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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

Is my milk supply getting less??

10 replies

Padds · 02/02/2008 00:04

Probably a very very stupid question, but have ds of 6mnths and I am trying to keep bfeeding as much while weaning as beforehand, and it seems like he is up for it but seems there is just not as much milk there. Is that normal? I thought that bmilk was intended to be his main nutrient through weaning. He does love his food when he has it, but I can't understand why it would make such a difference. Also my let down seems to have gone mad, so that he is there for a good few minutes (crying) before he's getting any milk. Never used to happen. Please tell me this is normal. Or should I stop feeding him as much food and feed him more milk?? He won't take water btw, so bfd is the only fluid he gets.

OP posts:
Original poster
Padds · 02/02/2008 00:34

No-one? He is also v easily distracted when bfeeding now, which am hopeful is just a stage thing rather than anything to worry about?

OP posts:
1dilemma · 02/02/2008 00:54

DOn't want to not reply but might be a bit late for some knmowledgeable responses!! the only thing I can say is the engorged feeling does vary I'm still feeding my 12 month old and there are times when it feels like there is nothing there yet the other day I missed a feed and became quite engorged. I do think as he eats more he will feed a little less but still get most nutrients from BF. BF is well established now. The distracted thing is normal IMHO and will vary

Original poster
Padds · 02/02/2008 09:07

Thanks - the engorged feeling is not even there in the mornings any more, but I wasn't worried about that so much - I was expected that a bit, having read tiktok and others on other threads. Its just the let down taking longer, and particularly the fact that there seems to be less milk actually there...

OP posts:
Tommy · 02/02/2008 09:15

I think that as your baby gets older, the milk is prepared in advance as it were but only gets made as the baby feeds - hence the not feeling engorged.

The distracted thing is normal - I find you get better feeds when no-one else is around and the telly is off!

Re the weaning thing, with DS2 I weaned him at about 4.5 months (4 years ago!) and I noticed a big decrease in his breastfeeds but this time with DS3 I did BLW and the breastfeeds have more or less stayed at the same level - he's one in a couple of weeks and I'm still feeding 5 times a day (at least)

Original poster
Padds · 02/02/2008 12:39

Am also feeding as much, in terms of number of times, it just seems like there is less and less milk there. And I am worried about the let down taking ages. Is there anything I can do to restore the supply? Feed less food? Can't see me taking to bed for a whole day with him at this stage. And I can't work out if expressing (which i never really got into) would make any difference, since if the baby's not getting the milk, how would the pump? Any help or guidance at all much appreciated..

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tiktok · 02/02/2008 14:26

Padds, I don't understand why you think there is lots less milk - the softness or otherwise of the breasts is no guide.

Is your baby really crying for minutes on end at the start of every feed? If so, then, no, this is not normal and something else is going on.

The least likely reason is that you are suddenly making a lot less milk - if you are bf as often as you did, then supply would not plummet in the way you think it has.

Sorry not to help much - post more detail if you want to. Or you can call one of the bf lines, and they may be able to help.

Original poster
Padds · 02/02/2008 14:48

He's refusing to feed at all now, just turning his head away, arching his back and screaming. Although he did feed fine first thing (6am). I had been noticing let down seeming to take longer, causing him to cry at the start of feeds, so have been switching and switching sides in order to speed up the let down. And the feed as a whole has been very short (in terms of duration) for the past week or so, which is why I thought there may be a decrease in supply. I wonder now if the delayed let down has caused him to think feeding is stressy/hard work? Not sure what to do - he is eating OK, but doesn't take water.

OP posts:
tiktok · 02/02/2008 14:54

This sounds like nursing strike.....lots in archives here on mumsnet, but do call one of the breastfeeding lines, Padds.

This happens - for unknown reasons, but often when there is a change in a baby's life. Seems they express their confusion sometimes in this way.

It is temporary and reversible.

I really, really, don't think it's supply.

Original poster
Padds · 04/02/2008 22:48

Twas a nursing strike oh wise Tiktok, which I had never even heard of before you mentioned it. Am now fully up to speed thanks to frantic googling. Over now, thank the lord - how many people must just think, my baby's done with bf, time to stop (maybe with babies a bit older, but still). Doesn't bear thinking about. Thank heavens for somewhere like this, and people like this!

OP posts:
tiktok · 04/02/2008 23:38

Glad you got it sorted, Padds!

You are right. This quite common phenomenon is often misinterpreted as a sign bf is over

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