Extended feeding and milk supply/quality

[fitfox]

I am BFing my 15 month old baby and express milk at work 3 days a week.

I have recently noticed that, whenh I express, the volume of what I can express has decreased from 4oz per session (when he was about 6 months old) to a mere 0.5oz-2oz per session on average now.

Is this normal?

I remember reading somewhere that the quality of milk changes as babies grow and that it becomes richer, so they need to drink less?

The amount/quality of milk I am producing still seems to satisfy him and he is still feeding 3/4 hourly both during the day and night as well as eating 3/4 solid meals a day (he is a big Chubba).

However, I am a bit worried, when I see how little milk I am expressing, that my milk supply might be diminishing for some reason.

Has anyone got experience of this or of expressing over a long period?

Many thanks

Hi FitFox! I went back to work (four days a week) when DS was 13 months old but I didn't express - I just used to feed in the mornings and evenings, and sometimes several times during the night if he felt hungry or in need of comfort! Are you still feeding at night? I think that night feeding is what really keeps the supply up. I am sure someone knowledgeable will be along soon. Good for you for continuing to BF.

I'm still feeding my 20 month old and am very pregnant. Now that does reduce the quantity of your milk but it gets richer so it doesn't matter.

During the second year the quality of the milk does change AFAIK in that it has more immunogenic qualities. But yes my milk supply has changed and was changing before I got pregnant.

Good for you for still managing it with working

Bluestocking - thanks for sharing your experience with me - I did the same as yOu with my DD (fed morning ad evening and sometimes night)

WMMC - did your volume of milk go down as the quality go richer YKWIM? I am still doing lots of night feeding. I am just a bit worried that my day supply might run out and he might just feed at night (I have heard of this happening to other women)

I found the same as you, when I expressed up till around 6 months I would get around 6oz but after a year I could only express very little.
I wouldn't worry too much as even if you only feed first thing anf at bedtime (plus during the night) you will keep your supply going and this is enough milk to sustain a 15 month old.

Panacotta

Actually tbh it was prob much less than that, but I def found it decreased loads as time went on.
Also found hand expressing easier than using a pump and found I got the best results if I expressed in the shower or bath.

No advice really, I could never manage to get much by expressing, but I didn't try very hard! I am still bfeeding loads day and night but I am aware that I'm less 'full breasted' than before now at the 15 month stage. I presume they are getting what they need.
It sounds like you are doing a great job!

Hi Foxy, I haven't ever had the need/cause to express but I have noticed that my boobs don't ever get full anymore and that Ron seems to empty them in seconds now.
I do wonder if the milk is drying up. Even though he feeds frequently during the day.
I want to continue feeding him though.

I would like to know if I should just carry on as I am or of there is anyway I cn up supply or perhaps it does indeed become a lot more concentrated.
Ah too many questions!!

Where's tiktok?!!!!

Sorry for self-obsessed hijack!!!

I think it's very common to find that expressed volume decreases after a year. I certainly found this, although my son was decreasing his milk intake at that time. But in any case the amount you can express is rarely a guide to your supply.

As long as he's happy, you're happy, and you feed him on demand when you're with him, then your supply should be just fine (I've fed just morning and night for a year or so now. Definitely still milk there!)

OP, Bump for Tiktok.

Kittywise, You said " I have noticed that my boobs don't ever get full anymore"

'Feeling full' doesn't mean anything in breastfeeding terms.
My breasts only felt full for the first few months and I have never felt full since, yet I'm still nursing my toddler several times a day and I know I still have milk.

Babies also get more efficient at nursing and can far more milk even in a short nursing session, than a younger baby would.

As long as Ron is looking alert & healthy, is a reasonable weight and has plenty of wet/dirty nappies I wouldn't worry too much.

HTH

Babies is right.

Fitfox, after 15 months, your breastmilk supply is hardly fragile But it is not at all uncommon for longer-time breastfeeders to appear to produce less for the pump. This is probably because they are making less, but that's ok - toddlers on 3-4 solid meals a day don't need huge volumes. It doesn't mean they are making hardly anything - the baby by this stage is likely to be far better at removing milk than the pump.

Your milk supply will not disappear - even if you stopped feeding for some reason you would have a lot of milk for quite some time. It's not like a tap you can switch off.

Kitty - it is normal for breasts not to feel full and for older babies and toddlers to get what they need very quickly. This is good - toddlers need to be active and doing stuff, not spending hours (like a newborn) at the breast The typically short nursing times of a toddler are developmentally just right for them - a quick and cuddly 'touch base' with mummy before doing something else, with the occasional long and snuggly feed when required!

Bless you babies and tiktok

Hi

Many thnks for your comments.TikTok and Babieseverywhere - that is very reassuring, thanks.

Kitty my boobs don't get that "bursting" feeling anymore either, but they often "twitch" at the nips if I haven't expressed at work for over 4 hrs LOL!!

I live for my snuggle base touch everyday. The way his eyes close, the happy noises the touching and pulling of my t shirt as he drifts off.
anyone else wish they could bottle that moment forever?
Finn is my last and at 15mths he and I love the 2-3 feeds a day, 2 before nap and night night and the odd middle of night/ early morning feed if he doesn't sleep through
I dont care if he wakes,
foxy well done on expressing!!!!!

Piffle I love all that too - its so peaceful isn't it?)

is monti like Finn? If do it is the only bloody time he is peaceful!!! Hence why I cherish so indulgently.
he is currently scaling the tv, better go!!!!!

That's really interesting, I've been wondering why my 16 month old hardly spends any time feeding now. I think, no, have some more or you'll be back for more too soon, but he's off and playing again.

Hi foxy

I've given up expressing at work now because I was only managing 1/2 oz some days so it didn't seem worth the effort. DD is still feeding lots when I'm with her.

buggery bollox just jinxed myself. Finn so tired he refused the bedtime boob
oh am not ready for full weaning... What if he is?

Oooh just managed to express 2 big fat ounces !

Hey Foxy / Kitty only just saw this... and everything's already been said anyway. Just wanted to add though... my ds too only has short suckles during the day... but makes up for it at night. I stopped expressing when ds was 12 m/o (as had to return double pump and frankly couldn't be arsed with single pumping during my dinner break) but I didn't notice anything that might make me suspect much diminished milk supply.

Still hand express a little for comfort if I'm working a bit later than usual, but other than that, co-sleeping means ds makes up for any dip in milk at night.

Reverse - Hi! [waves] Howe many times a night does your DS feed then? Mine feeds 23 hourly

2-3 hourly that is!

Foxie, ds feeds - well I'm not entirely sure but I'd hazard a guess at two or three times a night. So that's about three or four hourly.

But I really don't mind because he's getting no human milk in the day (during the week) so it's no bother.

I also feed him in the morning, and when I get home, and before he goes to bed.

Obviously at the weekends it's less structured and more "as and when".

He makes up for the lack of milk with solids and liquids (water, diluted pressed juice... oh, and thanks to mil, tea ) but on the weekends, he doesn't eat as much or ask for juice ("juss!" - how ) as he must be taking in more calories from milk.

I don't feel full or leak really... unless I'm working a bit later and then I start to tingle, but I have a hand pump in work now to remove just enough for comfort.

HTH

Reverse I am still stubbornly expressing twice a day at work - though what I acheive is minimal. Like you, he still does 3 hourly night feeds (meaning I have to get myself to bed by 10.30pm to get enough sleep). He prefers apple juice to BF me thinks but I will contimue day feeds.

When are you planning to give up - will you let Bertie decide?