So, I've been strictly breastfeeding for a little over 7 months. Everything was going fine and I never had a problem pumping. In fact, I'm usually the one answering the breastfeeding questions!! For some reason when I pump now, I am only producing about 5 ounces. Sometims a little more sometims a little less. I have been pumping since she was 3 1/2 months and on average would get about 6 to 7 1/2 ounces. So what's wrong? What can I do to improve my milk supply? I've tried pumping more and I drink plenty of water and I eat pretty good.
2007-04-17 14:34:19 · 6 answers · asked by qtiequawn 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I have had my period since she was 5 weeks old. Also, I nurse her while I'm at home and over the weekends I never give her a bottle.
2007-04-17 15:34:53 · update #1
Some moms hit a "pumping slump" around 6 mos or so.
What kind of pump are you using? If it's a Medela PIS, how long as hit been since you replaced the little flaps that attach to the horns? For any pump, how long has it been since you boiled your pump parts? These things can help you get a better seal and maybe yeild more milk.
Sometimes it helps to rent a different pump for a week.
This weekend take a "nursing vacation" and don't do anything else but nurse and pump. Trick your body into thinking it's a growth spurt.
When you are pumping, if the flow of milk slows or stops, remove the horns and reposition them. This can help you get another letdown and get more milk sometimes, emptying different milk ducts.
Eat oatmeal every day for breakfast. Some moms report a better pumping yield when they do this.
ETA:
A "nursing vacation" means you don't do ANYTHING but nurse and pump. No housework. No cooking. Nothing but nursing/pumping and self care. Every couple of hours all weekend. Like faking your body out that baby is going through a growth spurt.
2007-04-17 14:41:37 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's possible you may be becoming dehydrated and don't realize it. Focus on how much water you are drinking to see if you are actually drinking enough. The two main problems for decreased milk supply is dehydration in the mother and frequency of pumping. The more you pump the more milk you should produce. I am a maternal child nurse and I went back to work when my son was 9 weeks old. I worked 12 hr shifts and pumped at work. I was always so busy and I know I never drank enough water while I was working. My milk supply kept getting lower and lower. Finally when my son was about 6 months he stopped nursing. Not my choice.
2007-04-18 00:27:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! 5 ounces is A LOT. Perhaps your breasts sense a leveling off in your daughter's feeding. Did you recently introduce solids?
I Never got more than 1.5 ounces after 20 minutes or so and my boy is a voracious nurser.
have you tried "Mother's Milk Tea" by Traditional Medicinals?
I drank one cup when my son was 19 months and woke up engorged and got mastitis. The stuff is amazing! Also, eating oatmeal (even cookies) will help.
2007-04-17 16:04:28 · answer #3 · answered by Terrible Threes 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
pumping after a while will do this to you, it doesn't give the same stimulation as the baby's mouth, just breastfeed her in between feedings just to give your breasts the extra stimulation. you can also try fenagreek tea or capsules, they will make you smell like maple syrup lol but it will help witht he supply...it's all natural in fact i think you can only get them at health food stores. also if it gets really low ask your doctor about reglin. it's actually for heart problems or something like that but for some reason it's great for boosting your milk supply. good luck and if all else fails call your local hospital and they can refer you to a lactation specialist and they will come to your home and actually help you for no cost.....
2007-04-17 15:19:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Has your daughter started eating solid foods? That might be a cause.
Your cycles might be coming back, too, even though you have not had a period, so the hormones might affect your milk supply.
2007-04-17 14:39:32 · answer #5 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sometimes milk disapears no matter what you do. Some women's milk stops at 3 month. Everyone is different. I for example never been able to pump more then 4 oz per each feeding. If you started to exercise that might make yourmilk supply lower
2007-04-17 14:47:19 · answer #6 · answered by janetsernoh 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