Written by Wendy, IBCLC
There’s almost nothing more stressful than being sick while caring for a baby. Chances are, your baby is under the weather too, which can make things that much more exhausting and difficult.
If you’re a breastfeeding mom, you may notice changes in how nursing is going. Your baby may be nursing less frequently, or may seem to be nursing all the time. Your breasts may feel softer and your supply may seem less robust.
In other words, you may have serious concerns that your milk supply is tanking.
DOES ILLNESS CASUE MILK SUPPLY TO DECREASE?
If you are worried about your milk supply during or after being sick, you aren’t alone. Being sick can change your baby’s nursing patterns and can also cause dips in your milk supply. These are totally common situations, and they are also easily fixable.
Most importantly, drops in milk supply after illness are temporary. Your milk supply should rebound within a few days after an illness, usually without you even having to do anything.
IS IT REALLY A MILK SUPPLY DROP?
Being sick can cause your milk supply to drop, but sometimes that’s not exactly what’s going on. Sometimes when a baby is sick, or when moms are not feeling 100%, breastfeeding patterns change, which cause moms to think that their milk supply is lower.
For example, a baby who is sick may want to nurse constantly for comfort, which makes a mom think that the baby isn’t getting enough milk. On the flip side, a baby who doesn’t feel well may nurse less, or spend less time on the breast, and may act frustrated while nursing, which can also make a mom think she has less milk.
WHAT DROPS IN MILK SUPPLY LOOK LIKE
It’s not always possible to tell for sure if your illness is causing a drop in milk supply. But there are some ways to figure it out. Here are some signs that you may be experiencing a drop in supply:
- Your breasts are suddenly less full, and this drop in fullness happened around the time you got sick.
- You hear less gulping when your baby nurses.
- Your baby’s diapers are less full and they are pooping less.
These signs don’t always mean your milk supply has dropped, but they could, and if you are seeing signs like this—especially if your baby is peeing and pooping less—you should take this seriously.
However, there’s no reason to panic just yet, as drops in supply during illness is usually a temporary problem.
WHAT CAUSES DROPS IN MILK SUPPLY DURING ILLNESS
There are various reasons why your milk supply might tank when you’re sick. But it rarely has to do with the sick germs themselves. Instead, it’s usually what the illness is doing to your body that causes your milk supply to dip.
For example, extreme fatigue, dehydration, vomiting, fevers, and less calorie intake can cause your body to produce less milk. Similarly, the stress that comes with being sick can cause your body to produce more cortisol (stress hormone), which can cause your milk supply to decrease.
DON'T STOP NURSING
Above all, if you are noticing less milk during or after being sick, this isn’t a reason to stop breastfeeding your little one. Not only is breastfeeding the best way to keep up supply (even if you are noticing a drop), it is also the best way to keep your baby healthy.
Research has found that when you get sick, your body immediately starts making antibodies that fight the illness and get delivered via your milk. This helps your baby fight the pathogen, whether they have it already or were recently exposed.
TIPS FOR INCREASING YOUR SUPPLY
Your milk supply will naturally start to rebound after you and your baby begin to feel better, and there’s not much you need to do besides nurse on demand. But there are a few tips that can help you speed the process along.
Nurse, Rest, Nurse
Nurse your baby more frequently than usual, and consider getting into bed with them to combine resting and nursing, both of which will help milk supply.
Massage and Pump
Besides nursing frequently, you can add in hand compression and massage of your breasts to get the milk flowing. If your baby is too sick to nurse frequently, consider pumping to increase supply.
Rehydrate
Make sure to rehydrate yourself, especially if you’ve been dehydrated. Water is great, but electrolyte drinks and herbal teas are great too.
Refuel
Once your appetite returns, make sure you are eating nourishing foods, and foods with adequate calories.
Check Your Sick Remedies
Make sure you aren’t taking anything that can decrease your supply. Cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine are known to cause temporary drops in milk supply. Peppermint teas and sage teas can also sometimes cause drops in supply. Always be mindful of ingredients to avoid. If you're looking for more tips on breastfeeding when sick, we've got you!
WHEN TO SEEK OUTSIDE HELP
A few days of increased nursing, relaxing, eating and rehydrating is usually all it takes for your milk supply to rebound. As much as possible, try to trust the process, keeping in mind that almost all breastfeeding moms get sick at some point, and that just as the body heals after illness, your milk supply will recover.
At the same time, if you are noticing a drop in milk supply that lasts more than a few days after recovering—and especially if your baby isn’t wetting diapers or acting very lethargic—it’s vital to contact your healthcare provider. These symptoms could be from low milk supply, but may also be from the illness itself, and it’s essential that you seek medical advice if your baby is unwell.
But again, most of the time, what you are witnessing is a normal, temporary, and fixable milk supply issue that can happen when you’re sick. Most moms just need support and perspective during this time, so don’t hesitate to reach out to a breastfeeding counselor, IBCLC, or a trusted breastfeeding friend during this time. And feel better soon!
