Diminishing Supply?

gutsysneakers · July 2014

I think my supply may be diminishing. I received clearance almost two weeks ago to exercise. Since then I've hit the gym or ran 9 out of the last 12 days. We've also done a 9 hour road trip and stayed a week at the inlaws where I did more pumping so everyone could feed DD. Since coming home on Monday I've noticed that in the morning I pump only 2-3 oz from one breast when I used to get 4-5 oz. Could this be from pumping every 4-5 hours while I was away instead of having DD nurse every 2-3? Or from starting to exercise vigorously again?

Anyone have any ideas on what I can do? Dd seems to get enough when I nurse but I'm trying to freeze more for daycare in a few weeks.

kat8805 · July 2014

Both. To keep up supply while pumping, you would need to pump when baby eats, or just as often as baby eats. You've been telling your body that baby doesn't need as much, so it's listening and not making as much. Also, you already burn 500-700 calories from producing milk each day, so if you're going to work out, you need to make sure you are eating more to cover those calories.

RachelCA29 · July 2014

As others have said, both things could cause your supply to lower. When I read you were working out a lot, my first thought was water intake. If you are working out you need to be drinking a ton extra water to make up for that AND BFing. I EP, and I find if I don't drink a lot of water overnight (like 1/2 liter with each MOTN feeding) my morning pump (around 5 am) can be 1-1.5 ounces less than normal. Water consumption has a huge impact on supply (as well as calories).

gutsysneakers · July 2014

Thanks guys. I am taking into account my calories and make sure I am eating enough and that they aren't empty calories. I'm trying to drink water but I don't think I'm drinking enough.

That marathon pumping sounds really hard. I have been doing the breast feeding though. Whenever she fusses I give her the boob so we are feeding every 90 min or so. I'll work on drinking more water for now.

gutsysneakers · July 2014

Aha! Stumbled across this. I think I may be "leveling out".

https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/pumping_decrease/

tbiscuit18 · July 2014

@Jcrewgirl85‌ I was just going to mention that you might be leveling out. I've been working with a LC and we discussed this last week.
Also wanted to add, one of my girlfriend's supply dried up by 4 months as a result of vigorous exercise. She claimed to be eating enough but it didn't seem to matter.

gutsysneakers · July 2014

@ebuge - I hope that doesn't happen to me. My goal is to make it to 6 months and evaluate where we are then but working out keeps me sane.

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