Hand, Foot and Mouth disease--nursing strike

[LuminosaJane]

I'm hoping you wise mamas can give me some advice. My 17mo dd came down with Hand Foot and Mouth virus this weekend and, poor thing, has a nasty ulcer on her tongue. In addition to being miserable, she can't/won't nurse because the sore on her tongue is likely irritated by my nipple in her mouth. She's a pacifier baby too and won't take that either.

Usually, we nurse 2-3 times during the day and more at night, maybe 4? (Sleep issues = another thread Since Saturday night overnight she hasn't nursed at all, though she's tried. She's so sad when she can't nurse. I've been pumping (but not at night) but only found time to pump twice yesterday. My husband is out of town until Thursday and I don't have any other help. So assuming I can only pump this much, will I loose my supply?

Any other tips? How will I get her back to the breast or will she go when her sore heals?

She won't take the expressed milk either. Just spits it out. She won't eat much, so if anyone has any BTDT or advice in general, I'm all ears.

Thanks Mamas!

[pbjmama]

HFM is so hard for everyone. Have you tried medicating for the pain? I would keep offering to nurse and paci, even if she doesn't nurse I've noticed that most older breastfed children who take a paci do a good 'latch' and that could help her get back to the breast.

[*MamaJen*]

Yep, that's a mean bug. Poor thing. My pediatrician recommended doing a 50-50 mix of Maalox and Benedryl. That helps coat the mouth and control the pain. It is important that she get some fluids in her so she doesn't get dehydrated. Is she drinking water at least?

[LuminosaJane]

Thanks for the replies, mamas. I had taken her to urgent care yesterday where they diagnosed her and when I spoke with the ped today she also recommended the Maalox/Benedryl combo. It did seem to help--she ate mac and cheese for dinner, the first meal she's had in a couple of days.

Sadly, no interest in latching on. No paci either.

I don't want to wean her yet--is there a chance she go back to the breast after not nursing like this? It was so sad--I'd offer and she'd briefly put her mouth to my nipple but not really even try to latch and then just rest her head.

[goodygumdrops]

My son had that at around 2 years and he was fine. He went back to nursing no problem. I think that you should just keep offering and she'll come back when it doesn't hurt so much.

[*MamaJen*]

Sure, she'll come back to nursing. You may want to pump a little or hand express some milk to keep your supply up. Hope she feels better soon.

[LuminosaJane]

She's back! After 8 days of not nursing. Yay! And, we might have gotten rid of the bink habit too--so maybe a silver lining to the really dark cloud that was HFM for the last week.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by LuminosaJane

She's back! After 8 days of not nursing. Yay!

[karika]

glad to hear it! 17 mo is too young to wean IMO.