Drop in milk supply

Jbunny100 · January 2014

I've noticed over the past week that my supply seems to be less. My breast don't feel as full as they used to for the feedings. I just started working out last week so I'm not sure if that would have anything to do with it. I pump each night before bed and usually get around 5oz, but the past 2 nights I've only gotten 3 oz. I am really worried what is happening with my supply. DS seems to nurse until he his done and he is still having the same volume of wet diapers. Has anyone felt a recent drop in supply or have you heard of this happening as you get closer to the 1 year mark.

lars1226 · January 2014

Has your period returned? It could be a dip in supply due to that. How's he doing with solid foods? Our nurse said that as you get closer to the one year mark solids start to take over more so it could mean you don't need to produce as much milk. My LO started taking less at daycare over the last 3 months, about 4oz less per day than he used to. Is he waking up more at night or anything? When my LO is teething or sick he wants to nurse all night long and I don't pump nearly as much at work the next day.

Try not to worry too much, is your ped very knowledgeable about bf? You could always call him/her or a LC to get some advice.

eta thinking about it some more, it could be from working out if you aren't eating and drinking enough. You still need extra calories every day, for me it's one of the best parts of bf. In fact, I think I'll go have a snickers bar right now...:)

Jbunny100 · January 2014

My period has returned and should be starting up in the next week. He has increased the solids so that might explain it. I keep trying to nurse him more, but he really seems quite content with nursing only 4 times a day. He is only getting up 1x at night and quickly falls back asleep after nursing.
You're right. I really shouldn't worry. I don't think my ped is all that knowledgeable about BF. In fact each time I go in he is shocked I am still BFing and says there isn't an award for how long I BF. I might call my local LC for some advice. I haven't been eating extra since working out so that could definitely be it. I drank almost 140oz of water yesterday. Let's hope that does the trick.

jamu · January 2014

We're going through a very similar issue (except we still wake 3x to eat but I don't think much is coming out). To be honest though your pedi sounds like a D! Who says that???!! My friend (who isn't a doctor of course) told me this is completely normal at this age and that it continues until 12 months. So I'm trying not to worry. Do you have LLL in your area? I'm planning on hitting up the meeting this month to run it by them too.

lars1226 · January 2014

Yeah, there are so many factors that can affect your supply it can be hard to know what's going on when this happens, a LC can give you more help. Plus, it seems like there's so much info on BF birth- 6mo but not nearly as much after that so I'm not sure what's normal at this point.

And wow, I can't believe your doc says that! If BF is generally going well for you why is it such a big deal to keep going??

MrsG071809 · January 2014

Yeah your pedi sucks....what a rude thing to say. You actually SHOULD get an award!

Anyway, to me it sounds like it's due to your period returning...I had the same thing happen to me. The fact that it's getting close to the 1 year mark, and solids are increasing probably plays a role too. Either way, I would say it's completely normal, and just keep doing what you're doing. Your LO signals your body how much to make, so it may just be that he doesn't need as much and your body has picked up on it. Definitely talk to an LC for peace of mind...I have a friend that is an LC and I'm always asking her questions, even 10 months into BFing.

lars1226 · January 2014

jamu said:

We're going through a very similar issue (except we still wake 3x to eat but I don't think much is coming out). To be honest though your pedi sounds like a D! Who says that???!! My friend (who isn't a doctor of course) told me this is completely normal at this age and that it continues until 12 months. So I'm trying not to worry. Do you have LLL in your area? I'm planning on hitting up the meeting this month to run it by them too.

I also thought this and DS was waking 4-5 times a night when we tried some sleep training earlier this month at DH request. I should really know better than to listen to my DH on BF things, he wasn't even the one getting up. So we cut back to one overnight feeding, huge mistake. Huge. I was so engorged, like newborn days again. So for your own sake if you decide to try sleep training or night weaning, cut out one feeding at a time every few days.

jamu · January 2014

I also thought this and DS was waking 4-5 times a night when we tried some sleep training earlier this month at DH request. I should really know better than to listen to my DH on BF things, he wasn't even the one getting up. So we cut back to one overnight feeding, huge mistake. Huge. I was so engorged, like newborn days again. So for your own sake if you decide to try sleep training or night weaning, cut out one feeding at a time every few days.

That sounds awful. I really want to sleep through the night because I love sleep and work full time (so it's especially hard being permanently tired), but I am a marshmellow and wouldn't be able to handle any kind of training I don't think. She also only wants boob when she gets up so I have a feeling my body is just making barely enough and if we tried to cut to one feeding she'd be hungrier than what is available. Not sure if that makes sense. Are you still doing the one feeding only? Is it working?

Jbunny100 · January 2014

Thanks all! My Pedi is a D! I keep trying different ones at the practice and have yet to find one that I totally love. I guess for now I won't worry about it too much. DS seems content, but I might hit up the LLL or LC in the next few days.

lars1226 · January 2014

@jamu It's going ok with one feeding, he still wakes 1-2 times (DH goes in) and wakes up earlier for the day so maybe we just moved the night feedings to 5am. Then teething and a cold hit this week and it's chaos again. So I'm not sure we've found the right solution. And it is really hard to be so tired, I work FT too which is part of the reason I agreed to sleep train. I really hoped DS would outgrow it but things were getting worse, I just wanted to sleep more than 2 hours in a row. If you go to a LLL meeting you could ask about night weaning and how it would affect your LO and supply, they'll probably have some good tips on how/when to go about it too.

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