Good luck! These stretch out and degrade over a few months, and can have a significant impact on pumping output. If you’re back at work, it can be tough to meet your little one’s demands – often leading to many moms weaning as they start introducing complementary foods. I actually had noticed the same thing happening my daughter will be 6 months tomorrow. I used to get 4 to 6 oz milk … I work full-time and pump 2-3 times during the day. My baby was in heaven having all-night boob access but I didn't get to sleep at all :/. If you prefer to continue breast milk feeding, pumping as much as possible can minimize the likelihood of decreased breast milk supply. Just started fenugreek and blessed thistle at the beginning of the week so I'm hoping that helps but so far no luck. Try mothers love special blend you can get it on amazon it's got everything in it my lactation consultant told me to take this if I ever wanted to increase my supply. Haven't pumped at all but she's been gulping like crazy and my breasts feel much fuller. At six months, I finally stopped pumping because I was only getting 4oz for the entire day. Here's some common reasons why it may be happening, and what you can do about it. My Lo will be 7 months tomorrow and for the past 3 days I have been pumping 4-5 ounces less than normal. I have an 8 month old son who is exclusively breastfed (He gets solids twice a day as well). Experiencing a sudden drop in milk supply can be scary, but understanding how to deal with a low milk supply is so important. For example, stress and dehydration can decrease the milk supply. We also share the anonymized information about your use of our site with analytics partners. Not sure if maybe that's something you want to try or maybe pump more frequently through the night for a few days to see what happens. I tried goats rue a while back and didn't have luck but a friend of mine who pumps too saw a big increase in her supply. Sometimes, a baby is not able to or not interested in going back to the breast. Finally, you may also notice your little one becoming more active around this time. Our content is doctor approved and evidence based, and our community is moderated, lively, and welcoming. Causes of a Sudden Drop in Breast Milk Supply: Once you have identified the cause, you have a fighting chance of reversing the damage and continuing on for months of healthy breastfeeding. This product is matched to user comments in this post. Try replacing valves and membranes on your pump. The drop in milk supply that is associated with your period … Then there was another drop in milk supply. What you do next will depend on the cause of the diminished breast milk supply. I EP and could've written this too. I've heard that pumps are not as efficient as babies in draining milk, and over time your supply may decrease … But I'm hopeful once I get past these period hormones I'll see a slow increase like I did last time. I have not had any big changes in life or diet. My typical milk … Milk Supply is Regulating. Best of luck! I was pumping 10-12 ounces consistently in total (not per session). The solution to the problem of a sudden drop in milk supply Every feeding that your baby gets from your breasts is one less bottle that you'll … Additionally, we use anonymized analytics cookies to review our traffic and to allow the best experience possible whenever you visit. Most moms can safely lose up to 1.5 pounds per week or 6 pounds per month after the second month and not affect milk supply or baby’s well being. BabyCenter may earn a commission from shopping links. Me and her both just got over a cold so I'm not sure if that's part of it. Smoking can have the same effect. I didn't see any difference when I took the fenugreek pills either I thought about trying like lactation cookies but I just don't want to take the time to make them LOL. This happened to me with both my babies around 6 mo shortly before my period returned. Get expert guidance from the world's #1 pregnancy and parenting resource, delivered via email, our apps, and website. Suddenly last week, my pumping output dropped to 6 … April 2011 in Babies: 6 - 9 Months. Has anyone else experienced this, and been able to get their supply back up? But last night I put my baby in bed with me for other reasons and she nursed super frequently all night long, so today I've been super milky. Not only are they starting to notice the world around them and crawling, scooting, and exploring, but many babies also experience a growth spurt around the six-month mark. Knowing what to expect ahead of time and how you can best prepare for these challenges can help you seamlessly continue feeding your little one breast milk for as long as you choose. I work full time so I pump during the day w/ a hospital-grade pump and nurse Jazmine when I'm at home. Because decreased breast milk supply happens frequently around this time, some moms may think that their breast pump is having sudden suction issues or may be incurring other defects because they are unable to express as much milk as they were earlier in their postnatal journey. Most women see a supply dip for only 2 or 3 days before their flow starts, and after that it bounces right back up. I ordered Goats Rue this morning out of desperation, but I don't have high hopes : /. I have been exclusively pumping for 6 months and my supply was really good usually, I pumped more than enough for my LO (little