Big and sudde drop in supply at 12 weeks?

7 replies

Firsttimer1007 · 07/10/2013 21:11

This is my second son (bf ds1 for 5 months) and he is just 12 weeks. I have been successfully bf for 12 weeks and thought I had a good supply. I had been pumping one ounce from each side in the mornings to get a good supply going but stopped this last week (couldn't be bothered anymore/had no time with DS toddler!) I developed mastitis after dropping the pumping but it only lasted 24 hours and resolved itself.
From week 1 hip have been expressing the last feed and dh feeds a bottle. Up until 3 nights ago I was easily pumping 7ish oz in about 30 min, but am now struggling to get 4-5 and spend over an hour to get this!
Freaking out a it now that DS is not getting enough now during other feeds- any ideas what's going on???
Don't want to stop the last bottle of ebm, I didnt give a bottle 2 nights ago and fed him myself and he woke 2 hours after going down starving so was obvious he didn't get enough...

OP posts:

noblegiraffe · 07/10/2013 21:15

It's very common for your ability to express to decrease as time goes on, without your ability to feed your baby from the breast being affected.

CrowmarshGibbon · 07/10/2013 21:18

babies often increasefeeding at about this point to stimulate supply for the next big growth spurt. It may be that he's not leaving you much to express. ..

3xM · 07/10/2013 21:22

Maybe you could just feed him yourself for a few days, rather than expressing. He will be much more efficient at boosting your supply than any pump. Go back to skin to skin, spend as much time feeding him as possible - your body will make enough milk for him as long as he gets the opportunity to feed when he wants. Supply and demand!

Original poster

Firsttimer1007 · 07/10/2013 21:31

Thanks for the replies, so tempting to supplement tho!he gets so frustrated when the milk is slow to let down ESP when he has been used to such a good supply.
Also I now miss that full feeling of knowing there was loads of milk there.
Do you think that starting the morning extra pumping session would increase overall milk supply?

OP posts:

Original poster

Firsttimer1007 · 07/10/2013 21:33

OP posts:

3xM · 07/10/2013 21:37

I would feed him yourself instead. If you are set on expressing, then maybe start again in a week or so when you've re-established your supply/confidence in your supply.

CrowmarshGibbon · 08/10/2013 01:37

Your boobs have stopped feeling full because they've figured out what they're doing now. You shouldn't be feeling like Dolly Parton by this stage. babies suckle for more reasons than just hunger. They get comfort, vital hormones and anti bodies and boost your supply in advance of growth spurts - but only if you let them so their thing. You sound like you and your boobs are doing really well.

Flip