Breastfeeding supply going after night weaning. Is this the end for breastfeeding?

[Givemepickles]

My DS is 6.5 months. I stopped feeding at night about a month ago. Then a week before Christmas my breast pump broke and I stopped my evening pump. I'd noticed a decrease in the amount I was getting by then.

We do bedtime bottles for DS as he has a big brother so this allows either of us to do bedtime.

Since then DS2 has started rejecting the boob and is clearly hungry. I think my supply has tanked. I'm really sad as this happened with DS1 too. Is there any way to continue breastfeeding now? Is there a chance he'll still have a morning feed or pre nap feeding even if bottles become main source of milk? I feel really sad about it ending but also can't pump much as have DS1 to look after too, plus DS2 is a velcro baby.

Bump...

I don’t have any advice but it could be that your supply has dropped. if you want to carry on I would suggest replacing your pump asap and continuing to use it to build the supply. My dc is 12 months and when my supply dropped a few months ago I was able to improve it abit.

im trying to stop nursing but also finding it hard to give up for some reason! Xxx

I am not sure of when it changes but the reason night feeds are so important is that this is when your body is putting in the order for the next day - particularly the 4am feed! Look up Emma Pickett for info. Is your kiddo having bottles at night? You can get your supply up but you will have to feed more!

My milk slowly disappeared after stopping night feeds

You'll have to feed more if you want to continue

You need to decide what your priorities are tbh. I think you could maybe get away with an evening bottle but the night feed is essential to supply. Is he waking at all for milk in the night? If you’re giving him a bottle boob him. Also check marketplace for a cheap second hand closed pump and pump for a bit after each feed to get your supply up pronto or he’ll get fed up.
If you don’t want to do these things then in my experience supply starts dropping after night feeds go.

I think after weaning my supply slowed down and my boobs felt a bit more pre pregnancy. As you LO eats more food, they will naturally need less but boob size doesn't necessarily mean less milk if i remember correctly. If you're worried then pump and dump to increase your supply.

Thanks for the replies. To answer the questions, no he doesn't feed at night anymore. He has his bedtime bottles around 6pm then next feeds around 6am. So I feed him by boob 6am - 6pm. He's also increased to 2 meals a day now (still tiny portions of puree, veg etc) as he's clearly really keen to eat.

@Gymsharkandcoffee once you built up your supply did you have to maintain that level of pumping? I'm considering pumping 3x a day for a week and seeing if that helps but hoping I can then go back to one pump a day before bed. Is that unrealistic does anyone know?

@Newstart2024 yes you're right about priorities. I'm really torn. It's quite selfish to keep breastfeeding tbh because he's happy with bottles and formula but I'm not ready to stop. But it takes time away from my toddler because I breastfeed. So I feel torn both ways.

I have to almost trick him to nursing at the moment by switching between boob and bottles during the feed. If I do build up my supply will he still reject it??

Can you start the evening feed again? I fed for years with no feeding during the night but always did the evening one?

@Rowen32 at the moment there's no way I have enough milk for that feed. He has around 500ml before bed. He's an enormous boy. I'm happy to give him what I have though but he's rejecting me so it's not even an option. I feel I have to get my supply up, then get him on so he realises the milk is back?

I think you need to do a few pumps a day for a couple of weeks to increase it definitely just before bed and first thing

But equally he is over 6m he'll be weaning now - do you have time to deal with pumping and washing the pump parts?

It's not selfish to keep breastfeeding. Breastmilk has benefits to gut microbiome and healthy jaw development that you can't get from formula. If you are happy, carry on, even if it's not much.

I don't have any advice about supply as my baby fed every 2 hours through the night for a looong time - it really affected my mental health, so I never judge mothers who are able to night wean earlier.

At this age breastmilk is produced as it is being removed. So you'll make milk while he is breastfeeding. Your supply has decreased because you have dropped feeds but there will be milk being made while he is at the breast.

If you want to keep breastfeeding keep offering. Babies go through periods when they want lots and then periods when they don't.

I dropped night feed at 7 and 8 months with mine. Continued to feed them for another year.

It's was about then that boobs stopped feeling super full and pumping didn't get the same results but I never bothered to do it regularly- only when needed.

Make sure you're breastfeeding before offering food when weaning, that's what the lactation ladies always say. I'd drop the bottles completely just breastfeed for your supply, it'll only take a day or 2 to boost it, just needs baby on the breast. They get super fast about this age so quicker for you than washing and prepping bottles anyway.

Thanks for the replies. I'm happy to say that DS is back on the boob and I'm so happy! He seems to like feeding lying down so we now do this at home and have managed to increase feeds to 3 a day. Then I'm doing bottles when out the house which suits me fine. I did do pumping more and I think that plus the side feeding has made the difference.