Low milk supply in the evening - can I help it?

[metalelephant]

I know this has been discussed a trillion times, but my milk dwindles horrible after the afternoon. By 4 it's low but by 7 and till after 11 there's almost nothing :(

I don't expect to be full or engorged but my dd is on the breast on and off from 5 to 10 and I only manage to squeeze drops if I press it quite hard. They look and feel empty!

We've had a very difficult start, tongue tie: weight loss/ formula topups instructed by paed and it's only in the last 10 days that she's almost exclusively breastfed (maybe 60ml of formula every two days).

I have been reassured that breasts never empty and that by being on the breast for long she builds up my supply but how long does it take? For the last two and a half weeks I have been on domperidone, initially 90mg per day, now at 60 with a view to drop further to 30 and then stop.

During the day, dd feeds every 1 and a half to two hours and at night 3 to 4 hours. After 5 she pretty much wants to be on the breast till 11 when I give up and we go to bed, cosleep and I get her to latch ( weekly) so she can suckle to sleep. I will wake up at 2, breasts feel fuller, feed for half an hour and then again at 5. After that it's usually 8 that we start again the shorter feeds.

I wonder what we'll do during the holidays, spending one week with DH's family and one with mine. The prospect of breastfeeding for 5 hours every evening in front of inlaws and my dad fills me with dread!

Sorry this has been so long!

Ok first of all, don't panic. It' not that you've got no milk, this is really common small baby behaviour. The hormones that make you produce milk are highest in the evenings,baby knows this so feeds really frequently during this time to keep your supply good. If youve had a few problems early on with supply, this is actually a really good thing. Your baby is really clever and is doing the absolute best thing to up your supply. I can appreciate that it's a bit of a nightare for you tho, think it's probably just a case of putting up with it for a couple of weeks and your supply will be stonkingly good. It's tough going, but it'll be worth it xxx

Thank you Jackie

also your breasts feel empty, simply because she is feeding frequently so there is no build up in between. That doesn't matter tho cos actually only a small amount can be stored in the breast and you're right, most of the milk is actually made while you feed. stick with it, it gets easier, promise x

... Forgot to add that dd is 7 weeks old and that for most if the day I have to compress my breast for the milk to come out during the feeds. If I don't , she stops and falls asleep or cries.

I must confess...deep down I was hoping someone would swear by consuming vast amounts of Mars Bars and double cream in my decaf.

Oh yes that helps too .

Totally agree with normal baby behaviour, my dd was like this for the first 10 weeks of her life, it's exhausting. It does feel like you're not producing enough milk I know, I remember the feeling (though as others have said it's simply that there's no time for a reserve to build up), but see it as an investment and keep at it, give it a few weeks and everything should settle down.

With the feeding in front of parents and in-laws, don't worry - try feeding in front of a mirror and you'll see that other people can't really see much. Experiment with feeding tops/draped muslins etc. and be confident. I used to find actually that having company made the evening marathon feeds feel quicker and more bearable. You can turn away/tuck baby under a cardigan for the initial latch on if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Sounds like cluster feeding rather than supply issues - totally normal and it is a phase which passes. You can read more about it on Kellymom.

6-8 weeks is the time when new baby 'fussiness' peaks, so it may start to calm down soon.

Yes totatly normal. One thing I'd like to add it that when you breast feel's emptier in the evening the caliary content of your milk is higher so she's getting less volume but more fat which is what is helping her have those longer streatches at night.

It is hard work in these early days and you've had a rocky start but your doing a great job.

Thanks everybody for the reassuring words, I feel so lucky to be actually able to breastfeed that I don't mind the hours, I just don't want her to struggle for her dinner!

I caved in and ordered a baby bubu (worst name ever?)to hide during the family gatherings as my breasts need, let's say, a lot of encouragement and support during feed and handling them in front of my inlaws or my dad makes me cringe!

I wasn't keen on breastfeeding covers
as I think they make something natural into something to be hidden but there have been times on the bus when I've been desperate to feed but feel embarrassingly close to staring eyes...

(in case I have made my breasts sound a bit too mysterious, they're around an E size and I have to compress them a lot in the evenings so discreet feeds are a bit of a distant dream)

Too much information?

Agree with people that its normal, and that your breasts are still producing milk, although I find that when I have less milk, my DD sucking makes them hurt so its quite uncomfortable. I found eating oats at around 4 or 5 helped. I would just pour on some apple juice and eat them raw, but only because thats how i like them. It wouldn't do any harm to try.
It doesn't mean you'll feed any less in the evenings however, thats just how its got to be.

Cheers nectarina, I've been taking oat extract (bitter!) but I shall try your oats and juice idea as well.

Milk seems a bit more plentiful in the last couple of days, yay!

Hey, I know this was awhile ago but I’m currently through this exact thing. My son is 7 weeks today. I find by the evening I barely have anything and my son I hysterical done 8/9 cause he isn’t getting a lot. I don’t know how long I can do this for.