extended BFers - i feel like i'm losing my milk :( any experience on this?

GretchenlovesMichael

hey ladies - sorry i don't get over here much any more - my computer time is way limited these days.  hope everyone is well!!

so we're down to nursing only 2-3 times a day now, per M&D's cues (which is bittersweet - i really miss nursing them more often.)  anyway - the past few days i have not felt a letdown at all... i have no idea if they are even getting a good amount of milk.  they pull off sometimes and have milk running out of their mouths so i know they're getting some, but without the strong letdown feeling i'm concerned that it's not much.  also they don't seem to be swallowing as much any more.

did anyone have a similar experience?  were you able to boost your supply this late in the game?

thanks so much for your help.

ncbelle

I've heard lots of mamas say they don't feel their letdown anymore.  I still do most of the time (it's always been really strong though) but my breasts are way smaller and less full then they were just a few months ago (so sad!).  But kiddo still seems to be getting plenty to make him happy so I'm trying not to worry.  I think it's also harder to gauge their swallowing since they tend to be wiggly (or maybe that's just Callum!).

I'd just make sure you are eating plenty and staying hydrated - with summer it's easy to run low on fluids without realizing it.  I think if you are still seeing milk, you are likely fine.

And you are still a rockstar for nursing twins past one ;-)

makclair

I feel like DS doesn't get much milk any more (nurses on one breast at night and the other one in the morning).

Sometimes I can squirt some out in the shower so i know there's  a little bit in there, but not much ! i guess we'll keep going as long as he's interested.

 He drinks cows milk during the day so i'm not worried about him not getting enough dairy.

GretchenlovesMichael

aww thanks so much mama   i'm glad to hear this could be a common thing (smaller boobs and no letdown feeling).  hopefully this is just normal.  i would really hate it if this were a harbinger of the end of our nursing days...

GretchenlovesMichael

thanks makclair!

webMistress0609

Good to see you! And ditto the rockstar comment!

I've just noticed my letdown isn't as strong over the last week or so as well, & I usually have crazy letdown. My boobs started shrinking a few weeks ago too. I can still pump just as much while at work though, so I don't think my supply has changed at all. I've heard that sometimes the letdown & size stuff happens around a year, so all totally normal. 

 

 

JulyFiveBride

I stopped feeling letdown when DD was under a year, but she is still nursing. I would sometimes check to see if I could hand express milk and I've always been able to.

And congrats on making it this far with twins! That's awesome! My mom is a twin and my grandma said BFing them both was almost impossible, so she switched to FF.

sunnyday016

I haven't felt letdown in a few months. I think if your twins are acting satisfied then they're fine. Congrats on nursing your twins this long-wow!

KateLouise

I"m EBF and I often can't feel letdown now, when I felt it a lot in the earlier days.

But LO is putting on weight and she often has milk streaming down her face, so I'm confident she's getting what she needs. I just took it as a sign of my supply leveling out to what is required, rather than a drop in supply to below what LO needs.

Also when I've pumped, I've gotten a whole heap of milk.

Do you have a pump? Perhaps you could express some  milk to see how much you're getting? 

ErinMSB

My experience is a little different because I got pregnant when DD was 10 months old and that had a big effect on my supply. But I did notice not getting letdown the last couple months of DD nursing (probably starting around 12 months). But I agree with all the other PPers that if your LOs seem satisfied, then you're probably okay. If you're worried, check out More Milk Plus. My MW said that the combination of fenugreek and blessed thistle (I think) is great.

And I second all the "Congrats on BFing your LOs for over a year!"s and "It's good to see you!"s. 

MissyOlivePants

So great to "see" you & and I can't believe your LO's are a year old already!

And yes - I'll also agree with the others that the letdown feeling goes away after a while. 

Angelica411

I can't remember when exactly- but I stopped feeling the letdown with my son after a year or so.  This happend before he went to twice a day nursing.  So I think its pretty normal.  You probably don't have much of a letdown because theyre not needing as much milk anymore.  HTH!

And SOO awesome that you've nursed twins this long.  So amazed! 

kelbrian

I stopped feeling a let down around six months, I think, and BF my DD until sixteen months So I bet your supply is just fine. Sometimes you just stop feeling the let down. 

MrsAmers

As long as they are satisfied I wouldn't worry.

When my DD was 13 months she was nursing 2-4 times a day and I traveled for work.  I pumped for 30 minutes and got ONE FREAKIN OUNCE each time.

And yet, she nursed until she was 22 months old.  So I think the supply changes to meet the direct demand of the baby at this point and you just don't store as much.  

And FWIW, I'm feeling the same way.  DS is down to 2-4 sessions a day now and I'm NOT ready to be done.  I can't quite bring myself to quit pumping (even though I had stopped by this point last time) because I don't want him to drop the weekend pre-nap nursing sessions.  :-)

GretchenlovesMichael

thank you SO much ladies!!   i really appreciate your responses, and i'm so glad to know this is something most of you have experienced.

i do have a pump but i haven't pumped in several months and i never pumped very often.  i can't imagine i would get much of anything.  i might try though, just to see.

thanks again mamas

e_b_r

ditto everyone else. just had to jump on and say LOVE your sig pics. haven't "seen" your cuties in a while, and they're looking gorgeous!

GretchenlovesMichael

aww thanks so much e_b_r   good to see you and your beautiful little sprout too!!!

KimberJEB

I haven't felt ltdown in...a year?  More?  I think it's normal not to after a while.

Traycee1242

FWIW, I've never felt letdown. Ever. And I've always had a full supply, going strong at almost 10 months, no problems!

Also, I wouldn't worry about pumping. Pumping output is NOT an indication of milk supply.

Check this out on kellymom https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

And CONGRATS on the year + on nursing twins. You're my hero