Supply dwindling despite best efforts

[mardarse]

Hi.

Following on from my post earlier in week where I was worried that mastitis had affected my supply, it seems to me that it really is dwindling. I have been offering breast more often to DS, mainly because I think he is hungry and also added a pumping session in the morning. DS seems to be increasingly agitated at breast as though there is not enough there and is not "gulping" for as long, he's waking earlier in night for feed and in my evening pumping session i can only express 3oz when it has been approx 6 oz for weeks (I know this isn't necessarily a sign). Is there anything else I can try? I was so pleased to have got this. far and hadn't realised how much bf meant to me.

DS is almost 18 weeks, still has 1-2 dirty nappies a day and plenty of wet ones. Maybe i am worrying un necessarily but the agitated DS and tonight's pumping session have really made me think something has changed but I don't know how to put it right.

mardares, sorry - don't remember your post.

Why do you think your supply is dwindling?

Agitation at the breast is not a sign; waking earlier for a feed is not a sign; swallowing for a shorter period is not a sign; reduced pumping yield is not a sign.

Is there any reason why you would just not trust your baby, and your body, to do the biz by themselves, after 18 weeks? :)

Hello Tiktok.

Thank you for your post and reassurance. Perhaps I am worrying for no reason. It is all the things I have mentioned all added up which worry me. How long does it usually take supply to catch up with demand for growth spurts etc? I will try to find my zen and trust my body to make what DS needs. Thank you again for helping with my wobble.

i am impressed you got 3 oz. at the evening session and usually getting 6! my supply in the afternoon pump was often meager and my doctor said that was common. honestly i let dd hang upon me for extended periods and just let her get on with it until another letdown occurs. it does not sound worrying, though of course we understand you are concerned to give him all he needs.

mardarse - but you can add up all those things and they still don't mean 'dwindling supply' :)

Honestly - just respond to your baby's needs and all will be well.

Milk supply at 18 weeks is not a fragile thing at all.

Just wanted to pop back and say thank you all for your reponses and reassuring words. I suspect now that we had hit a growth spurt but after the mastitis, I seem to have thrown myself into a panic .

Things appear to be back to normal now and DS is feeding well and loads which.equals a happy, more relaxed me :)