Is my breast milk supply dieing a slow death?

Question

My son is 5 months old. I had to start pumping when I went back to work. At first (about 3 months ago), I was pumping around 15oz a day. About a month ago my supply decreased to about 9oz a day, now I can barely get 6oz a day.

I pump three times while I am at work, for about 10min each time. I'm using a Medela Pump-In-Style. I nurse him when I'm not at work and on the weekends, but he still gets the occasional bottle at home. I drink plenty of fluids and eat really healthy.

Two things I think are working against me is that my son eats more at daycare than at home and that the other women in my family have all had supply issues and weren't able to nurse past 6 weeks.

I really love being able to nurse my son, its best part of being a mom.

So ultimately my question is this:
Is my supply dieing a slow death?
If so, when do I call it quits and stop nursing and how do I stop safely?
If not, how do it get it to come back?

Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

You can keep your supply up, if you work at it. Also remember there is much more to nursing than just the milk. I am 5 months pregnant and due to my usual horrific morning sickness I am making almost no milk, that doesn't stop my son from nursing as often as he always has. It just means he needs other sources of food and water (he's 16 months)

To make more milk:
*You should be pumping AT LEAST 15 minutes to get your supply back up.
*No bottles at home.
*Herbs can help: http://ncane.com/6qy
*Co-sleep if possible
*Reduce the amount of milk he is getting at daycare, care providers tend to overfeed breastfed babies.
*Pump at home a few times a day, maybe after the baby goes to bed and first thing in the morning (milk supply is greatest in the morning)
*Nurse him more when you are home, nurse him when he wakes up, nurse him just before you leave, nurse him when you drop him off, etc.


See also.
I'm not pumping enough milk. What can I do?
http://ncane.com/3fs


http://ncane.com/vgi
If your baby is taking substantially more than the average amounts**, consider the possibility that baby is being given too much milk while you are away. Things that can contribute to overfeeding include:

* Fast flow bottles. Always use the lowest flow bottle nipple that baby will tolerate.
* Using bottle feeding as the primary way to comfort baby. Some well-meaning caregivers feed baby the bottle every time he makes a sound. Use the calculator above to estimate the amount of milk that baby needs, and start with that amount. If baby still seems to be hungry, have your caregiver first check to see whether baby will settle with walking, rocking, holding, etc. before offering another ounce or two.
* Baby's need to suck. Babies have a very strong need to suck, and the need may be greater while mom is away (sucking is comforting to baby). A baby can control the flow of milk at the breast and will get minimal milk when he mainly needs to suck. When drinking from a bottle, baby gets a larger constant flow of milk as long as he is sucking. If baby is taking large amounts of expressed milk while you are away, you might consider encouraging baby to suck fingers or thumb, or consider using a pacifier for the times when mom is not available, to give baby something besides the bottle to satisfy his sucking needs.
* If, after trying these suggestions, you're still having a hard time pumping enough milk, see I'm not pumping enough milk. What can I do?

** The research tells us that exclusively breastfed babies take in an average of 25 oz (750 mL) per day between the ages of 1 month and 6 months. Different babies take in different amounts of milk; a typical range of milk intakes is 19-30 oz per day (570-900 mL per day).

Answer 2

I also have problems with pumping enough, I contacted the local lactation consultant and she was very helpful. I've slowly been able to pump more as the months have gone by, but my daughter who is now 6 months old only drinks 12 oz of breastmilk while at daycare because that's all I can pump. Sometimes I cheat and add a little formula if I pump less just to make up the difference. I pump 3 times while at work (20 minutes each time) the lactation consultant told me to try and add an extra pumping at night and on the weekends, which I have done and I also started taking Fenugreek capsules and I really think they've helped me pump more. I also eat oatmeal everyday, read somewhere that can help your milk supply.

Have you tried Fenugreek? I read really good things about it and I think it really is working for me. Is there any way you could pump for even 5 more minutes while at work, the lactation consultant said around 15 minutes there should be another let down, and she was right; that would give you a little bit more for his bottles. Make sure you're pumping 2 - 5 minutes after your milk has stopped flowing.

You mention he has an occasional bottle at home, if you can just breastfeed and do not use a bottle while at home, that will help your milk. If you've tried this and it still doesn't work you could just breastfeed your son at night and on weekends, that's what I did with my first baby and it worked fine for us. He had formula during the day and breastmilk the rest of the time, the only difference is he was younger than your son when I started that; you're son may not want the formula if he's had breastmilk to this point.

I would definitely contact your local lactation consultant and ask her these questions, they're really helpful and their job is to help moms breastfeed successfully. Good luck.

Answer 3

1. It's not dieing a slow death, it's just dropping a little because pumping is so different to nursing, and no where near as good at building up milk as actually having a baby at the breast. This can be reversed though so don't panic!

