Decreased milk supply and flu?

[jwilson65]

Need some advise...

I had the FLU yesterday and was unable to eat anything but 5 saltines all day and like maybe 16 oz of water that didn't come back up. I noticed my milke supply is almost non-exsitent and DH had to give the baby pumped BM in order to satisfy her because I just wasn't producing.

Is it possible to get it back up to where it was before? I was really worried about giving my 3 week old a bottle because I didn't want there to be nipple confusion but it appears that she is fine. I'm just worried and wondering how to get my milk back up so I can feed her adiquately.

Help!

[lisaz8605]

Jacki - sorry to hear you've been sick but it sounds like you're working through it and your LO is doing well. Good for you. I can't give you concrete advice except to say from what I've read it's very doable to get that supply back up. I'm hoping others here will answer and/or maybe point to a thread that covers this. Also I know kellymom.com is a site dedicated to BFing moms and they should be able to help. Good luck!

[ruthla]

It sounds like you're temporarily dehydrated. You need to drink as much fluids as you're able to keep down- it's best to sip small amounts frequently rather than gulping large amounts at once.

Then just let the baby nurse, nurse nurse! That's the best way to increase your supply. Here's a link with lots of information about low supply (and breastfeeding in general.) http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

[Bandito]

Flu/illness can cause a drop in milk supply. Drink plenty of fluids and try to concentrate on the fats ant protiens (like usual).
I have found that fluid plays more of a part than food. I will always make a ton of milk as long as I have adaquate fluid intake. No difference if I have some non-hungry days.

I have a tip for getting you milk supply back up.....

Since you are BFing, nurse you baby first.
Then get out your pump and pump for 15 minutes, stop for 15 and pump again for 15. Do this several times a day. This will send the signal to your brain to step up milk production. It essentially mimics a hungry baby during a growth spurt. Also remember to do breast compressions with your hands as you pump to get all the milk out.

During the first 12 weeks your body's milk supply center is hormonaly driven. each time you nurse/pump your body is laying down receptors to tell your body that you are full/empty. After the first 12 weeks is over it switches over to the fullness/emptyness mode. This is when your body relies on all those receptors you laid down in the forst 12 weeks. So nurse up......


HTH

[Josiemk]

JWilson,

I know I'm late responding. I was wondering how you are doing has your milk supply returned yet. You can take Fenugreek (I think that's what it's called) I took Milk Thistle because I live out in the country & couldn't find Fenugreek. The Milk Thistle worked for me.