Expert: Sally Wendkos Olds - 6/11/2006

Question
I had a 24 hour GI bug where I was vomiting and had diarrhea.  I lost all of my bodies reserves and couldn't even drink more than a sip at a time for 24 hours. Now I am "well" but I still can only stomach very light foods.  My 6 month old son is now nursing more often, and my let down reflex seems to be much weaker (used to leak, and now I don't).  I am worried that my milk supply is almost gone. Please help!  Should I be concerned, or just continue to nurse when ever he wants?  Thank  you!  

Answer
Dear Jenny,

First, congratulations for giving your son the best start in life by breastfeeding him! And second, glad to hear you recovered from the "bug" and hope you continue to feel well.

Your milk supply will probably be okay. It is not unusual for women to stop leaking after nursing for a few months; the supply seems to stabilize according to the demand, so this does not mean you are producing less. Just continue to nurse often -- maybe even offering the breast to your son at times when he doesn't "ask" for it. The more often  you nurse, the better it is for your milk supply. Also, rest and eat and drink well. I do have a number of suggestions for building up your milk supply in my book (see below). I'll excerpt a few of them here (from my Chapter 10).

Good luck!

Sally

Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters.
----------------
WAYS TO BUILD UP YOUR MILK PRODUCTION

Following one or more of the following suggestions should increase your milk supply within a few days.
  *  Nurse your baby more frequently for several days, using both breasts at each feeding. This is the single best way to enhance your flow of milk.
  *  Wake your baby sometimes to deliver your milk more often, or pump or express milk between feedings.
  *  Pump from one breast while your baby is nursing from the other.
  *  See a lactation specialist if your baby is not suckling well or nurses only a few minutes at a time. This may indicate serious problems.
  *  Cut back on your schedule. Do less. Rest more. Nap at least once a day, more often if you can manage it. Maybe you can close your eyes while riding the bus to work or lie down while your older children play quietly nearby. Ask someone else to help with marketing, cooking simple meals (or getting take-out food), and doing basic laundry. Most people like to help a new mother, so take advantage of this willingness now. You can always reciprocate later on. Ask visitors not to come for a few days unless they're people who will wait on you, not expect you to entertain them.
  *  If you can, take an occasional day or two off from work or from other obligations (by, for example, having someone come in to care for your other children) so that you can focus only on nursing your baby.
  *  Check your diet. Are you eating enough? Are you eating the right foods? Are you drinking enough fluids? Some women find that eating or drinking more seems to produce more milk.
  *  Take extra Vitamin B complex. Some nursing mothers have found that one to three teaspoons a day of brewer's yeast helps.
  *  Make a special effort to relax, as suggested in Box 10-3. Of course, this is hard when you're concerned that your baby isn't getting enough milk -- but the more you can relax, the more milk your baby is likely to receive.
  *  Believe in yourself and trust your body. The most effective milk producer of all is the stimulation of your breasts by a nursing baby.