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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Reduced milk supply

8 replies

strugglemama · 04/12/2023 16:10

Looking for some advice please on upping supply. My LO is 16 months. He’s been going to nursery for a few months now and I’ve been pumping twice a day so he could take milk with him to nursery. I know it’s not necessary at this point and he eats solids really well, but he loves his milk and nursery always comment on how his face lights up and how happy he is when they bring his cup of milk out. He also gets upset if other kids get milk and he doesn’t. So I’d like to continue giving him this milk if I can, ideally I don’t want to switch to cows/alternative milk yet.

However my supply has dropped dramatically in the last couple of weeks. I now need to pump 4-5 times a day just to get 3-4oz (that’s how much he takes to nursery) and it’s not ideal around work etc. I’ve tried different pumps so it’s not that. One of the breasts only produces a few drops now.

I’ve also noticed that he’s been feeding less at the breast, but I think it’s because the milk flow slows quicker than it used to so he gets bored and unlatches. He used to feed for about 10 mins morning and evening, now it’s barely 5. All happened in the last 2 weeks or so. He started asking for milk more often too so I think he’s trying to make up for it and it’s not him trying to self-wean.

Any suggestions of what I could do to try and up the supply again? Any pumping schedules etc? Bearing in mind I can’t actually BF directly 4 days a week when he’s at nursery.

Many thanks!

OP posts:
Isthisexpected · 04/12/2023 17:16

Any chance you are pregnant? Hormonal changes can significantly reduce supply.

Excluding that, then you could try lactation cookies and go back to power pumping. Kelly mom has some good ideas.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 05/12/2023 07:28

Isthisexpected · 04/12/2023 17:16

Any chance you are pregnant? Hormonal changes can significantly reduce supply.

Excluding that, then you could try lactation cookies and go back to power pumping. Kelly mom has some good ideas.

I was going to say the same thing! Could you be PG or is your AF returning?

strugglemama · 05/12/2023 19:11

Definitely not pregnant and periods came back a few months ago. All was fine until a couple of weeks ago and I can't think of what's changed! I've been power pumping yesterday and today, no change yet.

OP posts:
Autumn1990 · 05/12/2023 19:14

When my toddler was ill and fed more my supply increased took a few weeks for it to go back down again. So I’d try feeding/pumping more. The feeding is more effective

Autumn1990 · 05/12/2023 19:16

I have had times as well when supply has dropped but I’ve been ill. Pregnancy didn’t have an effect on supply

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 05/12/2023 19:23

One tip I read recently was putting a baby sock over the bottle as you pump. Apparently if you can see how much you're pumping and you are worrying that it's not enough, you can produce stress hormones which can inhibit your supply further.

strugglemama · 06/12/2023 12:38

Thanks everyone. I've been ill non stop since September when he started nursery (well, we both were ill) so could be that.

Unfortunately feeding more isn't possible as the majority of the week as he's at nursery and I'm at work.

I think I'm seeing a small improvement now so will keep up with power pumping for the next few days and try to offer feeds more often over the weekend.

OP posts:
Isthisexpected · 06/12/2023 17:09

Power pumping can take a few days to kick in. Make sure you're doing oxytocin inducing things when pumping too.

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