Is my milk drying up?

[jubblicious]

I've been EBF for 8 weeks now and its been going well. We decided that i should start expressing so that DH can start to do some feeds on the weekend or the last one at night so i can get some sleep....oh joy!

I've been expressing for one week now. I first started getting 4-5oz from each breast in one go, which i was so happy about. But now one week later, i am only getting about 1-2oz from each breast.

When DS does feed from the breast, he doesn't stay latched on for long and the breast makes a squeaking noise as if it is empty. Kind of like drink from the bottom of a drink from McD's!

Any advice would be very welcome!!

Expressing is not a sign of how much milk you're producing. Your supply may be more closely matching your baby's needs.

He could be having a bit of a growth spurt which would reduce the amount available when you express.

As long as you're feeding on demand, not trying to schedule feeds and you/yourDS don't have any serious medical conditions it's extremely unlikely that your milk would be drying up.

Dunno about the squeaking sound, I'm afraid. :)

agree with the last post also worth noting that ds is getting better and better and getting as much milk as possible from you. When my ds was little he did not settle at all until he had had enough milk!

Does he seem content between feeds jubblicious?

Are you offering the other breast when he unlatches himself? He may want a bit from the other one.

Is it a squeaking or more of a clacking sound? Ds2 makes this noise when he's been a while between feeds so my let down is stronger. I think that with a stronger let down my nipple is harder and so his latch isn't as good.

I am not an expert but from what I understand in the beginning milk just flows but after about 6-8 weeks you start to get a let down which can take a while of sucking before it happens. I found it very difficult to express with ds1 when I first started getting a let down but I got better with practice. Have you noticed a difference in the time it takes for the milk to start flowing?

If expressing is making you worried and your baby is otherwise happy then perhaps you should stop for a bit and do all the feeding yourself, I'm sure your dh will understand.

Is he doing enough wet and dirty nappies? Is he bright and alert at times?

Agree with AngelDog that expressing is no indication of how much milk you are producing. I bf both of mine and they were right chubsters but hardly ever managed to express a drop.

It could be that he is just getting more efficient at getting the milk out or it could be that your body is getting more in tune with his needs.

Doesn't sound like you have anything to worry about really

Thanks for your replies everyone!

There isn't anything wrong him, he's putting on weight really well, going through nappies like they are free! And he's putting on weight really well.

I have noticed that it does take time for the milk to start flowing cinnamongreyhound. I used to leak all the time, but now my flow is better and i don't have wet patches everywhere...hurrah!

I guess i was just looking forward to some early nights on the weekend, so DH could do a bit more than just grunting in bed!

Its great that he is doing so well.

As for DH, well can't he help out in other ways like making you a nice meal at the weekend, taking DS out for a walk in the morning to give you a break etc?

Bumping to say my boobs do the squeaking thing at the end too! It amuses me and my boy no end hehe.

No, this is fine and normal. Do you know how to store your BM? You can keep it in the fridge and add to it if you do a few expressings over a day, so that your 1-2 oz adds up to a nice feed, if you do want a break.

[http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/BFNExpressing&Storing.pdf]]

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/BFNExpressing&Storing.pdf

sorry