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Sudden drop in supply (7 mos)

Kfran84Kfran84 member
in Breastfeeding

I need some words of advice/encouragement. This past week I have experienced a decrease in my pumping supply. I used to get 16 oz per workday (3 sessions in 9 hours) easily, then I went through a 2-3 week phase where it was more like 19 or 20 oz a day, great, then it decreased back to 16 oz and now I'm lucky if I'm getting 14 oz. This is all over the course of the past two months or so.

I have added a pumping session at home to make up the 2-3 oz that LO needs for his 4- 4 oz bottles that he takes during the day. What the frick happened to my supply? I have had no dietary changes, no exercise changes, but I do run 2-3 miles 3x/week. I haven't even run this week.

LO is eating more solids, but is still taking the full amount of bottles during the days. He has breakfast and dinner and we just introduced a midday snack this week where he's allowed to have some banana and puffs or baby yogurt and blueberries or something small. His meals are only about half the little containers and he ends up wearing most of it.

I want to BF for a year, but I am worried I am failing.

My Medela double-electric pump has started to make a funny rattling noise in the motor. Could it be that? What would I do if it was that?

I replaced my pump membranes about 3 weeks ago when I started noticing the decrease.

Sorry for the novel, if anyone has suggestions I'd love to hear them.

TL;DR Version: I need a hug. My supply is decreasing and I don't know if it is solids related, or if my pump is dying, or if I am losing my supply for some other reason.



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Re: Sudden drop in supply (7 mos)

  • RDK24RDK24 member
    I second calling Medela. I did when my pump was acting funny. The did trouble shooting with me on the phone for 5 min and determined that I needed a new pump. It arrived the next day. 

    GL, you'll get through this!
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  • Kfran84Kfran84 member
    Thanks guys! I will call them next time I go pump so the dysfunctional sound will be fresh in my memory bank.


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  • Kfran84Kfran84 member

    @sing2phins Can I ask what Maggie's eating sched is like? Have you intro'd solids and if she's dropped any feedings?

     



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  • vvvvvfeevvvvvfee member
    my vote is that it is solids-related. i experienced a drop in pumping supply when DS was 7-8 months and he actually started taking in some solids. at that point i just dropped down to 2 pumps a day because the 3rd pump wasn't worthwhile anymore. i got enough for 2 or 2 1/2 bottles, and sent supplemented that with a couple of ounces from my freezer stash to make 3 bottles. i did that for a while, but eventually he wasn't even finishing the whole 3rd bottle, and i  just started sending 2 bottles with 1 meal of solids.

    i would also call medela, as PPs have said, if your pump is making a funny noise. but also agree that it could be your period returning.

    if you are nursing on demand when you are home with your LO, i wouldn't worry too much about your supply. your LO can always reverse cycle a little and get more of her milk directly from the source. ;) my DS tended to do this, and i personally didn't mind, even if i was losing out on a little sleep from overnight feeds-- still easier IMO than pumping. it all worked out for me as DS is still happily nursing at 22 months. you can do it! :)

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  • opheliainwadersopheliainwaders member
    I also vote call Medela, and it is also probably solids-related. Also, any chance your DCP could try doing 4-oz bottles instead of 5? They could do 3 4-oz, bottles, same schedule, and have a 2-oz bottle as backup. It may be that your LO isn't eating 15oz during the day while nursing, so your body isn't making that much either. Just thinking that 15oz is a lot to eat for a typical workday, particularly if she's also eating solids. That said, if you're still worried about weight gain, maybe ask an LC about that w/r/t your specific situation.
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  • mamasoup030mamasoup030 member
    Everyone had great suggestions and tips, so no need to add. I can offer support- I could have written your post word for word. I too have had a supply drop over the past 3 weeks. I'm double pumping when I single pumped before at work and I've tried using my hand pump since its got a bit more oomph. Nothing has made a difference and I've been cutting into my stash to make up the difference.

    My LO dosent seem to be minding it so I am trying not to let it eat me up.

    It's so difficult, but I believe we have made it this far, we can do another 5 months. Breast feeding is one of the hardest things I've ever done. Keep at it, you are doing a great job so far, and any effort is worthy effort for your babe. Stay strong and eat some oatmeal, that's the one thing I didn't notice above. Thoughts and prayers coming your way!!!
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