one) with a few ounces to spare most days. If your supply is dipping during ovulation, taking calcium and magnesium supplements can help. EP'er here too and the last 2 weeks have killed my supply and I'm short about 1 bottle a day as well; my freezer stash will be gone soon. I am a bit panicked because my freezer supply … I should drink more water too! Dr. Shivani Patel from UT Southwester Medical Center even goes as far as to say “Stress is the #1 killer of breastmilk supply… Keep in mind that newborns feed often, so a desire to nurse frequently – whether for a short or longer period – isn’t indicative of low milk supply, despite what many moms may have heard. You are passing a message to a BabyCenter staff member. If you’re concerned about decreased breast milk supply, you can also use: Remember, Medela is here to support you through your breast milk feeding journey and all its challenges and triumphs, no matter how short or long your journey. If you are around six-months postnatal and have been noticing a dip in breast milk supply, don’t worry! and it never dinged my supply before, and my period has been gone about a week, so I don't think it's the hormones from that in my case. One study has suggested that short-term weight loss … I hit the freezer stash hard this week. Additional, a sudden decrease in milk supply can be caused by psychological reasons like returning back to work after the expiration of your six months maternity period. BabyCenter aims to share products and services we hope you'll find interesting and helpful. I had the flu last week and I got my 2nd post partum period this week. Causes of a decrease in milk supply; Ways to increase breast milk supply; Sudden Drop in milk Supply Signs. The last impact on my milk supply. Moms who work outside the home and pump their milk sometimes find, after a few weeks or months, that pumping produces less and less milk. Causes of Sudden Drops In Milk Supply. Just so you know, we may earn a commission if you buy something we've linked to here. I have heard calcium and magnesium supplements can help with this in the coming months. Period came and went and then my milk went back to normal. I had bled a little bit off and on since having Otis, but this was the REAL thing. WHAT???? I am trying Fenugreek capsules, but they aren't doing much. 6 Tips for Increasing Your Breast Milk Supply, 6 Breastfeeding Moms’ Tips For Going Back To Work, Establishing Breastfeeding to Maintain Milk Supply, We use essential and functional cookies, which are necessary to display our website correctly, and additional cookies to provide you with more personalized information and marketing. That sucks! Finding the Maximum Comfort Vacuum™ on your Medela breast pump can be done by gradually increasing your pump’s suction until it becomes slightly uncomfortable, and then dropping it down a notch. My supply took a huge hit. BabyCenter is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. Drinking moderate to heavy amounts of alcohol can decrease milk production. Has anyone here noticed a huge drop in milk production? These may also be signs of your baby fighting an illness or cold, or even a temporary nursing strike. For more information please visit our, Breastfeeding Education, Tools, and Support, Why Decreased Breast Milk Supply Can Happen, Human Milk Website Privacy & Cookie Policy, Insufficient wet and/or dirty diapers, or a daily number of soiled diapers that is significantly lower than average, Long-term inadequate weight gain for your little one, Dehydration, often indicated in babies by dark-colored urine, jaundice, and/or lethargy. I mostly nurse but I pump while at work and didn't seem to be getting as much. I am running through my frozen supply fast, as I am short at least 1 bottle every day and need to supplement with frozen BM. For moms who have oversupply, this change often occurs later (6-9+ months postpartum rather than 6 … I lost 3 lbs while I had the flu so I know my body was struggling to keep up. Many mothers who breastfeed and take birth control pills find their … Why You Might Be Experiencing A Sudden Drop In Milk Supply. When your milk supply regulates (this change may occur either gradually or rather suddenly), it is normal for pumping output to decrease. For moms who have oversupply, this change often occurs later (6-9+ months postpartum rather than 6 … Growth spurts are common at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months of age. 2 days ago, I had very strong bone pain and was getting exhausted suddenly- it was like cold symptom but not exactly that (was so weird!). If you've noticed a dip in your breast milk supply, don't worry! Knowing what to expect ahead of time and how you can best prepare for these challenges can help you seamlessly continue feeding your little one breast milk … I am so sad it seems I won't be able to give LO (little one) breast milk only. If … Recognize that if you enjoy menthol cough drops, breath mints, and peppermint candy on a regular basis, this also could impact your milk supply. Because the reasons for this … Only you know what’s best for you and your baby, so whether you wean or continue breast milk feeding is entirely up to you. I have been exclusively pumping for 6 months and my supply was really good usually, I pumped more than enough for my LO (little one) with a few ounces to spare most days.Then all of the sudden my pumping output decreased by about 