Help barb!!

[lilprecious75]

Barb,

I started vomiting about 2 hrs ago (8pm) and have diarrhea as well. Jeremy will be 3 months old on Sunday and still feeds frequently - anywhere from 2 hourly to 6 hourly.

What is the best way to manage the illness and still feed the baby? At the moment I am sipping small amounts of water since I am still actively vomiting.

My husband will stop at Coles on his way home from snooker and pick up some other forms of fluids for me. I have some gastrolyte as well but it is in the bedroom with the boys so I will rescue it when Jeremy wakes!

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

[MantaRay]

Heidi, it sounds like you are already doing the right things. Keeping hydrated as much as you can will be helpful - and small sips and gastrolyte are both good ways to do that. It's also important to wash your hands frequently to minimise the risk of Jeremy catching it - although your breast milk will already be providing him with immunity. Don't worry too much about food - not eating won't affect your supply or milk quality. Also, I am sure you will want lots of rest so you might find it easiest to breastfeed in bed, perhaps even lying down.

I hope you feel better soon hun - tummy bugs really suck

[Kate07]

you could try nurse on call OR the breastfeeding hotline if you need info quickly.

hope you feel better soon

[Barb Glare]

I'm sorry to hear you are unwell. Mantaray has outlined the treatment plan very well. It is so hard when you have a young baby, and are ill. You need some-one to care for you and for the baby. But it's important to keep breastfeeding. Your milk supply will be fine. Just try to drink when you can. You may find your baby is a little unsettled. She will pcik up that you are not well. You may find she wants to feed more frequently, really to just reassure herself. Try to get some ret - let us know how you go.

[lilprecious75]

Hi All,

I appreciate the quick replies more than you will know.
I haven't been sick (in either manner) for 2.5 hours now.
I've managed to keep down about 600mls of water and I'm working on a large glass of apple juice now too. DH brought home chicken stock, sprite and apple juice for me. I'm not the least bit worried or concerned about food as I'm still having some severe stomach cramps so not sure if another wave of sickness is coming or if it will fade with time.

I washed my hands thoroughly after every trip to the bathroom and will replace my toothbrush and water bottle when I get well.

Thanks again ladies! I just finished a feed with the baby and I'll lay on the lounge and rest until I do a good wee and then I'll head to bed.

I will update the situation tomorrow!

[lilprecious75]

Hi Barb

The gastro is slowly improving but this afternoon I developed a high fever. Is there anything extra I need to be doing? Or just fluids and rest? I don't really want to take any panadol since I'm not keeping solids down at all! Should I just let it run its course?

[ubba82]

Pretty sure panadol is safe on an empty stomach if you do need relief from your fever.

[Kate07]

Icy poles can be good if you finding it hard to get fluids down. I lived on Calippos at the start of my pregnancy when morning sickness was bad.