Woken up with empty breasts?

[KatoGreen]

This morning I woke up & my breasts felt soft - but usually they are hard and sore, leaking milk & splashing baby (9 weeks old). Baby emptied breast much quicker & no splashing then wanted other breast, whereas usually is milk drink on one breast.

I'm worried my supply has suddenly reduced overnight - does anyone know why?

I don't just want to add pumping/ fenugreek etc without knowing what the cause is

TIA

Have you drunk much water? It's easy to forget in the colder weather!

Breasts don’t store milk, they produce it continually so even if they feel soft and empty they aren’t. In all likelihood your supply is starting to settle as your body knows roughly how much milk to make now, rather than overproducing in a panic.

Offer both breasts, keep an eye on baby’s wet and dirty nappies and continue as you are. Well done!

It’s not that it’s reduced so much as your body will, at this point, be regulating itself to what you need. Your baby could feed constantly and they will never empty your breast - it’s like a Power shower, more will just keep on coming. Your body is just working out how much you need. It will change again as your baby gets older.

Your body has regulated for you........fantastic feeling

Thanks v much for replies.

Solittletime yes I'm drinking about 3L a day so I don't think it's that but thanks for suggestion

Teddy and pottering Can this regulation happen literally overnight then? ?

About two weeks ago there was another distinct "drop" in volume ( I understand the point that the breasts are always making milk but you know what I mean about an obvious sensation of fullness before each feed) -- but straight after that a crazy growth spurt with endless frantic feeding & after 3 days masses more milk, but now it's suddenly dropped again overnight

I'm so anxious in case there is a problem & my baby gets hungry & I can't give what she needs

Also have a heavy cold so could that contribute?

Thanks again

It’s probably regulation...being run down with a cold probably won’t affect supply (I exclusively bf through noro ) - but just to flag in case you didn’t know that pharmaceutical decongestants will plummet your supply so you need to dodge those.

Pamplemousse !ve been taking decongestant for 3 days - had no idea- am gutted

What can I do to rebuild it quickly? Really do have little milk & baby hungry - feel wretched

Oh, yes. Don’t take lempsip! Just stop taking it and feed and your body will work back what it needs.

Just drink loads and be prepared to feed little and often for a few days. Your body is amazing and will be able to rebuild your supply. Foods like oats can help so porridge, flapjacks etc. And lay off the sudafed!!! The Vicks nasal sticks are good for a cold if you are breastfeeding.

Lots of liquid, oats, fenugreek capsules, nursing tea will all help. Plus skin to skin and cuddles as much as you can.

Regardless of the lemsip your supply will regulate about this age. But stop taking decongestants now and you’ll be ok.

Good to see that’s resolved!

Love Mumsnet!

Yes, the regulation happens overnight. I remember vividly the panic when I thought my milk had all "disappeared" on a bank holiday in the days when all of the supermarkets were shut. My family drove miles in search of formula for us. Four hours later or so they returned to find ds and I snuggled up happily and feeding away. We kept going for the next three years!

Hey Kato - no panic, just stop taking it, eat oats- eat everything! - drink loads, skin to skin and feed lots. You’ll be back on track within a day or two. Just keep an eye on nappies and ask HV for a steer if they get dry. It’ll all be ok.

Oats are supposedly good for supply and a nice hot bowl of porridge may also be nice and soothing for your cold.

Thanks everyone for replying & for suggestions

Today- I offered the breast frequently but she kept starting for maybe 2 mins then falling asleep at breast & not feeding properly at all, waking and crying, 2 mins at breast & then asleep again as if breast was too much effort. Bf app on my phone shows she fed for 50% less time today than usual :-(

I was so worried I gave baby 2 bottles of formula today - I know I know this will not help my supply rebuild - but I couldn't stand her being hungry

I'm also really struggling feeling so rough with this cold whilst trying to look after the older kids. Feel like I haven't got the stamina to push through next few days, so tempted to go to bed & ask hubby to give formula so I can rest. But don't want to jeopardise bf . Hi

How’s it going Kato? Hope you’re feeling better. Don’t worry about the formula - if your instinct was that she needed it, it was the right thing to do.

Thanks pamplemousse- have been nursing lots and eating oats & fenugreek but baby seems insatiable- banging breast in frustration etc, nursing for much longer stretches than usual & working vigorously at the breast.

Would think it was a growth spurt except we already had a major one 10 days ago at 7 weeks old.

Breasts still feel generally soft so now wondering if it's also my supply regulating as others suggested.

So hard to know isn’t it? I think growth spurts can come very randomly though so wouldn’t rule it out.

And yes I would definitely think your supply should be regulating by now too.