Expert: ruth kraft - 11/10/2009

Question
Hi there. I am a mother of 2. I breast fed my daughter till she was 6 months old with no problems and my 2.5 month old is bf'ing currently with 1 bottle of formula before bedtime cause he sleeps much better that way. Unfortunately, my husband and i were attacked 2 days ago by a group of 8 people, my husband was stabbed 5 times and i was brutally beat. Everyone is ok, my husband is healing and fortunately i got to come home to my gorgeous babies. Most of my blows were to the head and face but i wasn't sure if this kind of trauma can dry up your breast milk? My son i acting very hungry but has a few "sips" and is not satisfied at all..then he just keeps re-latching over and over. My breasts feel empty like after a normal feeding even when he hasn't eaten for 2 or so hours? Can your breast milk dry up that fast from a trauma like this?  

Answer
Stress in general can decrease your supply. However, I stongly suggest you continue nursing . For a couple reasons. Your sons irritablity is likely partially because he senses your trauma and doesnt know how to work through his own sense of tension from it. Continuing to nurse will continue that connection you have and help him feel at ease... Mommy always comes home to me... mommy is ok and she loves me and is connected. So it will still be good for him. Your milk hasnt actually left, its likely more just letting yourself relax enough to let it flow more.  When nursing, in your mind, visualize that the milk is flowing easily as it had before. Let your body relax and not only will this bring YOU healing, it will put you both more at ease. It also will create endorphins in your system which will help your brain hormones get back to where they were before hand.

Having also gone through great trauma in the last couple years, I know the effects it has on your mind, sense of safety , sense of loss, it can take away your confidence in your well being. Seek counceling, nuture yourself first and others will get nurturing from you as you will be fufilled at a much higher level. I know someone who does phenomenal counceling over the phone if you are interested let me know but I strongly suggest it.

Continue to nurse, the milk is there, your safe with your babies and you will heal and learn to let go on a level you never dreamed... I hope you find yourself the same way I did through such traumatic experiences.

Hug yourself, hug your babies, and just keeping trusting, no matter what you seem to think, the universe is unfolding as it should. These moments are hard, but they are moments that will teach you , that the other extreme is possible . and life will slowly become, just as wonderful as this feels hard.