It is common that babies have mucus at this time of year of sudden temperature changes, and it is normal for them to suck less. For what a cold does not take breastfeeding we will tell you what to do when they are ill.
The catarrhal pictures, the flu and other infections of the upper respiratory tract such as bronquilotis, otitis, etc. They make babies present cough and mucus and just feel like feeding. They take the breast less, less frequently and by emptying the breast less, the mother's milk production also decreases.
Do not be overwhelmed if this happens. You already know that milk production is regulated by the baby itself, it adapts to demand. If the baby breastfeeds frequently, more milk is produced, and if it stops doing so the production is self-regulating and decreases.
When the cold lasts a few days and the baby does not empty the breast as often as before, what you can do is use a breast pump or empty your chest by hand after each take. What you extract you can keep it to offer when the baby recovers until your production returns to be the usual.
Why can breastfeeding fail?
Having been the baby malito a few days and not breastfeeding with the same efficiency, milk production will have decreased.
The problem may arise once the baby has recovered, start wanting to eat more, breastfeed again, and the breast does not produce milk so quickly As the baby demands.
The baby eats badly, has gas, cries and the mother interprets that she is hungry, that your milk is no longer enough. Many times the bottle is desperately used and can be assumed the end of breastfeeding.
In that case, what you can do is use the milk reserves that you have removed when the baby sucked less, until the breast returns to its usual production.
For production to increase, what you have to do is put the baby to the chest more frequently. You already know that the more you suck, the more milk you will produce.
Measures that can help
When the baby is cold or flu, what you need to do to help him feed better is to clean the airways with physiological saline. Thus, when they are clear, they will breathe better and feel more comfortable to breastfeed.
If you see that you do not have the strength to start the shot, the solution is to make a first manual or breast pump removal to relieve your work. This will make it easier for you to continue.
On the other hand, put the baby to your chest as much as you can, even if you almost do not breastfeed, the heat and moisture that breastfeeding provides will help make the mucus flow.
