My milk supply has reduced. Can I get it back?

[iwasagirlinavillage]

DD2 is 15 months. Me and her Dad are separated and I express when she stays with him for two nights every two weeks. My milk supply has been waning, which is normal based on her age but this past week it's taken a massive dip. DD2 has started nursery two days a week so I only feed her morning and evening those days and she was with her dad last weekend and this weekend due to a swap so I've had only 3 days of normal feeding out of 9. I express when she's not here but I know the pump isn't as effective and I woke up this morning and my breasts feel completely normal, not full at all. The DCs are back this morning so I haven't pumped but I don't even feel like I need to.

Can I get my supply back up? I'm going to feed and feed and feed as much as I can. Will it make a difference at this point? Or is this the beginning of stopping breastfeeding?

[MollyHuaCha]

You will probably get replies saying feed more. But in my experience this didn't work. It's possible it might be near the end of your breastfeeding time. If it's happening gradually, your baby will not complain but you will miss it .

[tiktok]

Sorry your experience didn't show this, Molly, but feeding more - at any stage of bf - does indeed increase milk supply.

But my question for you, OP, would be do you need it to increase? It's very common with well-established bf for the supply to continue even with minimal stimulation, even with gaps, and even with irregular demand on it. You will have milk when it is needed - prob no need to express when she is not there.

No need for it to be the beginning of stopping breastfeeding. Of course feed as often as you wish, and your supply will increase, but you will maintain breastfeeding anyway, whether you do this or not, and whether you express or not.

[iwasagirlinavillage]

Thank you. That's useful to know. When she's with me she doesn't feed a lot and she does love breastfeeding. It's a lovely way to reconnect when she's been away with her Dad as well. I think it's a bit comfort for her. She's back now and there was definitely a lot of milk when she wanted it so maybe I just need to relax a little.

Thank you

[MigGril]

This is one of the things I loved about long term nursing. Boobs back to normal size, no more feeling over full and yet there was always milk there for my babies. Even if they missed a few days feeding as they slowly weaned. I'm sure this is what breastfeeding is really meant to be like once established. It seemed to seatal down quicker for my second child to. Both long term feeders 3 years and 5 years. Not to say we didn't have our fair share of hard work in the early weeks, especially with my first.

[lifeislikeapileofshit]

Oh that's reassuring Mig. After being back at work this week I feel like my supply has been all over the place. But hopefully that isn't a cause for concern. DD still LOVES to breastfeed. It's just the absence from each other that impacts that. It's a lovely way to reconnect though.

[Jen380]

If you need to increase milk supply there is a section that's covers how to do it in the book The New contented little baby book, by Gina Ford

[tiktok]

Hmmmm.....the correct knowledge of breastfeeding held by GF could be written on the back of a stamp. I doubt very much she'd have the first clue about the situation the OP is in :)

Anyway, her milk has no need of increasing - it's still there, it's still sufficient, all is good :)