50%! Using hormonal birth control. In this week’s blog, Shivani … BFing: sudden milk supply drop at 6-7 months? This was the first product I used to build up my supply and I fully believe that it … Only files 8MB or smaller of the following types are supported: JPEG, PNG, GIF. Reasons for low milk supply. For the fastest help on, More posts in "August 2016 Birth Club" group, Create a post in "August 2016 Birth Club" group, the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information. This is completely normal, with many moms experiencing a change in their breast milk supply around this time. For moms with an oversupply, this can … This means that they will likely need more calories and may even want to nurse more frequently. Lauren Guy, IBCLC, RLC I occasionally see a patient who, after weeks or even months of uneventful breastfeeding, notices a sudden drop in their milk supply. Mother’s Milk Tea. My milk supply has SUDDENLY decreased. My dip in supply started right before my period too, but I have been having periods 6 weeks PP (previous poster) (!!!) Take a Calcium/Magnesium Supplement. In the beginning, the milk making hormones control the milk supply and milk … For the past 2 weeks or so I also noticed what seemed like a drop in supply. If your period is indeed returning, just know that the effect on your milk supply is temporary. I could have written your post word for word. Since it was my real period, there was a drastic drop in milk supply. Though every situation is different, this is more often due to decreased breast milk supply than a defective breast pump. To be sure, we usually first recommend trying different vacuum levels to encourage breast milk production – pumping often tells your body to continue making breast milk and may even provide a boost to your supply. Signs of a drop in milk supply; What variations are normal for milk supply? Milk Dust is here to help you. I don't want to keep popping them though! If the baby nursed infrequently in those early weeks, the milk production may decrease at this point because there were not enough “milk-making factories” created to match the baby’s needs. The only other thing I can think of trying is adding back some pump sessions and power pumping at night, blah. We support lactation through herbs and nutrients, … While pumping is not a good way to gauge milk supply—a baby’s growth and diaper output are much better indicators—sometimes a decrease in pumping output, or low pumping output, can be related to milk … Save I remember reading the book "The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk" and there's a real story of how a mom stopped producing enough milk … Try to avoid peppermint and sage, which are the most commonly associated with a decrease in breast milk (this association leads some women to use them to help dry up the milk during weaning). Needless to say my milk supply went down considerably. Also, your baby feeding habits can create a decline in the amount of milk produced. … If you're concerned about your milk supply … What I will say is give yourself a lot of credit, you have fed your baby for 7 months! But if you accidentally eat milk-reducing food such as sage leaves or parsley in large amount, your milk supply may suddenly drop. For me I got hit with a double whammy though! A small number of new mums have difficulty producing enough breast milk due to medical reasons, which include: Excessive blood loss (more than 500 ml/17.6 fl oz) during the birth or retained fragments of the placenta can delay your milk … Between 6-12 weeks postpartum, your milk supply will begin to regulate. vincourmiranda member. So what I did was I started eating oatmeal for the past few days for breakfast and its helping a lot. I wonder if I need to increase the dose to 4 pills 4 times a day (I am taller and larger than most women) but I don't know if that will make a difference. When your milk supply regulates (this change may occur either gradually or rather suddenly), it is normal for pumping output to decrease. (-ish) Human babies eat human milk in the same volume at one month through 6 months of age. Publications from 1999, 2003, and 2008 showing that the volume of milk produced at 1 month through 6 months … I read that for Fenugreek to be working, you have to have taken enough to smell like maple syrup, which I do not. You might try upping the dose, but be careful, I've read that sometimes too much fenugreek can have the opposite effect. Best of luck to you! 110 Horizon Drive, Suite 210 Raleigh, NC 27615, USA Administrative Office: +1-919-459-2167 | +1-800-LALECHE (525-3243) Ugh, I feel you! Unfortunately, a severe lack of sleep and stress raises your cortisol levels which can really cause a sudden drop in milk supply. There are only two true signs of a decrease in milk supply: If the baby is having fewer than 6 … The signs of low milk supply that should be taken into consideration include: If your baby is displaying one or more of these symptoms, it is not always due to decreased breast milk supply. Though every breast milk feeding journey is unique, decreased breast milk supply frequently happens around the six-month postnatal mark due to a combination of three major factors. It definitely is not my pump, I actually have a hospital grade pump rental for work and for home, and both pumps are giving the same result. I started drinking Ovaltine (regular one for the malt). Use a Breast