Feels like milk supply is really low

[Iammrsbeckham]

Hello. My DS is nearly 13 weeks and is EBF. Over the last week I just feel like I am struggling to make enough for him. My breasts never feel full and even feeds in the morning he seems to struggle with and completely drain both sides. I have been taking fenugreek for ages but it doesn't seem to do anything. I was pumping in the evening after he went to sleep but stopped as I thought it would at least allow some milk to build up before his first night feed but it hasn't made any difference.

He feeds every 2-3 hours during the day and we get maybe a 5 hour stretch then 2 x 3 hour over night.

I have got my period back (although so far only 1 at 5 weeks) and just had a coil fitted.

Any thoughts on what could've causing this and any advice to remedy?

[anothergenericname]

Are you still getting wet and dirty nappies? Because it sounds to me like your milk supply is actually well suited to your baby's needs and he's just suckling extra to bump up supply for next time. breasts don't keep on feeling engorged once the bf relationship is established. You say he 'struggles' with his morning feed - would you mind elaborating on that and maybe I can offer more useful suggestions?

[Iammrsbeckham]

Yes there are plenty of wet and dirty nappies. He is averaging about 8 ounce weight gain every couple of weeks which I know isn't loads but the hv is happy with it. (Although that was before this week).

What I mean by struggle (struggle probably isn't the best word) is that before he would happily drain a breast then I would move him to the other one and he'd take some and be finished. Now he seems to fully drain both sides and they do not refill in time for the next feed. It then just gets more pronounced through the day and get fusses and complains cos it's too much like hard work.

I have never had an overly abundant supply- it's always been just enough. Now it seems like it's not enough. Also I would hope that by now we would get slightly longer stretches at night but that's not happening.

[stripedtortoise]

How do you mean they don't re fill though? As Pp pointed out breasts don't continue to feel full and engorged once the supply and relationship is established. Which given the age of your baby and the weight gain and nappies, it sounds as though everything is completely normal and that you are doing a fabulous job.
Your breasts don't need and won't 'full' up for next time. They will just feel like normal Boobs :)

[Cric]

Yep exactly as the others have said. Your boobs will only feel really full if you miss a feed. It sounds like it is all going really well.

[kinkytoes]

Agree with pps. Also bear in mind your baby will have several growth spurts when he will nurse for longer, and cluster feed. It's his way of increasing supply at those times, but as I recall it actually feels like you're not providing enough. This is absolutely not the case!

[tiktok]

All sounds normal and just fine. No need for pumping, no need for fenugreek, no need for worry.

His weight gain is absolutely fine - why are you worried about it? No need to have him weighed every two weeks - much too often for a healthy baby :) Check your red book about recommended weighing intervals.