Boobs on Strike??

Does he nurse at night? I have had a sensitive milk supply from the start. My milk supply would drop every time he would sleep for longer than 6 hours without nursing. At first I got up at night to pump, but then I began co-sleeping with him and just encouraged him to nurse at night. I began taking Domperidone when he turned 6 months, and now it only takes a couple days for my supply to boost back up, whereas before it would take a week. He is now 12 months and still happily nursing. You can purchase Domperidone at inhousepharmacy.com - but I would do some research first so you can educate yourself on how it works.

Your body knows that the pump is not your baby and sometimes it just decides that it's not going to cooperate. So you may be at the point when your son's consumption has dropped enough that you're not producing as much milk plus your body has adapted to the pump and has decided to not bother providing milk for it! Also, milk production is very in tune with what you are feeling and thinking. I know it's difficult, but try not to stress about the drop in milk and just relax and think about your handsome little man.

However, it could also be that your pump or some of the parts has worn out. Does it feel like it's pumping with the same strength? Have you ever been able to manually express milk, and if so, can you still do so?

If you don't need the milk to feed him then you may just have to drop the pumping session. Your body will likely continue to make an appropriate amount of milk at the times he nurses, so there's absolutely no need to worry about weaning at this point if you stop pumping! And if you do stop and feel that your milk supply is dropping then adding back in a pumping session should help bump things back up.

If you do need the milk for him, then you could consider pumping for about 10-15 minutes right after he nurses - you won't get too much milk at that time but it sends a powerful signal to your body that you need more milk.

Good luck, and congrats for continuing to breastfeed past one year and while you are working. You're awesome! :)

I had to change up when around 10 mos b/c my boobs were "acclimated" at that time -- I used a quiet, dark room, and needed to start turning the lights off and then leaning over on top to get gravity and relaxation to work.

However, I did gradually stop pumping around 15 mos and self-weaned around 18 mos. Be wary when stopping because duct-trouble is easy.

Good luck and way to go Mom!

My SIL is a lactation consultant, and works in Mother Baby Health at the CDC. She is my nursing goto person!

I would think that you could almost stop pumping at work at this point. If you've been nursing on demand and have plenty of supply for him when he needs it, your body has probably adjusted to make less milk when you don't. Do you need the milk supply for him during the day or have you started whole milk? If you need the bottles, that's one thing, but if you are working on whole milk and table foods, then nursing at night and weekends when you are with him should keep your supply just fine.

I'd try not pumping, continuing nursing on demand and over night and see how it goes. Your body is so used to nursing at this point, you should not see a drop in supply during the time of day he needs it if you nurse on demand at that time.

Try pumping only if you get uncomfortable and see how it goes.

J.

I agree, at that age, I had started my son on whole milk, so after going through my supply of breastmilk, he got whole milk at daycare. It was SOOOO nice to not have to pump, but I still could feed mornings, nights and days on the weekends. If that is an option do it.

If not, drink more fluids, try fenugreek, relax during pumping. If I try to work while pumping I get less than when reading a book. The supply definitely differs at different times though.

I breastfed until my son was 18 months, near the end of that time, my supply would fluctuate, especially with the pumping. I wasn't ready to wean at 13 months so did I what I had done when he was 3 months old and I was experiencing issues. I was conscious about my water intake (8 - 10 glasses, too much water can have an adverse affect according to my lactation counselor) and would take fenugreek. Good luck!

(The day I fully stopped pumping at the office was very bittersweet but the joy of not having to go through that ritual was SO nice...felt like a little luxury.)

Good luck!

Hello L., I am the mother of 5 and when my body started getting ready for me to stop nursing it always did that. So it may just be that as your child is getting old enough to be eatting what ever you do and being more independent that you body is doing what comes naturally.
You may have to just nurse him only morning and at night and accept that he will be fine witha cup or using a straw to drink. I know my grandchild the same age is doing well with that arrangement while mom is a full time student.
Good Luck