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March 2015 Moms
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BF 6 month slump?

crsanchez87crsanchez87 member
in March 2015 Moms
Hi Guys, 

I just wanted to post about something I am experiencing and ask for any others opinions or to support those also  dealing with this. For the past two weeks or so I've been experiencing a decrease in supply. I pump while I'm at work for DS' daycare bottles and pump once before I go to bed. Where I used to pump at least 4 oz per sessions, I am  now only getting about 2. Even my morning pump which used to be my most productive of the day, At my before bed pump I am lucky to be getting .5 oz. I found this website which called it the 6 month slump and was encouraging but I dont know how reliable the source is, so I wanted to reach out and see if anyone else was experiencing or has experienced this?



**also posted on Breastfeeding board**

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Re: BF 6 month slump?

  • myjessesgirlmyjessesgirl member
    I have been feeling as if I produce less, and if I pump (which I don't do nearly as much now) I do get less. But I assume it's not affecting how much my LO is getting when nursing since she's not showing any signs of being bothered. How long has it been going on? My SIL had a hard time with production right before she started her period. So it could be related to hormones if you haven't gotten your period yet. Good luck! I will say that my own experience working and pumping is what eventually led me to decide to just nurse morning and evening instead of all day. She just gets frozen milk and formula for her other times. But if you've gotten this far I'm sure you can keep it up!
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  • noodlienoodlesnoodlienoodles member
    I'm right at six month too. I've noticed a slight decrease, but nothing horrible. I EBF when I'm with her and then pump whole I'm at work.

    However, a whole week before I get my period, my production slows down drastically - I'm talking almost getting nothing. Luckily, I've been building a freezer stash, so I can dip in to that for the week. I just make sure I'm constantly pumping and taking fenugreek during that time. My supply always comes back the day I actually start.
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  • crsanchez87crsanchez87 member
    I'm thinking it may be hormonal since I haven't started my period yet.  I've been reading up on it and we have started solids once a day now as well. I guess at this time there is usually a lot going on, hormones, solids, teething, etc So a lot of moms notice decrease in supply at this point. I am going to do try and power nurse this weekend and see if that helps my supply get back up. I also am going to send solids to daycare so that he only nurses when he is home. I've also been drinking mothers milk tea and eating oatmeal but who knows how much that helps. 
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  • zandybzandyb member
    I've noticed lately that I haven't been able to pump as much, too. Still making enough to send to daycare the next day, but I used to be able to get 3-4 oz from each side and now I'm only getting 2-3 tops. Haven't started my period yet, either, and I'm not looking forward to it.

    To increase your supply, use brewers yeast! Put a bit in your oatmeal and make sure the oatmeal is whole oats. I haven't had trouble with low production yet, but I've noticed whenever I eat brewers yeast or oats or flaxseed, I produce more the next day. 

    These are delicious and super quick to make (you don't even have to bake like you do with the cookies): Booby Bites

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  • mangomimosamangomimosa member
    Yes. I'm trying not to freak out.
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  • crsanchez87crsanchez87 member
    I know what you mean @mangomimosa. I was telling DH, that its like a terrible cycle. Stress has an impact on supply but I am stressing about my supply! My goal is to BF a year, but I told myself that if we make it to 9 months I will take that. But here I am at 6 months, I really dont want to wean. 

    From what I've read and the responses I've been receiving, this is fairly common. I am going to try and make it to a LLL meeting this week and get some more info, I will pass it along!
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  • mrs.happymrs.happy member
    What kind of pump do you use? Have you replaced the membranes? I was getting less volume, and wasn't sure if it was a natural drop in supply or a problem with the pump suction. I replaced the membranes (which on my Medela Freestyle meant getting a whole new set of parts) and my pump volumes are back where they had been.
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  • crsanchez87crsanchez87 member
    Medela PISA. I have switched out the membranes, still having the same issue but it is slowly getting back up. 
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  • crsanchez87crsanchez87 member
    I made the booby bites! They are delicious, I replaced chocolate chips with dried blueberries, added some pecans, and upped the brewers yeast and I love them! They are sweet, but not too sweet which was my fear with the choc. I also picked up a herbal supplement from my local health store, they are capsules and they have fenugreek, blessed thistle, goats rue, and a couple of other herbs that I have seen as supply boosting. I like them because the recommendation is once a day which is easy for me to remember and keep up with. I don't know if it's placebo effect or if it the boosters already kicking in but I've pumped three times today and I've gotten 4 ounces each time, which is definitely an improvement over the 2 ounces I was getting!
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  • SharLovesAlexSharLovesAlex member
    I noticed a slight decrease, but it hasn't seemed to affect my LO. I also feed him.solids twice a day (on most days). I haven't been trying to pump since I'm just staying home. I nurse him when he is hungry, and at night, he gets a bottle. Glad I wasn't the only one!
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