Help! My Supply is Decreasing Rapidly

[Anonymous]

I've been pretty much breastfeeding my 3 month old DS exclusively since birth (with an occasional bottle of formula to keep the taste in his mouth to supplement the BM when I go back to work). So - all of a sudden - my supply has dropped off considerably. I'm not sure why. I have been eating the same amount, drinking lots of water, etc. I'm all the more worried b/c I'm back at work in 3 weeks and am trying to stockpile some BM!

This morning (usually when my breasts are the fullest) I pumped only 1 ounce from both (though this was about 30 minutes after a short feeding by DS)! I seriously don't know what is going on.

Any ideas? Any names of lactation consultants that people would recommend?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

It might be that your son is getting more efficient so even his "short" feeding was a pretty substantial one and that explains the low pumping this morning? But if you'd like some tips, etc., I'd go to the breastfeeding center's weekly class -- it meets every tuesday from 11:30 to 1, if you can make it today? (they're at 2141 k st) I found the tips from other moms really useful - and if you need an appointment with a lactation consultant, the woman who runs the breastfeeding center, Pat Shelley, is awesome.

[Anonymous]

I also recommend a trip to Pat Shelly - there's also free class on returning to work that you will probably like. Also check out the following links:

www.kelllymom.com
www.workandpump.com

Good luck! I am working full time and do manage to pump enough to feed my son his 5 four ounce bottles daily. it takes me three pumps during the work day, one in the evening and a couple of catch-up pumps on the weekend.

[Anonymous]

I always found it difficult to pump more than 2-3 oz in a day AND exclusively BF my child, especially before they were on solid food. When I was back at work at 3 months, though, in 2 sessions I would pump 20 oz total, and that was enough to feed my son through bottles the next day. I just didn't have a huge stockpile at home but it really worked out.

I would call the BF center or a lactation consultant. Some other things I've heard that help are: eat oatmeal, take fenugreek capsules, relax, yoga, warm showers, and eat lots of fiber. But don't stress yourself out with pressure to stockpile. I never had more than a day or so worth in the freezer, and it all worked out when I went back to work at 3 months--managed to go to 8 months where my child got about 90% of bottles were BMilk.

[Anonymous]

I had a hard time too - kept decreasing and my period kept coming back. I did all the things the PP mentioned and could never stockpile and never managed to pump more than 4 oz total at a time (and I was lucky when I got that!) I managed to exc BF for 7 months and I do wish it had been longer, but even that was a real challenge. Now at 8-1/2 mos he still nurses 2 -3x a day and gets bottles the rest. And he eats alot of solid food. At least weaning won't be an issue.... I think some of us just make more milk than others. My baby was an early eater (started solids at 4 mos) and I think nature just knows what to do for the most part.

The Breastfeeding Center is great. Good luck! It is hard, but try not to stress because that does not help either

[Anonymous]

Have you changed anything at all in your diet? I found that if I drank 1 cup of white tea, I had ZERO milk. THere may be some innocuous thing that you just added in that is affecting you.

Good luck to you! I know how stressful this can be.

[Anonymous]

The lactation consultant I had last summer suggested that in addition to fenugreek, taking blessed thistle tablets. She said it enhanced the effects of fenugreek.

BTW, her name is Geraldine Fitzgerald (her business name is Honeysuckle) and I thought she was terrific. I don't have her contact information on hand but I'll try to find it and post it.

[Anonymous]

Oddly, my supply dropped at the 3 month mark too! I called my sister crying because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to provide enough for my DD.

I was doing the same thing you were - nothing abnormal, drank water, pumped like I was supposed to, etc.

Then my sister asked how much sleep I was getting. Ah uh, that seemed to be it. I wasn't getting a whole of sleep since DD isn't much of a champion sleeper. I'd be getting about 4 hours of sleep in a row and I never slept when DD napped because I was running around the house during chores and errands.

So I started getting more sleep. I brushed off the dishes, the laundry, the dirty bathrooms and slept when DD slept .

I don't know if that was it or not, but I did notice an increase in my supply in about 48 hours.

Where are you located? Our ped. office has a great LC, but there is the La Leche League and also Fairfax Lactation which I recommend for specific help.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

My supply decreased about that time to - for me this might have been b/c I was returning to work at this time. I was never a great milk producer even though I would pump after most feedings my supply would not ramp up.

It might be that DC is in a growth spurt and so drinking more - most people will tell that in s few days your body should readjust.

[pollyanna]

This is going to sound gross to many but this happened to a close friend of mine in England. The lactation consultant advised that she get her husband to suck on her breasts - I kid you not. After getting over the shock they decided that their DS who was a preemie was worth it. They tried it and it worked really well. From being practically dry she said she was overflowing.

[Anonymous]

I think about 3 months is when you finally got it figured out, and your body has figured out how much milk it needs to supply your baby. It is a supply demand system. Maybe pump every time after your baby nurses to increase supply. Also Fenugreek works great for increases supply, You have to take a whole lot of it, but it works.

[Anonymous]

One thing that helped when I went back to work was something I bought at Whole Foods. Here's a link.

http://www.amazon.com/More-Milk-Plus-Alcohol-Free/dp/B0001OOELG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1202915155&sr=1-5

I never checked it out with the doctor and didn't always use these supplements but I did manage to BF for a long time after my milk loss panic. Diet is really important too. I remember noticing a correlation between eating high protein food and my milk supply increasing. So, we grilled out a lot. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My daughter turned 3 months this week and all of a sudden my breasts seem deflated and I'm getting much less when I pump. I think she's in the midst of a growth spurt and is just eating a lot more. Keep it up and don't stress out. Mother's Milk Tea is also a great way to increase your supply.

Not sure I'd have my husband suck on my breasts, but I guess if it was necessary... ha!

[Anonymous]

Everybody, thanks so much. It is nice to know that I'm not alone. Perhaps DS is going through a growth spurt. I had managed to pump about 6 oz yesterday but he was so hungry at night after his normal feeding that we went through the whole 6 ozs! The kid is HUNGRY!

I will just keep pumping and will try the breastfeeding center. It sounds like a great resource.

I'm actually on DS#2 and never experienced these problems with my first, so I think that freaks me out a bit. Thank you everybody for the support!!

[Anonymous]

GOATS RUE...I had the same problem and freaked out also. I tried fenugreek and it didn't do anything for me. A British friend of mine used this with all three BF's. I asked my doc about it and she said it was fine to try. WHAMMO! I took only half the dose and I had turnaround in two days. The stuff tastes like nothing I have ever had before, but i was willing to try anything.

www.motherlove.com/product_goats_rue.php - 16k

I took the tincture, $25.00 I think...lasted me about one month.