not expressing as much

[q81]

I am the mother of a 23 week old and have literally just started weaning with carrots and rusks in teh last 2 days. I returned to work when seh was 8 weeks old and have been successfully expressing my milk at work. The thing is my milk seems to be drying up this week and whereas before i was getting 10 0z during 2 pumping sessions in the day, now i am getting 6 oz and sometimes not even that. I don't want to stop breastfeeding. How can i increase the amount? Thank you for any help

I was about to post something very similar, so can I jump on here with you rather than start another thread?

My baby is now 8 months old and is taking a reasonable amount of solids but I have been able to express 6oz easily to create a freezer stash, and when I had to go away a month ago for a couple of days, was expressing 10oz four times a day. He is at nursery settling in this week, so I am expressing to provide BM, and I am now struggling to get more than 1 or 2 oz at a time. I used to be able to feel a milk letdown when I pumped, but I can not stimulate this any more.

I really don't want to move to formula, if I can possibly avoid it. Is he just needing much less milk than a month ago because he is taking more solids? Or might it be because I am stressed about going back to work?

Thanks (and sorry for hijack)

After returning to work with my first DD and I was managing to express around 8oz three times a day. Then around 12 weeks i reduced significantly and I was getting barely more than 3 oz from each session.

This is quite common i beleive and although I was told that eating foods rich in calcium and protein can help and fenugreek too apparently, I must say that when my friend recommended I use a pump to express things improved immediately. Hope this helps.

Well, if last night is anything to go by, it looks like he's started reverse cycling already! Not sure how I feel about this - I'd prefer to have unbroken nights, but if its the only way to get enough BM into him, I think I'd rather that than formula.

On the plus side, he appears to be very happy at nursery, even if I am an emotional basket case about it!

ILPA I am using a pump, always have - can't imagine getting that amount out by hand, but maybe I should try that instead. I have also decided to make myself eat more, as I realised I have lost 2kg this week, which won't help without a baby around to keep stimulating supply, and drinking fennel tea [vomit emoticon]

My health visitor recommended changing from hand to pump and then back again so it might be worth a try.

Its udderly amazing once youve got the hang of it.

Good luck!