Breast feeding for just over 3 1/2 months, why low milk supply now?

Question

Went back to work when my son was 2 months old, I tandem pump every 4 hours for 10-15 mins (atleast 4 x a day). Was getting 6-8oz at a time up until last week. Now I'm lucky to get 2-4oz total. My son is still nursing 3+ x's during the evening and once in the early am and seems more than satisfied, but I'm not making enough expressed milk for his day care........I also have had a period every month...I thought I wasn't suppose to? Help!

Answer 1

It may be stress, it may be something else. Take Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle capsules (sold in health food stores) - they are herbal supplements safe for both you and the baby and proven to boost your milk supply, especially when taken together. I experienced same thing when my son was 4 months old, and they helped me like nothing else!

Answer 2

The other ladies had great advice for you. I only wanted to add that 3-4 months is prime time for a growth spurt, so even if your supply is a bit "low" now, a few good days of continuing to nurse on demand should bring it right back up. 4 months can also be the time where your supply regulates to exactly what baby needs. Sometimes that's the point where your breasts stop randomly leaking. It also may be the point where baby starts to get frustrated with the slow milk flow because it's not just gushing out in overwhelming supply at each nursing session anymore. It doesn't mean that you don't have enough milk; it just means that baby needs to work a little harder and get used to the new flow. No need to worry at all...

Answer 3

I follow the same routine that you do.

I had a couple of scares in which I only got 2-3 oz. I checked the tubing on my breast pump and it turns out it was not suctioning as much. Consider replacing your tubing and wiggling the adaptor.

OR experiment with a different pump.

You may also want to consider researching teas for nursing mothers.

Also consider checking with a lactation consultant.

Answer 4

When I had my baby in the summer i talked to one of the nurses in the hospital about breast feeding. She had told me that using a breast pump could actually cause my milk supply to diminish. This is because when breast feeding your baby they usually want to be feed every 2 hours, using a pump you will express your milk less frequently, this causes your body to slow down production because it feels that your baby doesn't need as much. Also If you are on the pill that will also decrease your milk supply.

Answer 5

Breatmilk is governed by the law of supply and demand. Every 4 hours has not been enough so your body is not longer producing enough milk. Perhaps you can try expressing milk more often. Unfortunately, you may have to start supplementing with fomula. Ask your lactation consultant for expert advise.

Answer 6

I know that stand in the shower with the warm water massaging the breast helps stimulate milk production. And also if you are short on milk your can lean frontwards and kinda shake and massage your breasts to stimulate milk production. You know how, when you hear your baby cry your breast ache, maybe that is what you are missing. You aren't hearing him cry as often as you were before. Maybe you can let him demand feeding by crying for a moment before you feed him. I don't mean to let him cry while you are waiting for milk, but for a moment won't hurt him. And you can have a period while breast feeding. Most women either don't have one or it is just much lighter and doesn't last as long. But you can have a period.

Answer 7

Call your doctor and ask him, I was in the same boat after my daughter was born. I tried breastfeeding her but she never latched on and got the hang of it (she was born 4 wks and 5 days early) so i pumped and i dried up when she was 2 weeks old. Try using Good Start that way if you end up drying up, you'll still have something to give to ur son for the nutrients that he needs but i'd still call your doctor to see if its normal or not. Good Luck!