When I went back to work my milk supply tanked. It was devastating. I was working long shifts trying to pump on all of my breaks, power pumping, taking supplements and doing everything I could to try and keep my milk volume up. I was fortunate to start out my breastfeeding journey with an abundant milk supply but dealing with a decreasing milk supply later in my breastfeeding journey was emotional and exhausting.
Hormones and Milk Supply
Around 12-16 weeks postpartum as your hormones begin to regulate you may notice your milk supply decreases a bit. Your milk supply becomes reliant on a supply and demand relationship. Babies who are having a hard time nursing well may get frustrated and have a harder time feeding.
Another time period where you may notice your milk supply decreasing is when you begin menstruating again. The shifting hormones during your menstrual cycle can impact your milk supply. Stay tuned for my blog all about breastfeeding and periods.
A few other reasons your supply may be decreasing:
- Your baby has been sick and has been nursing less frequently or less effectively.
- You recently returned to work or have been spending more time away from your baby.
- Your pump parts may need to be replaced.
- Your baby has a tongue and/or lip tie.
- Your baby recently started sleeping through the night
Fill your own cup First
Make sure you are meeting all of your basic needs first Mama. You can’t pour from an empty cup! Sleep, hydration and nutrition are all essential to support your body to lactate.
- Find ways to get enough rest. I don’t just mean ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’. Reach out to your ‘village’ to help out. Consider some hourly or overnight postpartum support.
- Stay hydrated. For many breastfeeding Mamas it’s recommended to try to drink 3L of water a day. Try drinking a cup of water every time you sit down to nurse your baby or pump.
- Ensure you are meeting your nutritional needs. Growing a human and giving birth is no small thing! Your body needs nutrient dense food with lots of protein and healthy fats to heal from birth and support your body to lactate.
But What do you do if your milk supply is decreasing?
- The first thing that you should do is reach our for support. As an IBCLC I can assess how your baby is nursing or assess how effectively you are pumping. I will determine the route cause of your milk supply decreasing and find a solution that works for you and your baby.
- Work with your healthcare provider to rule out any underlying medical issues that may be interfering with lactation.
- Power pumping can be a great strategy in many cases to help increase your breastmilk supply. It mimics the cluster feeding babies do during a growth spurt. Learn more about power pumping here.
- Try doing some hand expression after your pumping sessions. The additional stimulation from hand expression will signal to your body to produce more milk. Some women find their bodies also respond better and they are able to express more milk with hand expression.
- Breast compressions while nursing can help increase the amount of milk that your baby takes in. When your baby starts to slow their suck, try doing a couple of breast compressions. Gently squeeze the breast for 5 seconds and work your way all the way around the breast.
- Switch nursing can be another strategy to help build supply. Feed on the first side until your baby slows down, try some breast compressions and then switch sides. After your baby slows down on the second side, again try some breast compressions and then latch your baby back onto the first side again. This may assist your baby to trigger another letdown on the first side. You can continue to switch sides as long as your baby remains interested in latching.
Reach out for Support Early in your journey
While there are many different strategies to address a decreasing milk supply, finding and addressing the root cause will save you a lot of time and frustration. Contact me, your local Mama Coach and IBCLC to book your in home or virtual Feeding Support and I will create a plan to support you to meet your breastfeeding goals.
