Drop in milk vs weaning?

membrn · May 2011

So DH, MIL and my mom seem to all think first impression that my drop in supply is because DS is weaning. However, I disagree. Last Friday, I didn't get to pump at work for over 12 hours and I got very little at the end of the shift.

Ok, so these questions may be TMI but I'm really stressing over this and I've already scoured Kelly Mom for a lot of my questions. But my boobs just seem like they aren't "filling" like before or the let down is different. Is this part of "regulating supply" that Kelly Mom talks about? When your body knows how much milk to produce?

I used to get 5 ounces easy, each side. I'd pump both sides at each session: before work, once at work, and when I got home. So I got 30 ounces each day, give or take a few and DS would drink almost all of it usually. Now I'm getting about 2 ounces each side - which apparently is the norm according to KM or not an oversupply which I guess I had before.

I'm eating oatmeal and taking fenugreek and really upped my water intake today...

Am I at risk of my milk drying up based on what's happening? Or is this normal progression of breastfeeding? I want to go to 12 months, or maybe even a little longer and I'm really worried that it's not going to happen...thanks so much!

rnin02 · May 2011

I'm sure it would be hard working days, but I would try to pump more when at work. Emptying your breasts is the signal your body needs to make more milk. Good luck!

WinesNot Whines · May 2011

It sounds like you had an oversupply before and now your supply is becoming more regulated. 5 oz from each side is a lot! I usually get around 5 oz total from both sides. But my LO drinks 5 oz bottles, so it works out okay. Is your LO eating a good amount of solids? Is that 30 oz over an entire day or only when you're at work? I think my LO probably drinks 25-30 oz total in an entire day. Maybe you can increase solids a little? I think around this age it's normal for babies to decrease milk intake somewhat.

MrsPhilDunphy · May 2011

WinesNotWhines:
It sounds like you had an oversupply before and now your supply is becoming more regulated. 5 oz from each side is a lot!

Totally. Also, keep in mind that now is when LO will start tapering off (not necessarily weaning) his milk consumption, so a little drop in supply is normal. I agree with PP that the biggest thing you can do is get back on a normal pumping schedule.

Hey Jellisy · May 2011

I agree with everything already said. Perhaps TMI, but 9 months post partum is when my period came back and that drastically reduced my supply when I was ovulating and actively having it.

amh_navyblue · May 2011

I agree with the pps--this sounds like your body and your LO adjusting the supply. If you can, you may want to add one more pumping session (ugh, I know!!) and make sure to keep your sessions regular and see where that leaves you. If you have to supplement with some frozen milk here and there to make up the ounces on days you don't pump, go for it--that can help alleviate the stress, which in turn may help increase your supply. I really think if you've made it this far, you'll be able to get to the 12 month mark you are hoping for--DD#2 peaked in her BM consumption between 4 and 9 months and then started to go down a bit.

Hang in there and GL!

LindseyJW · May 2011

Hey Jellisy:
I agree with everything already said. Perhaps TMI, but 9 months post partum is when my period came back and that drastically reduced my supply when I was ovulating and actively having it.

this.

only, mine came back at 6mo pp with my first and 4mo pp with my second.

lots of extra water, fenugreek at during ovulation and oatmeal are what get me through. for half of the month, i barely make enough milk for DD. i try to make up for that by pumping even on days she is home with me, or trying to pick her up from DC before she's had her last bottle of the day.

G/L!

membrn · May 2011

MrsPhilDunphy:
WinesNotWhines:
It sounds like you had an oversupply before and now your supply is becoming more regulated. 5 oz from each side is a lot!
Totally. Also, keep in mind that now is when LO will start tapering off (not necessarily weaning) his milk consumption, so a little drop in supply is normal. I agree with PP that the biggest thing you can do is get back on a normal pumping schedule.

Thank you! That is exactly what I needed to hear or understand. Thank you everyone for your responses. I forgot to mention that yesterday, I did add an extra session at work but today I was only able to get my usual one. And someone asked about how much he takes in a day...he still nurses around 5am, then usually has 20ish ounces in a day and either nurses when I get home or DH gives him a bottle. So I guess we are right on target.

I think what freaked me out the most was how different my boobs felt, if that makes sense. I am encouraged by how much the one extra session helped. Thanks again!

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