Anyone else? I've been lucky enough to be able to go almost 10 months breastfeeding/pumping exclusively, but am now down to 4 bottles of milk in my freezer stash and am not making enough to keep up with baby. In three 20-minute pumping sessions I'm making 4-4.5 oz total, enough for one bottle (LO takes 2 4.5 oz bottles a day while I'm at work). He's also no longer getting enough while nursing and is still hungry afterward. We supplemented with formula for the first time last week because at this rate I know I won't be able to make it the last two months on just breast milk alone.
Not looking for ideas to increase milk supply, since I've tried it all: More More Plus, tea, lactation cookies, brewer's yeast, oatmeal, Gatorade, changing pump membranes, pumping/nursing frequently ... nothing seems to make a difference anymore. So just looking to see if anyone else is in the same boat and can sympathize or if it's just me!
Also wondering for those who have been there if it's even worth it to pump anymore or if I could drop the pumping at work and just continue to nurse when at home (before work, after work, and before bed), or if I would lose my supply completely by doing so? Pumping for an hour at work every day to make less than one bottle of milk is very frustrating, especially when I hate pumping, but I do still want LO to get breastmilk from nursing until he's 12 months. If I drop one work pumping session a week starting now, is it possible to still keep my supply for the morning and bedtime feedings if I continue doing those?
I blame the return of my period at 5 months post-partum; my supply has dropped steadily since then. Estrogen is a powerful thing!
Re: Milk Supply Almost Gone - Anyone Else?
If you've been running low on supply during the day, it shouldn't be tough to cut out the daytime pumps. I went from 2 down to 1, down to none pretty quickly without issue. Good luck!
I dropped from 3 pumps to 2 pumps at around 5 months and my supply stayed the same. Since we started solids at 6 months I have had a steady drop in supply starting around 7 / 7.5 months and am planning to go to 1 pump because he doesn't need as much during the day. LO is nine months tomorrow. I still nurse in the mornings, right when I get him from daycare and nights. I think it would be fine to drop a pump at work. Worst case, you could add it back in.
Im going to nurse as long as I can. Preferably past 18 months. But morning, occasional afternoon and night will have to suffice.
I don't think you would completely dry up as long you continue to nurse on a regular basis (even if just once or twice a day).
BFP September 2013 - MMC at 12 weeks
BFP February 2014 - early loss/CP at 4.5 weeks
BFP May 2014 - MMC/ complete molar pregnancy at 11 weeks
BFP December 2015 - DD born 8/18/2015
BFP November 2016 - pending...
I think this is very common around this time, and am trying to remind myself that pump output does not necessarily represent supply. Tough when you are an exclusive pumper though, I know. Be proud Mommas that you are doing all you can for your babies!
Proud we were able to make it 10 months, and will just have to give him as much as I can the next few months and supplement with formula as needed
Next kiddo I will definitely be pumping as much as I can during maternity leave and the first few months when my supply is still strong to build up a bigger freezer stash, knowing what I know now. I had oversupply at the beginning so I should have taken advantage more!