My milk supply has plummeted but I want to continue breastfeeding

[Latenightowl0]

Any tips or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!!!

My baby is 7.5 months and was exclusively breastfed until starting solids. He was always tiny, but when my period came back at 5 months my milk supply took a dive and he was always left hungry and cranky. He stopped gaining weight and I was advised to start solids and he took to it really well. He’s on three meals per day at the minute and can’t get enough, always surprises me with how much he can put away!

Anyway - my period has been totally irregular since it returned (I’ve had about 5/6 of them in 2 months despite being on a pill!) and the stress of worrying he wasn’t getting enough etc has not helped my supply. I can tell there’s barely anything in my breasts. He never ever does the big sucks and swallows anymore and I can’t feel a physical let down the way I used to. I feel he’s just getting a few drips at each feed, and desperately trying to get the milk he used to. I’ve started introducing formula to be sure he is getting enough, but I know that won’t help my supply either. I’m getting just a dribble when pumping but never did respond too well to a pump anyway.

I absolutely adored breastfeeding and had intended to at least keep a morning and night feed going until 1 year. I’m devastated because at the minute it looks like I’m going to have to make the sudden switch to formula/bottle feeding. Did anyone manage to up their supply after starting weaning? I’ve read about domperidone but don’t know much about how well it works… have tried fenugreek and fennel supplements with no avail. Still just trying to BF every 2.5/3 hours.

When did you start your contraceptive pill? The combined one can affect supply

The breastfeeding network can help you and are open 24/7
https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drop-in-centres-map/

Started at 7 weeks postpartum and the GP said she’d selected one that shouldn’t affect supply. Things seemed okay until the periods started!

I could be wrong - but aren’t you supposed to only breastfeed on the mini-pill not combined?

That aside - have you tried adding oats to your diet?

Yes I believe it’s a progestogen only pill I’m on… I have porridge oats a few mornings a week. Do you think oats really help?

I found it did - in addition to putting baby on breast just to suckle.

I pumped late at night after an evening feed.
It kept my supply up for twins

Id suggest against a hand pump. Some surgeries have the electric ones to loan out.

Hi @Latenightowl0this sounds really stressful and difficult. The first thing I’d say is he’s probably getting more milk than you realise, pumping doesn’t reflect what a baby can get. Next, have you been to a breastfeeding group to get his latch checked, sometimes a tiny adjustment, even at this age, can make a big difference to feeding efficiency and milk transfer.

You’re right that formula top ups are counter productive, if he’s not nursing direct from you, your body isn’t getting the signals to make more milk, so your supply will drop more if he’s having a lot of formula. You say your period returned at 5 months, was he sleeping a long stretch at night by then, or were you still waking for night feeds? Would your GP be supportive and help you get your hormone levels checked?

In the mean time, offer the breast as much as possible, every time he fusses, or gets restless, watch for early feeding cues, don’t wait til he’s cranky, and try to get a good session of skin to skin most days, get in the bath with him, or snuggle under a blanket together, with him in just a nappy and you topless. Go back to basics, latch carefully, feed as often as you can, before mealtimes of solids (are you spoon feeding puree or letting him feed himself?) It is possible to bring your supply back, you may find it varies at certain times in your cycle, and double check that your pill is progesterone only, and definitely not a combined pill.

I second the breastfeeding network.
They have a 24hour helpline and there are breastfeeding support groups

I agree with all the lovely advice given by @MarvellousMonsters.

Back to basics. It is really easy at 4/5/6 months to be busy, which doesn’t help breastfeeding! Slow right down, notice feeding cues like you did when baby was new, spend time together in bed with skin to skin. Take a babymoon of three days mostly in bed snuggling and feeding. Give your hormones a chance :)

Your supply is likely to fluctuate with your cycle. Your baby will almost certainly get enough milk from you if you give enough opportunity at the breast. Especially if he is eating solid food too. Personally, I would cut out formula and just return to offering boob all the time, but I am not a medic and I haven’t met your baby.

How full your breasts feel is not an indicator of supply. Think of your supply like a river or a stream, and your breasts like a reservoir; baby will get enough milk even if the stream is small and he has to work to keep it coming! Others have rivers of milk and a reservoir to drink from, but ultimately both the stream and the river will feed the baby. Those who can pump large quantities are generally those with reservoirs to empty, rather than those who get milk directly from the stream.

Do oats work? I don’t know! But they might well work if you take the porridge/flapjack to bed and eat it there with lots of skin on skin contact, gazing at your baby, breathing him in while he is as small as he ever will be again.

Thank you so much! Yes at 5 months he was sleeping 7/8 hour stretches at night, so maybe that impacted things… sounds like some skin to skin time is needed and an appointment with my GP! Fingers crossed we can get this back on track 😊

Thank you! We’ll try a bit more skin to skin and give things a chance 😊 lying in bed with my baby, snuggling and eating flapjacks all day sounds great haha!