Shall I pump and store milk now that I have a flu virus?

[@llli*marianna]

Hello, my 4 month old gave me the flu. I need to return to work pretty soon and I have already started pumping and storing my milk. Shall I continue to do so now that I have the flu virus? Thank you

[@llli*phi]

If you have a reasonable amount of milk stored right now, then I would take a break from pumping. Not because of potential infection, but because you should get as much rest as you can (and that is difficult enough with a 4 month old!) and try to let your body use its fluids for repair rather than making extra milk.

If you absolutely cannot do without the extra stored milk at this point, then I really don't think it should be a problem to store the milk you pump while you are sick. Influenza infects respiratory epithelial cells and spreads via respiratory secretions, so try not to cough on your bottles. But honestly even if you did, I don't think the virus would survive terribly long outside a host.

[@llli*marianna]

Thank you for your reply. I need to keep pumping so that I maintain this extra quantity. What about if I decide to receive medication? (Not antibiotics)

[@llli*phi]

It depends on the medication. Certain medications can impact milk supply. However, other than ibuprofen or acetaminophen - which are both safe, there aren't really any medications that effectively treat influenza. Rest and fluids are the best thing you can do for yourself.

Keep in mind you only need enough milk for your first day back to work (and maybe enough for an extra 3 oz bottle or two). That should be 1-1.5 oz for every hour you are gone. After that you will be pumping at work to replace nursing, which is much easier than pumping in addition to nursing.

[@llli*phi]

You can check out this information on cold an allergy medications for specific medications.

Hope you feel better soon!

[@llli*marianna]

I guess I'm a bit insecure on this matter. I prefer to have my freezer filled up for piece of mind. I'm starting work on the 5th of june. I will be gone 4 days a week, 10 hours per day. I have read that while at work there is a tendency that your supply drops.

I plan to keep to this schedule:

http://lactationmatters.org/2012/05/...orking-mother/

The method that seems to work best for the busy working mother is to start each week on Sunday night by removing 10 – 12 ounces (300-365ml) of frozen breastmilk from the freezer and thawing overnight in the refrigerator. Milk can then be packaged for the care provider in small bottles (2.5 ounces for example (74ml) for consumption throughout the day on Monday. The mother will then express milk on Monday. Monday’s milk will be stored in the refrigerator overnight and provided for baby on Tuesday. Tuesday’s expressed milk will again be stored overnight in the refrigerator and provided on Wednesday, etc. On Friday, milk is packaged in 1 and 2 ounce bags (30-60ml) and frozen, clearly labeled with the date. Using this pattern, the baby will only receive frozen breastmilk once each week and the freezer supply will be efficiently rotated. There is a tendency for less and less milk to be expressed as the stressful week progresses. Freezing in small packages will allow mom to pull one or two ounces from her freezer on Thursday or Friday if needed without having to defrost and potentially waste 5 ounces (148ml) of frozen breastmilk.

[@llli*phi]

Output decrease through the week can happen, but it doesn't mean that it will. Even so if you are just a day or two ahead, then you will be fine, as it shouldn't decrease all that much. If you are consistently not producing enough at work, then there is probably something going on and there are lots of ladies here who can help you with that!

Even so, taking 1-2 days off pumping to recover shouldn't set you back too far, unless you are going back this coming Monday. I had way too much frozen milk fearing the same things and ended up having to toss a bunch because I couldn't keep up with using it and it got too old.

I'm not trying to get you down if you really must pump! However, you do need to consider your health too, and if you've got a day or two of milk then you should worry about getting better first then get back to pumping.

[@llli*marianna]

I guess you are right! Thank you so much for your time...

[@llli*phi]

Okay - so June 5th - sorry I missed that. How much do you have stored? How much are you getting each day?

Honestly though, I'm pretty sure you should be fine just taking 1 or 2 days off. Get some sleep and hit the pump after that. You can always add a session or two if you need to boost production back up, but that may well not be necessary after just a day or two.

ETA: Just saw you last post! Try not to worry too much! It sounds like you are doing great! Get better soon!!!

[@llli*goldentoes]

I would cut back while you're sick, just to get some rest.

Once you start back at work, I think you'll find a routine where you won't be so worried about what's in the freezer. I used my freezer stash for the first day back, and that's it. Been back for over two months now and I think I've raided the freezer only one other time, after a long weekend where our usual feeding schedule got disrupted and I came down with mastitis.

Otherwise, if you are in good balance with your baby, you shouldn't find it TOO hard (unless your employer makes it hard to pump) to keep up just by pumping at work for the next day. And if you pump the last day of your workweek, it should be fine without being frozen for the next monday, unless you have a lipase issue or something.