn't work. i am getting uncomfortable. what am i going to do?

[PatioGardener]

Can you nurse? Will baby nurse? Breastmilk is the absolutely best thing for a babe with a stomach virus - keeps them hydrated better than any other liquid AND is full of great antibodies. It is absorbed so fast that even if they puke it up it is better than water or pedialyte.

If baby can't/won't nurse then the WHO suggest expressing the milk (try hand expression if you can't pump) and giving by cup or spoon. Consistant small amounts help baby to stay hydrated.

hope he feels better soon!

[e(Lisa)beth]

Hi Harmony,
I know every mama responds to pumps differently but I am surprised it isn't working at all. What kind of pump are you using? How long did you try on each breast? Sometimes it can take several minutes of suction for let down to occur. And if you've had the pump in storage for several months, it's possible that some of the rubber parts have become brittle and need to be replaced.

As for your immediate need, assuming you still can't get the pump to work, I know that some mamas have had success simply squeezing the breast and allowing the milk to drip into a bottle. It will take a while but hopefully will provide some relief.

I hope your DS feels better very soon!
Lisa

[Harmony08]

Thank you thank you thank you for replying! The problem is that he can't keep the breast milk down. I was nursing him but he just kept vomiting it up. So the ped said to try ice chips and small sips of water but he isn't really keeping that down well either. I am tempted to try nursing him again. He is going to want to pig out though so I know he will be very upset when I take him off.

[Harmony08]

Yes, Lisa, I should try the pump again. I've never been able to work these pumps. I don't know why. I guess if I got some milk out I could give him spoonfuls and be more aware of how much he was getting.

I just let him nurse for a second. We will se if it stays down. My poor baby. This is awful. I think we are getting close to ER time and that makes me very nervous and upset.

[PatioGardener]

Here is some info on how to hand express: http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com...rmet-technique (please excuse that the site is hosted by Medela - it is the only link I could find with pictures)

Letting baby nurse, even though he vomits, will still get breastmilk into him. Most doctors don't realise that breastmilk is easily digestable and the best fluid to give. MUCH better than water.

Hope he does better soon!

[jecombs]

If your DS will nurse, I would let him. Chances are that some components of the BM will be absorbed before he throws-up because it is so easily digestible. I would not give water, especially if he is just vomitting it up anyway. My DD has had stomach virus a couple of times and I always nursed her through it. It was much more comfortable for her to vomit BM than to dry-heave .