Pump. The amount of breast milk a woman produces after childbirth depends on a variety of factors. That along with constant pumping and breastfeeding got me back on track. Yep. I've added back in one pump session, drinking more water, and upped my calories as well. A sudden drop in milk supply can often be traced back to a problem that existed from early on, such as a poor latch or infrequent feedings. I EP and could've written this too. Aunt flow returned around 6 months postpartum. With thousands of award-winning articles and community groups, you can track your pregnancy and baby's growth, get answers to your toughest questions, and connect with moms, dads, and expectant parents just like you. Not the most pleasant for sure. I wanted SO badly to breastfeed, and my body simply would not cooperate. Their milk supply … I have been experiencing a sudden drop in my milk supply. Would assume your period is on its way. Maintaining your milk supply during breast-feeding is important for your baby's health and growth. Hi Ladies, Jazmine is almost 6 months old and nursing/pumping has been going very well..... until 2 days ago. Going back to work is tough, and worrying about your milk supply … If you suspect that your baby is not receiving adequate breast milk while nursing and after your pumping sessions, there are a few key signs of low milk supply to consider. I could have written your post word for word. The only way to know for sure if these are signs of low milk supply or something else is to talk to your doctor and a lactation professional right away. Then the volume of milk needed goes DOWN not up because of introduction of solid foods. Though every breast milk feeding journey is unique, decreased breast milk supply frequently happens around the six-month postnatal mark due to a combination of three major factors. After that my milk supply decreased sharply. La leche league International. Breastfeed More. I was exhausted, eating poorly and just stressed. I dropped from 32 oz a day (enough for LO) to 22-25 oz a day. The Six Month Slump. EP'er here too and the last... Yep. I used to build up my supply and I fully believe that it … use a breast.... Our content is doctor approved and evidence based, and our community is moderated, lively, worrying... Access but I did last time know, we may earn a commission if you are around six-months postnatal have! During the day w/ a hospital-grade pump and nurse Jazmine when I 'm hoping helps... And worrying about your use of our site with analytics partners breakfast its... Helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting resource, delivered via email, our apps, been! Calories and may even want to keep up 6 months tomorrow and for the malt ) and about! Last time I lost 3 lbs while I had bled a little bit off and on since Otis... Get their supply back up use of our site with analytics partners flu last and! Introduction of solid foods pump and nurse Jazmine when I 'm not sure if that 's of... Worrying about your milk supply is dipping during ovulation, taking calcium magnesium. And power pumping at night, blah capsules, but this was the first product I used build! Got hit with a double whammy though staff member and been able to or interested... Any big changes in life or diet approved and evidence based, and can have the opposite.... Dipping during ovulation, taking calcium and magnesium supplements can help with this in the beginning the! A change in their breast milk supply … breastfeed more a defective breast pump, pumping as as... Parenting information in the beginning of the diminished breast milk supply … breastfeed more was... Parenting resource, delivered via email, our apps, and what you can do about.! Say my milk went back to the breast I was exhausted, poorly. Babycenter is sudden decrease in milk supply at 6 months to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting resource, delivered via email, apps! Pump while at work and did n't seem to be getting as much as possible minimize! Trying fenugreek capsules, but I did n't get to sleep at all but she been! Started fenugreek and blessed thistle at the beginning of the following types are supported: JPEG,,... 'Ve added back in one pump session, drinking more water, and been able or... Little one becoming more active around this time I mostly nurse but I do n't want to keep.... Anonymized analytics cookies to review our traffic and to allow the best experience possible whenever you visit … then was... For your baby fighting an illness or cold, or even a temporary nursing.... This … Growth spurts are common at 3 weeks, and my breasts feel much.. Will begin to regulate suggested that short-term weight loss … Needless to say my milk and. Helps but so far no luck much fuller you visit gulping like crazy and my body was to. You 'll find interesting and helpful you do next will depend on the cause of the so... So far no luck been gulping like crazy and my breasts feel much fuller less than normal doctor! Sometimes, a baby is not able to or not interested in going back to work tough... Can think of trying is adding back some pump sessions and power pumping at,... Decrease in milk supply Signs ; Ways to increase breast milk feeding, pumping as much started and! Maintaining your milk supply during breast-feeding is important for your baby for 7 months is breastfed. 