Please help! can I get my supply back? pregnant and nursing interrupted by hospital stay

[JessieBird]

Hi everyone - I am having a really tough time dealing with this situation so I hope someone can help. This will probably be long, apologies and thanks in advance.

I had a wonderful nursing relationship with my 15 mo toddler. He loves to nurse and so do I. Up until last week, he was nursing 4-6 times per 24-hr period. I became pregnant with #2 in Feb (am now 10 weeks) and noticed some drop in supply but it didn't seem to affect DS at all.

Last Wednesday, I was hospitalized for a severe gastro bug. For five days, I was in isolation in the hospital, vomiting my guts out and dehydrated. DS was not allowed to visit. It was just horrendous. I was too out of it to pump though I knew in the back of my mind that I should. By the time I was released and got home, my breasts were full but not engorged. DS nursed right away for a nice long time and I was so happy.

But that was it - he emptied my breasts and no more milk has arrived. My breasts are completely deflated. DS has asked to nurse 2-3 times a day/night since I've come home but he gives up after about 10-20 seconds when there is nothing there. I am devastated. I am finding this emotionally very difficult. I am not ready to be done and I am crying about it a lot. I was looking forward to nursing for a long time and was very open to the idea of tandem nursing if DS was still interested when the new baby came along.

I should add that DS does not appear upset by this at all. He doesn't get mad or frustrated. He is eating a lot more solids and is sleeping better than ever. He sometimes shakes his head no when I offer the breast (which breaks my heart) but he's not upset when he does try to nurse and finds nothing there. I think he is taking weaning in stride. So this is entirely my problem. He's a healthy, happy guy who had lots of BM for 15 months so I don't feel guilty but rather just really sad about the ending of a chapter and kind of lonely too.

I have read through Kelly Mom and it doesn't look like there's much I can do. It advises against Fenugreek during pregnancy. I've been eating oatmeal morning, noon and night and staying well hydrated but to no avail.

Here are my questions:

- Is there anything I can do to re-lactate now?
- Should I just let this go and consider DS weaned? If so, how do I cope with my sadness?
- Should I let it go for now but offer DS the breast from time to time and perhaps he'll start nursing again when my colostrum/milk comes in for the new baby? If so, when should I expect this to happen?
- Any other advice?

Thanks so much for reading and I really appreciate any feedback you have.

[Peacemamalove]

I have no advice mama but many s

[Peony]

I don't have that much time so I can't give my normal long response. Let me first say that I am sorry. Second, no I don't think you have a chance of getting your supply back right now. I would continue to offer and maybe he will accept someday, or maybe not.

Milk production during pg is entirely different from regular milk production because of different hormones due to the pg. The normal tricks do not work, nursing more, oatmeal, etc... A non-pg nursing mother would og taken a supply hit with the illness tht you experienced but because she doesn't have pg hormones circulating in her system, her supply more then likely would of come back in a few days. It isn't the same with you. When the colostrum comes in varies from mother to mother, some say they have it at 13 weeks, others it is late in the 3rd tri. He may started nursing when there is lots of milk available or he may not. Children can forgot how to nurse after a while, I see it more with older children who want to nurse but physically can't remember what to do with their mouth but sometimes with the younger ones, they just flat out refuse to. It varies so much child to child.

The sadness is normal. You are grieving, it is the loss of this nursing relationship with your son, and then moving on. Time will help.

I'm sorry I son't have more time, but I am very sorry for your loss. Keep offering, and hang in there.

[mum06]

I've breastfed and weaned four children so far (and I'm due with #5 in a few weeks), so I know how you feel about losing that nursing relationship. It was the hardest with my oldest child, my first baby to wean, my first baby to grow up (sniff, sniff). I can't even remember the last nursing session for my younger three, but I remember very clearly the last time I nursed my oldest. You will be fine, don't worry

Take your cues from your son. He is done and he is happy. You've done a great job!

[boobs4milk]

i'm no expert...but i'd say that if you want you can try to let him nurse for the comfort. can he tell you there is no milk? he might still be getting little bits and he can still comfort there if you want. if you need to find other ways to comfort (if the bf is too painful or he gets frustrated) then try to nurse him and maybe offer up another lovey? my dd used my shirt as a lovey and she would comfort sometimes just by wadding my shirt.

[tinybutterfly]

No advice. Just a

[JessieBird]

I just wanted to pop in and say thank you for your responses and kind thoughts. This past week has been a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Nothing has helped me to start producing again but DS has continued to try to nurse about 1-2 times a day. Sometimes it is just for a few seconds but once every other day or so, he spends several minutes at it. I doubt that he's getting much milk at all but it is comforting for both of us and it is definitely helping to ease the emotional transtion towards being fully weaned (though hopefully that's still a long way off!).