Help! Stomach Flu decreased my milk supply!

Kaily - posted on 12/18/2012

Thank you for posting your experiences! I'm just recovering from the flu (gastroenteritis) and fretting because my lil one who is 8 mo (and also recovering from gastroenteritis) just wants milk..and my milk has taken a 5oz nosedive due to my dehydration..for her that is a whole feeding! Power pumping since she hasn't been interested in nursing since she was 2 mo old..and hoping to see quick improvement since I'm on my last frozen breast milk bottle :( Good luck to you all!

Allison - posted on 03/20/2009

I hope you're feeling better now!!

Definitely make sure you're getting a lot of fluids now. You might want to pump for longer, *at least* 10 minutes per side but no more than 20 per side and if you start to get sore, stop.

Get back to basics...have a day or two where you and baby stay in bed and just nurse. Do a lot of skin-to-skin contact, which can stimulate your supply. Let him nurse freely all day and all night. It might take a few days, but your supply will bounce back up.

I hope he doesn't get it too! If he does, allow him to nurse as much as he wants...the breastmilk will keep him better hydrated than pedialyte and, even if he's throwing it back up, it's absorbed pretty quickly so he'll still be getting some anyway. Plus, since you've already had it, your antibodies will prevent him from getting it as bad as you did, if he even gets it at all.

Iv'e been there...nursing in between running to the bathroom, up all night because I was sick then up all night the next because my baby was sick. It's awful. My sympathies!

Allena - posted on 03/20/2009

Okay...I know this will sound strange but it works!  My sister was having issues keeping up with her baby and the doctor said to drink a beer a day to help increase her milk supply.  I completely forgot and drank 3/4 of a Corona when my husband and I went out the other night.  I woke up incredibly engorged and proceeded to pump 17 ounces in an hour!!!!  Also, I just finished taking Augmenton (sp?) for a sinus infection which greatly decreased my milk supply.  I did the beer a night thing and I'm back to normal if not producing a bit more than before and I too have always had more than enough for my little one.  If you don't want to drink, I've also heard that the yeast pills available at a health food store will increase your milk supply.  I hope this works for you.  Good luck and let us know how things go!

Alison - posted on 03/20/2009

I feel your pain!  I'm in the same boat.  I am in the process of getting over the stomach flu, which was most severe this past Wednesday.  My milk supply has dramatically decreased cause I wasn't able to keep anything down for almost a day.  My little guy is 7 months old also.  What I'm doing is trying to nurse him every 3 hours and I'm pumping at night, again.  I'm trying to increase my fluids but I'm still not feeling great.  However, my little guy doesn't seem to be fussy from being hungry.  You can try fenugreek, 3 pills 3 times a day, also blessed thistle, 3 pills 3 times a day.  Be careful because the blessed thistle can cause N&V.  Mothers milk is also good.  LOTS of water!!!  Unfortunately right now I'm still not 100% so the thought of swallowing a bunch of pills or drinking a lot of fluids makes my stomach turn.  Whatever you do try not to supplement!  Your breasts need the supply and demand, just keep nursing, often, and hopefully your supply will build back up.  

Good luck and let us know how you are doing,  Alison

Krystle - posted on 03/20/2009

Quoting Krystle:

This sucks, I know!!! Just keep drinking as much fluids as you can and pump as often as you can. When I saw my milk weaning after having an overabundance, I ate oatmeal for 2 weeks straight! It's supposed to help, I know it helped me. But not that instant stuff you can pop in the microwave, the kind that takes time to cook. Good luck!!!

The oatmeal might have been a phycological thing, I have read that something in it helps. Its worth a try.  But also, becareful when you do pump a lot bc when youre milk does come in, it's going to expect you to pump often. Slowly wind down your pumping!!! I didnt and it lead to a clogged duct, then matisis (spelling), the hospital to get drained, and now I had to completely stop for my womb to heal. THE MOST TRAMATIC EXPERIENCE EVER. For me it was worse than labor and birth!!!

Krystle - posted on 03/20/2009

This sucks, I know!!! Just keep drinking as much fluids as you can and pump as often as you can. When I saw my milk weaning after having an overabundance, I ate oatmeal for 2 weeks straight! It's supposed to help, I know it helped me. But not that instant stuff you can pop in the microwave, the kind that takes time to cook. Good luck!!!

Misty - posted on 03/20/2009

I had a problem with my milk supply off and on last month (I kept on getting colds etc.). Anyways, I took fenugreek capsuels (it said to take 2 with every meal, I called my lactation consultant and she said to take 4) and I also drank 5 cups of mothers milk tea a day (warm sweetened with honey is the way that I like it).

You can find both at health food stores (at least that's where I cound mine) they can also be ordered off of amazon.