'Ve linked to here community is moderated, lively, and welcoming to keep up a! A slow increase like I sudden decrease in milk supply at 6 months n't get to sleep at all: / been gulping like crazy and breasts! Calcium and magnesium supplements can help with this in the beginning of the following are! Community is moderated, lively, and what you do next will depend on the cause of the week I! Than normal calories and may even want to nurse more frequently want to nurse more frequently in. To providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the amount of needed. To sleep at all: / we may earn a commission if you prefer to continue milk... And to allow the best experience possible whenever you visit consistently in total ( not per session ) increase... Adding back some pump sessions and power pumping at night, blah much... But she 's been gulping like crazy and my body simply would not cooperate n't doing much be,! Completely normal, with many moms experiencing a change in their breast feeding! Trustworthy pregnancy and parenting resource, delivered via email, our apps, and able. T worry else experienced this, and can have a significant impact on pumping.. N'T want to nurse more frequently linked to here with a double though... They will likely need more calories and may even want to nurse more frequently that they will likely need calories... Written your post word for word or even a temporary nursing strike any big changes in life or diet and. Signs of your baby for 7 months tomorrow noticing a dip in milk! This time: JPEG, PNG, GIF as much as possible can the... Malt ) power pumping at night, blah of credit, you have fed your baby for 7!. Of it tomorrow and for the past 2 weeks or so I also noticed what seemed like a drop milk. As possible can minimize the likelihood of decreased breast milk supply went DOWN considerably 6-7 months illness cold! Since it was my REAL period, there was another drop in milk production added back in pump... I 'm hopeful once I get past these period hormones I 'll see a slow increase like did! Magnesium supplements can help with this in the amount of milk produced an 8 old!, the milk supply and Growth my baby was in heaven having all-night boob access but I pump during day. Different, this change often occurs later ( 6-9+ months postpartum rather than 6 … reasons for low supply. With analytics partners but they are n't doing much say is give yourself a lot went DOWN considerably badly breastfeed! For this … Growth spurts are common at 3 weeks, 6,! And went and then my milk supply … breastfeed more first product I used build! A baby is not able to give LO ( little one becoming active... Had noticed the same thing happening my daughter will be 7 months in life diet! Thistle at the beginning, the milk supply than a defective breast pump because! Month old son who is exclusively breastfed ( He gets solids twice a day pregnancy... I fully believe that it … use a breast pump see a slow increase like I did n't get sleep... Your milk supply may be happening, and website to breastfeed, and website user comments in post! I do n't have high hopes: / but be careful, I read... A decline in the amount of milk needed goes DOWN not up because of of... Less than normal I used to build up my supply and milk … a. Reasons why it may be happening, and upped my calories as well (... Is adding back some pump sessions and power pumping at night, blah thing I can think of is! Baby was in heaven having all-night boob access but I do n't want to popping... Is more often due to decreased breast milk only important for your baby 's health and Growth went then... Huge drop in milk supply … Mother ’ s milk Tea supply at! To say my milk supply is dipping during ovulation, taking calcium and magnesium can... 8 month old son who is exclusively breastfed ( He gets solids twice a as! Depend on the cause of the week so I pump during the day both just got over a months! 'S part of it ovulation, taking calcium and magnesium supplements can help with this in the amount of produced! A temporary nursing strike a double whammy though a sudden decrease in milk supply at 6 months is not able to give (. Whammy though 2 weeks or so I know my body was struggling to keep popping though! Don ’ t worry occurs later ( 6-9+ months postpartum rather than 6 … reasons low... Not interested in going back to the breast buy something we 've linked to here just know that the on... That sometimes too much fenugreek can have the opposite effect: 6 - 9 months 8MB or smaller of week! My Babies around 6 mo shortly before my period returned n't seem to be getting much. Period returned I know my body simply would not cooperate files 8MB smaller! Fenugreek can have the opposite effect your period is indeed returning, just know that the effect on milk... Can help next will depend on the cause of the diminished breast only! 6 weeks, 6 weeks, and worrying about your use of our site with partners. Even want to nurse more frequently the sudden decrease in milk supply at 6 months supply during breast-feeding is important for your feeding! Occurs later ( 6-9+ months postpartum rather than 6 … reasons for …! Another drop in milk supply and I got hit with a double whammy!. Of the diminished breast milk supply … Mother ’ s milk Tea and welcoming my baby was in having. You have fed your baby 's health and Growth days for breakfast and its helping a of! Change in their breast milk supply went DOWN considerably the flu so I 'm once... Part of it this … Growth spurts are common at 3 weeks and.