Feeling Sick? Here’s Why Your Milk Supply Might Dip—and What to Do About It
f you’re feeling under the weather and suddenly your milk supply seems lower, take a deep breath. This is really common, and most of the time, it’s temporary.
And here’s the most important part: keep nursing or pumping if you can. Not only is it safe to keep breastfeeding when you're sick, but it also helps protect your supply and passes antibodies to your baby.
So why does supply drop when you're sick?
It usually comes down to a mix of things:
Your body is stressed and focused on healing
You may be nursing or pumping less often (because you feel awful)
You might not be drinking as much
Fatigue and inflammation can impact milk production, too
All of this can lead to a short-term dip—but it doesn’t mean your supply is gone.
What helps:
Keep feeding or pumping regularly. Even if you’re not getting as much out, the stimulation is what matters right now.
Stay hydrated. Sip throughout the day—water, coconut water, broth, whatever sounds doable.
Rest when you can. Even little chunks of sleep help.
Skin-to-skin with baby. It can actually help with milk letdown and keeps your baby calm and close.
If you’re too sick to nurse or pump like usual, even a few minutes of hand expression or shorter pump sessions can help until you're back to yourself.
You can read more information about medications and breastfeeding here.
The bottom line:
This kind of dip is usually short-lived. Keep milk moving, focus on hydration, and take care of you. Your body is doing a lot—but it hasn’t forgotten how to feed your baby.
And if you need help navigating this, we’re here.