2. Never EVER call it quits! As long as you are pumping or your son is nursing, you will produce milk. You are able to do this, and that is evidenced by the fact that you were able to get so much milk in the beginning. I had to pump for my son for ages, and never got more than six ounces a day, but I have successfully breastfed four children until they were three years old, so I certainly don't have supply problems. You were producing more, so that suggests that YOU don't have any problems too! Great!

3. To get it back, either pump more often and drink a few more fluids, plus eating an extra 500 calories a day, OR (and this is the easier, more effective option), NURSE, NURSE, NURSE. Stop giving that odd bottle at home, just encourage your son to get on that boob and give it a work out. Have a nursing day, where you and your son just spend the whole day hanging out in bed one weekend, just nursing and cuddling. This has a really good effect on your supply.

And remember, like I said, as long as you are either pumping, or nursing, every 3 hours during the day, and at least once or twice overnight, your supply will meet your babies demand. Congrats on the nursing, and I'm glad you love it so much, it's such a precious thing to share with your baby.

Answer 4

Like everyone said, don't give up. Like you, I also have a 5 month old son and are back to work. I am pumping approx. 15 - 18 oz a day (just enough to supply for my son the next day at daycare, if I get more, it's just a bonus). I pump at work also and I usually pump for 20 mins, twice a day now. When I reach 12-15 minutes I always have another let down. I was pumping 3 times a day before but I wasn't quite getting to 15 oz. I am not sure why, but for some reason. Another great time to pump is after your son goes to bed and before you go to work.

I also take an herbal supplement called Fenugreek!!! 3 with breakfast, 3 with lunch and sometimes 2 with dinner! If I miss a dose, I do see a slight decrease in my pumped milk. Good luck!

Answer 5

There is one rule to this: the breastmilk comes by demand. The more he feeds, the more you let down. I also suffered a bit losing my milk when I went back to work. I must applause you for doing this too... it is great to see a woman cover so many aspects of life!!! Try to pump more, even if hardly anything comes out, you are telling the breast you need more. Maybe pump more frequent. Can you push in another session while at work? They should not object, you have all the right. And try to breastfeed him when he is with you.
I wanted to call it quits at 4 months, but I managed to make it to 6 months, when I thought the milk had fulfilled it's purpose and baby was strong enough to continue on formula. Some moms prefer to keep going for the year, it is more economical, others even go beyond that. I have heard stories of women still breastfeeding their 3 year old. That is a bit over the edge. It is up to you and what you think is convenient or necessary for the baby. I think 6 months is a good goal, give it a try, if you can keep going then put it to another 2 months. OH! I stopped also because the teeth grew in and I got bit, not a good feeling!

Answer 6

You follow the same schedule I do when I am at work.
My supply dropped a bit- but has never gone out completely. She is 11 months old and I am still nursing.

1. The pump is never better than baby at getting your supply up. I came to view pumping as a way to relieve pressure- not to increase the supply.
2. When home- only nurse...no bottles. No formula.
3. I don't think you have to stop- Let your baby nurse as often as he/she wants when you are home and it should be fine.

Increase supply:
1. drink plenty of water.
2. Eat oatmeal- it's not proven, but has been said by many mom's that it increases supply- and I have noticed that myself.
3. Remember that if you pump at the same time each day at work- your body gets used to it. I always have more milk on Monday's than on Fridays.
4. DON'T GIVE UP...your body is making milk- and you are doing a fine job.....just keep doing as you are doing and pump as often as you can.

Answer 7

I have 8 yr old twins and was able to nurse them for 10 months. When they were 6 weeks, it didn't seem like they were getting enough milk so the lactation consultant said to pump more often, even after they were fed. Your body should react to the increased need and produce more milk. Since it is hard to pump at work, you're going to have to double your efforts at night and on the weekends. Go back to the every 2 hour schedule - either pump of nurse him every 2 hours. It should stimulate milk production. I took an herb called fenugreek to increase milk production. It came in a pill form and I took it daily. Ask your pediatrician first, though.

Otherwise, contact a lactation consultant at the hospital or go online to La Leche League. They are experts on breastfeeding.

Answer 8

You can try Mother's Milk Tea to boost your milk production and "super pump" every day. To super pump, you pump 10 minutes then rest 10 minutes, then pump 10 minutes, etc. It stimulates milk production. You may also be pumping less from the stress of thinking that your supply is dwindling. If you can no longer pump despite your best efforts, you don't have to give nursing up altogether. You can still nurse him in the morning and/or at night. Best of luck to you!

Answer 9

you can keep pumping as long as you want, I assume you are supplimenting with formula? If it gets too frustrating stop the pumping, give him formula at daycare and nurse him when you are home, Even if he gets 6-7 oz of breastmilk a day its good for him, and you get to have the breastfeeding experience. BFing is not all or nothing, you can strike a happy balance betwen formula and breastmilk. Good luck.

Answer 10

You can increase your supply by eating healthy diet, drinking a lactation tea called Healthy nursing tea and nursing maximum time.