Stomach flu, bfing and dehydration?

[Violet2]

Hi. We are all sick w/ the flu courtesy of daycare. My dd and dh are mostly over it, but I am really sick, sicker than they were. I haven't had any water for @ 12 hours as I am still throwing up regularly.

At what point do I need medical care to stay hydrated? I want to preserve my milk supply and am worried.

Thanks
V

[PatioGardener]

Keep drinking, Mama, even if you are vomiting. It is the only way to stay hydrated. Small sips, frequently. You need to replace all the fluid that you have lost, and more.

The key to getting the water into the body is to take fluid that has sugar in it (gets into your system much much faster than plain water) and something that has electrolytes too. There is some good info about dehydration is children here, (I would think it would apply to adults too): http://www.emedicinehealth.com/dehyd...n/page6_em.htm

Take care of yourself. If you are worried about dehydration that you are unable to treat with drinking rehydration fluids at home, then definitely call your doctor or nursing hotline.

[Violet2]

Thanks Patio Gardener.

I'm still sick, but able to hold down fluids and I've stopped throwing up (I think).

I actually broke the capillaries in my face and have black eyes from being so sick.

And I thought labor was bad...

V

[PatioGardener]

Oh that sounds awful! Just awful. Keep drinking the fluids slowly, even if you don't feel like it. I bet you are dehdrated and have a bunch to make up.

I'm glad (touch wood) that the vomitting has stopped. But after all that it will take some time to recover. Do you have help with the baby for a few days? And is your milk supply holding up?

[guestmama9904]

try and drink a drink witn electrolyes, other than just water. a mild, wtaered down juice or gentle tea would do or you could go with pedialyte or gatoraide or i think most coops sell a natural electrolyte replacement powder similar to EmergenC.

[Violet2]

Thank you ladies.

I am drinking gatorade, water, and sprite. Eating mostly crackers and some bananas. On the mend, although people who don't know I've been sick will assume my DH beats me due to the black eyes.

Unfortunately, my supply is down. I have to take herbs to get it up to begin with and I missed several doses along with being dehydrated...it's a bad blow.

My DD is upset. Her appetite is finally coming back and she's so angry about the lack of milk and unwilling to nurse without reward. So I've been pumping, offering the breast, and supplementing when she absolutely refuses to eat. Hopefully we'll pull through. I thought I might see if I could get a prescription for a short course of Reglan or something since I'm already doing everything else.

And my poor DH has horrible diarrhea and is back in bed. This flu is horrible.

V

[mrs_mandolini]

Gatorade does not really help when you're badly dehydrated. Get some pedialyte, it tastes weird but makes a BIG difference. I just got over one of these bugs myself & drank about 3 L of it...