Why am I having problems getting more milk while pumping?

Question

My daughter is ten months old and I have breastfed her exclusively the entire time. I used to have no problems pumping. But for the past few months I cant seem to get more than a couple of oz of milk. I try to relax and think of her, but more just won't come. Is there something else I should be trying? I am trying to wean her to a cup so it won't be so difficult to wean her entirely around 12 months.

ahh, what i meant by exclusively was no formula. She does eat solids, several times a day. When she nurses, I know she is getting more than 2 oz... it is just when I pump that I have a problem.

Answer 1

The best way to stimulate milk production is to nurse more often. If she is 10 months you have likely started her on solids and if you are starting her on a sippy she is likely not nursing as much which will result in a drop in supply. A couple facts you may not know: her main nutrition should come from the breast until 12 months. This means even though she may be taking solids and drinking juice her main calorie source should be from breast milk. Until 12 months of age any other food is just an introduction. Also, you don't have to wean her completely from the breast at 12 months. She will continue to benefit from the nutrition and antibodies into her second year and beyond, if you choose to continue. So many people are too eager to separate from their children. No one says you have to stop nursing after a year and in many countries the children will nurse into toddlerhood. That said, it is a relationship between mother and child and both need to be willing participants. Weening is a process and i would not recommend quitting cold turkey. Congratulations on your success so far and know that no matter what your decision you have given yur daughter the best start in life by choosing to breastfeed.

Answer 2

I've been there, my son went on nursing strike at 9 months and never returned. You need a high quality pump, either high end consumer or hospital grade. You need to pump both breasts at the same time. Lactation told me to try a "power pump" session once a day. You pump for 10 minutes, stop for 10 minutes...you do this for an hour, so you end up pumping 3 or 4 times with 10 minute breaks in between. You can also try a mother's milk tea, or the herb Fenugreek to increase supply. Pump at least once every three hours. Your baby is much more efficient at getting milk that any pump could be, so it may be a sign of self weaning. Good luck, I know how stressful it can be when you have an original breastfeeding goal in mind! You've given your baby a great and healthy start!

Answer 3

It's really normal for a mother to have problems pumping after a while, typically when the baby is 3-5 months old. There are a few things you can try, but it sounds like you may have tried some of them.

What I would suggest you do next is to try a different pump. If you can get a more effective pump, that is best, but even just a different manufacturer or model will often help. For some reason, many women seem to get *too* used to a pump and it stops working for her. A different one will fix the problem, if this is the cause.

Answer 4

I had the same problem it's because you are producing far less milk than before. Your baby can always get a lot more milk out than the pump. Now that she is on solid food she is requiring far less milk and is mainly using it to quench her thirst.

What I did with my kids was give them a little bit of water sweetened with apple juice in a sippy cup to help them learn to drink from one. My daughter did exceptionally well and was on whole milk at just over 11 months (I talked with her pediatrician about it she was always grabbing her brothers cup and drinking from it and she was so active it was hard to nurse her - she walked at 8-9 months). If you want to completely wean your daughter from breastmilk around 12 months (I did that also with both of mine) then it would probably be easier to use a different liquid in the sippy cup for her to get use to. Good Luck! Enjoy her while she's young they grow up so fast.

Answer 5

that being rushed makes a great difference..you ought to be comfortable. additionally, watching your little it is user-friendly to help, or a photograph of her and picture the way it feels while she is nursing. as quickly as you get a recurring you ought to be waiting to get approximately 3-4 oz. at a time. The time you have the main milk is probable interior the morning...any threat you could arise a sprint early and pump and nonetheless have some leftover on your toddler while she wakes up? in case you seize your self truly finished interior the AM then there could be extra. additionally, the extra you pump, the extra your physique will produce, so do no longer supply up if that's what you truly need to do.

Answer 6

Are you drinking a lot of water? Drinking water seems to help a little. A lot of times the milk slows up if you are pumping less or the baby is drinking less. It will be easy to wean her to a cup if she drinks milk less and less from the breast. Are you adding other milk now too? I decided to add Carnation Good Start towards the end of of feedings. I hope this helps.

Answer 7

your daughter is ten months old and not on any other form of nutrtional supplement except breast milk? doesn't she have teeth? hasn't she shown any interest in table foods? you have to wean her slowly from breast to solids. you can't stop nursing at twelve months and get her straight on to table food. if you're not producing enough milk i would start on solids right away as her nutritional intake is the most important factor here.

good luck

Answer 8

the baby is the best pump ever

Answer 9

your losing it. Start using solids

Answer 10

your body may be telling you its time to stop. talk to your doctor about it