Postpartum spotting/milk supply

[Anonymous]

I’m 8 months postpartum. My period came back after about 3 months. Last month I had some spotting mid-cycle, which I’ve never had before. I thought it was an early period at first. My milk supply tanked. Now, mid-cycle, I’m spotting again and my supply dropped overnight - my first pump today was 1/2 the amount of my first pump yesterday. I’ve been having some decrease in supply right before my period but this seems like more than that. I’m also breaking out so I assume it’s all hormonal. Has anybody had this experience and how did you deal with it? Freezer stash took a big hit last month even with power pumping, oatmeal, and drinking tons of water, so if my supply stays this low I think we’ll have to supplement.

[Anonymous]

I'll be following since I am in the exact same boat. My supply is tanking twice a month now and my freezer supply is almost gone.

How many times a day do you pump and how much are you getting on an average day vs a low supply day?

I pump 4 times and get between 16-18 oz a day (ugh) and then lose 5-6 of those on low days.

[Anonymous]

My supply went down by more than 1/2, but at the 3 month mark. Overnight. And it was permanent. Took me A LOT of work to get it up even a little to be boarder line sufficient (4+ hrs of pumping a day (incl power pumping most days), supplements) and DD didn't gain on her original growth curve during that time (I found out at the 4 month appointment and I had been supplementing with my stash). That was the hormonal adjustment that happens when milk regulates. People tend to have an abundance of supply after birth. 3 months is a typical time to have that hormonal adjustment, but it can happen later. For some (like me) it's an abrupt change, but for others it's gradual. Not sure that's what you're experiencing, but maybe. When it happened to me, I was primarily pumping, so it was really noticeable. It happened with my first baby, too, but I was only nursing and I didn't see the amount of the drop, although I had to supplement b/c I had no stash and baby was miserable and hungry.

Estrogen affects prolactin and your estrogen levels drop twice a month, so if you're seeing a twice a month supply drop, it's likely the normal response to estrogen levels. I don't have my period back, but I can still see fluctuations. The spotting is probably tied to your cycle, too, but could also be something else causing or contributing. I used to get odd spotting when I used an IUD.

Once they start solids a little formula isn't as significant a change as it would be to supplement prior to that point. You've also gotten the majority of the major health benefits by then (and really prior to 6 months). And if you still feed breast milk you'll still get benefits. I'm definitely using formula at 6 months. I still get up at night to pump while DD sleeps (it's when I get the most milk, so I have to if I don't use formula), and I'm looking forward to phasing that out.