Drastic reduction in milk supply - PLEASE HELP!

[LifeAfterBump]

Since Wednesday I have noticed a huge drop in my milk supply in both breasts. Have tried to continue feeding as normal but honestly feel that there is virtually nothing left to give my 6 month old ds. I had a bad vomitting/diarohea bug and couldn't keep much down for a day or two but had been recovered for over a week before problems started - is there a connection. I know they say to keep feeding and supply will pick up but have noticed no change so far. Getting worried I'm going to have to give formula because he's hungry but desparatley want to keep feeding him myself - Please help

i think the best way to boost supply if it has dropped is to feed, feed, feed, and lots of skin to skin and relaxed time with your baby.. being stressed can interfere with the let down

are you sure the supply has dropped? breasts do feel less full as baby gets older and the breasts are more efficient at making what baby needs......

www.kellymom.com and howbreastfeedingworks.com/tag/breastfeeding/ are excellent sites with good information

I think coconut milk also helps. When I was bf my dh used to make thai curry with coconut milk and i always had more mik th next day - then i read somewhere that it has the right fats to easily convert to milk. I dont know if its true or if I imagined it,but its worth a try if you can. Drinking loads of fluids should also help.

hope things get better

I did wonder if breasts just weren't feeling so full but baby doesn't seem settled and the change has been so sudden. Until this week I've been able to express loads but now nothing!

Have you considered that your baby may be having a growth spurt, hence feeding appears more frenzied, and if your ds is actually taking more milk than usual that might explain the drop in pumping output / breasts feeling less full?

I have a 24 week dd and I often doubt my supply, because boobs don't often feel full/ I am crap at pumping. I know better than this, of course, since neither is a good indicator of supply. Still, I worry.

Last night she fed on one side only through the night (I forgot to swap sides), and so my left boob got no use for 7-8 hours.

It was like a rock when I woke up.
Every now and then I remember that my body IS capable of doing this.

You will have enough milk - have faith in yourself. And keep feeding. Your supply will match your son's needs. It hasn't let you down for 6 months.

It won't let you down now.

Firstly, try nto to worry, stress isn't helpful! (I know it's easier said than done but please try, you're doing your best what more can you do?).

To increase supply do as lulumama says, spend as much time skin-to-skin with baby as possible, bath together, and let her latch on at every possible opportunity, every suckle will stimulate your breasts, therefore make milk.

It is possible it could be a growth spurt, or baby could just be getting better at taking your milk, therefore feeding for shorter times, maybe making it seem they are coming off because there is no milk?

Is your DS starting to wean yet?

Or maybe DS has a touch of the bug you had and is feelign unwell?

Expressing is a really bad way to tell anythign about your milk supply, so please ignore it, you're best to just keep fedding, as often as possible.