Pumping- Supply Question

jamima757@yahoo.com

LO is almost 8 months old. I have been pumping since I returned to work at 6 weeks. I have normally had an over supply (so I have quite a stash built up) For the last week or so I just have not been producing my normal amount. I usually get 7-8 oz in the morning, 7-8 oz mid day, and 5-6 oz in the afternoon. For the last week or so I am down to 4-5 in the morning, 4-5 mid day, and max 4 in the afternoon. I know that I can use my stash to fill in where needed- but am worried because if I keep dropping I will not make it to 1 year like I planned. Has anyone else this issue? I don't really have time to add another pumping session- I had been eating oatmeal a couple times a week and haven't here recently - could that have anything to do with it? TIA for any ideas or comments!

CHI-06

Same problem here...it happened to me around the 6 month mark.  I had to add a pumping session before I go to bed at night.  It sucks as I hate pumping already...but it is the only way I can keep up with demand.  I try to make sure I am drinking plenty and eating enough.  But still the amount I pump has not gone back up.

JG362009

When my baby started sleeping 12 hour stretches around 7 months, my supply dropped and I had to add a pumping session during the work day.  I never pumped as much as you do, but I always had enough and never had to supplement.  If you're not nursing at night anymore, your supply may be going down a bit.  Can you pump before you go to bed or add something in the evening/before you go to work?

jamima757@yahoo.com

When LO started sleeping through the night- I still pump as soon as I get up in the AM. LO nurses about an hour later. I usually nurse LO to sleep and then I put him in his crib and go to sleep myself- not sure if I could stay awake for another pumping session! I have a small window of time when I get home in the evening- and I usually unpack and repack bags for the next day, make supper, laundry, play with LO, ect. Previously I was eating oatmeal 2-3 times a week and I havne't done that for a couple weeks. I think I will trying having oatmeal for lunch this week and see if that makes a difference.

jnealet

Has AF returned yet?  I usually lose supply a few days before, during and a few days after.  It sucks!

LouiseB2001

This happened to me as well, just around 7-8 months. It sucks and I got really frustrated about it. I never managed to increase despite oatmeal, changing sessions etc. What I did to keep up was to pump every single night (also weekends) after bedtime around 9pm, that gave another 3-4 oz. Then at 11 months I couldn't take the stress anymore and started DD on almond milk and stopped pumping for other than special occasions (e.g. when I was away for an evening). Don't beat yourself up about it. Remember your milk supply for actual nursing is still fine, what you pump has nothing to do with what your LO gets out of the breast directly, so you can still make to to 1 year (in fact I am just weaning DD's last session now at 23 months).

thedash

I am no longer nursing/pumping but when I was the amount of oatmeal I ate per day had a pretty big impact on my supply.  I found that two packets of instant oatmeal per day really helped.  Fenugreek helped a little bit too.

cyprissa

Also, try not to stress too much. I've had a couple of weeks where for whatever reason, I just was not pumping well and then things returned to normal. Try some oatmeal and mother's milk tea.