Working / pumping moms - low evening supply?

mandy522 · January 2013

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Sorry, this is kind of long! So I started pumping after LO's first morning feed at about 6 weeks to build up a stash, and by the time I went back to work I generally would get 6+ ounces in the morning. (I have a couple business trips coming up, so I actually needed a big freezer stash). I've continued pumping every morning after his first feeding around 3-4am (which I would LOVE to stop doing), nurse at 7am before I leave, and also pump 3x at work. I usually pump a total of 18-20 ounces per day.

He only takes 3x 5 ounce bottles at DC, so I've usually got more than enough in total, but my output definitely decreases over the course of the day. By the time he eats in the evening, he seems very frustrated - like he's not getting enough. I've broken down a couple times and given him a couple extra ounces in a bottle, but I don't want to keep doing that- I know it will hurt my supply eventually.

So long story short - anyone else feel like they have too much milk in the morning and not enough at night? Can you fix that somehow?

jdp · January 2013

I SAH now, but I remember that with DD1. I would very often cluster feed in the later afternoon/early evening (still do) because supply is very often lower at this time of day. I don't know if you can fix it, but you could just nurse more often in the evening, so LO would have smaller amounts, but more often.

Sigir · January 2013

Ita. I have also experienced this and cluster feeding in the evenings solves the problem.

Ladiebug710 · January 2013

It is totally normal for your supply to be highest in the morning. I pump 3x a day at work and my amount decreases with each one. If I try to pump in the evening at home I get very little at all.

My DS also cluster feeds in the evening. He eats 3 4oz bottles a day at daycare (he is there for 9-10 hours) and then when we are together he eats at 5, 7, and 9pm. I think it has more to do with preference for the breast than lack of milk at each feeding.

kcircell · January 2013

Clearly I am in the minority here, but same thing happens to me and my DD gets a bottle in the early evening from daddy to compensate for it. The witching hours were just unbearable before we started this practice of tanking her up! So I BF in the 5 o clock hour she gets a bottle in the 6 o'clock hour and then BF and bed in the 7 o'clock hour. I think if your making excess milk durning the day why not give it to the baby?

MommyPace · January 2013

I go to a lactation group weekly at the local hosptial. It is very normal to have a lower supply in the evening because your milk changes throughout the day and it is higher fat at night per the LC. I would say that if your LO is getting frustrated that is an issue but the fact your supply is lower is completely normal!

bayans84 · March 2014

As long as you are feeding him milk that you have pumped that day, it will not hurt your supply. A supplemental bottle in the evening is fine. I am currently going through the same thing with my 6 month old. He's in daycare 10 hrs a day and eats maybe a total of 6 oz there so he is starving in the evening. He'll go to bed at 7pm and take a 4 oz bottle when he wakes at 9pm. I feed on demand in the morning, evening and through the night and pump 3x's at work.

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