Breast Milk Decreasing--need Suggestions!!

I got mastitis when my daughter was 3 weeks old, and my milk production dropped significantly. There are some things you can eat and herbal supplements you can take. For me, I had some persian food which included the herb fenugreek. My milk came back in overnight to the point of engorgement. I have heard that Indian cooking uses this herb often too. A quick search on the internet can get you all sorts of tips. Good luck!

nursing is so hard, I had to stop when my son was about 15 months old for this reason plus I think stress in my life at that time didn't help matters. Just make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids and try figuring out how to get really relaxed before pumping...wether that be a warm bath or shower (good luck finding time with a 10 month old hehe) I used a heated neck wrap which seemed to help and allowed me to relax more and have a better pumping session...there is some tea out there that encourages milk production, I don't recall the name now but I tried it once and it really helped! Good luck, I was sad when I stopped nursing cause at 15 months seemed like we had just gotten the hang of it :)

It sounds like he is weaning himself. One of my daughters did the same thing at 15 months, she just quit one evening. I was so sad the nursing experience was over, in one day! On the contrary, my other daughter kept it up until she was 3. They are all so different.
Your milk supply is down because the demand is down. The stimulation created by the pump is no match for a baby's grip and suction.
If he is eating food, his need isn't as great. The old supply/demand rule. If he is still nursing only, he will come to you when he's hungry. Toddler's eating habits change like the wind. Their nursing habits change the minute you give them ANYTHING but breastmilk...including water, juice, even a pacifier. Since he is walking, or eating food and becoming more independent...he may be just too busy. If you are stressing about it, that can effect your supply also. La Leche League's book "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" is a great guide for all the stages of breastfeeding. You could even call a LLL group leader for some advice. It will be fine!

My nurse told me to drink 1 beer a day to help with milk production. The yeast from the beer has some type of affect on increasing milk production.

My son just turned one and the exact same thing happened at 10 months as well. I was devistated b/c I am anti formula. Many babies begin to self wean at this age and there is not a lot that you can do about it. If you are drinking at least 64 oz of water a day and pumping as often as you can... you're doing the best you can. Wht we did was I pumped every two hours and then nursed him whenever he would he completely refused the breast at 11 months. I gave him whatever breast milk I could and then supplimented with organic formula. It is amazing because for months i had enough milk for 3 babies and even onated some!!! Just do the best you can and know that you have done a wonderful thing for your baby!!!

He could be ready to quit. My first child was 9 months, and my second gave it up at 11 months.

If you are worried about calories, give formula in a cup.

My girlfriend's supply completely dried up and she had successfully nursed her first two children. She stressed herself out and was keeping too crazy of a schedule with the third. I'm sorry I can't remember the name of it, but there is a natural supplement you can take...all I know is it makes your sweat smell like maple syrup...but it brigns back your supply. She also had to slow it down a bit - she was painting and landscaping - overachiever. :-)

I too needed help - I saw my OB and she wrote me a prescription...I think it is actually a heartburn medication but it doubles your milk supply, which it did for me. It still wasn't enough unfortunately but it did work.

I've also heard drinking a beer with lots of yeast in it helps. check that one out, but I believe it's true. I couldn't do that myslef because I'm allergic to hopps.
Best of luck!!

I so agree with the lady Char!I breastfed all of my children until they were 3...and each was different to an extent. Continuing nursing until the child weans itself is the best. Once your child eats solids your nursing time does decrease, as does your milk. But the good news is you can keep nursing, it just becomes a comfort measure instead of a nutritional need. You get less and less let downs and baby, or toddler just nurses for his comfort and your relaxation ( it really is soothing for mom too). Even if it goes down to only a few times a day, that is normal. Even only nursing maybe once a day and when he falls asleep is normal. It is all about you and your child...just like your birth was!!!!

It is not at all uncommon for you to have a decrease in supply when your child begins to eat solids, walking, cutting teeth, etc etc.. It is kinda the law of supply and demand. The more he nurses, the more milk, the less her nurses the less milk. The more independent they become the less interest they have in nursing. I would just continue to offer it to him when he wants it, but not force it on him. I would not even bother trying to pump unless you are becoming engorged and it is more uncomfortable to you. Does he drink from a sippy cup? I would offer him water, or diluted juice in a cup, and his regular meals [ whatever you feed him] Your body will adjust to his lessened nursing, and it will be here when he is ready. I would also suggest you contact La Leche League for more breastfeeding help/questions. www.lalecheleague.org
They have groups/leaders all over the state/US. I am almost postive there is someone local for you.

S.,
What do you mean by exclusively breastfeeding, bc if you are giving your son ANYTHING other than breast milk then he's not exclusive. Not that that's a bad thing, but since breastfeeding is supply and demand based, anything you give him other than breast milk is going to essentially decrease your production, since he'll be filling up on other things. If you are in fact exclusively breast feeding, then DONT WORRY! As long as you're getting the calories and liquid YOU need to produce the milk, he'll eat if he's hungry enough! Whenever I would start to worry about things like this with my first child, people would patiently remind me that everybody has times when they're not as hungry, or just dont feel like eating as much. Babies are no different. I agree that you should check out LLL's website. They have tons of helpful info on this, and it will ease your mind!

Fenugreek helps real good. Can also take the pill found at your local health food store.. Its around $8 for a month. Also they should have a type of tea called Mothers Milk by Traditional Medicinals.. Try the pills first then use the tea to keep it going.. I nursed both my boys for a year each.. Hope it helps and let us know how your doing :)

the amount of milk you pump is not an indicator of how much milk you have. The baby can get much more milk than the pump.

Can you take your baby in a dark quiet room to nurse?? that is what i did with my daughter. It seemed to help keep her focused on eating.. Sometimes I would have to lay her in her bed and let her get nice and drowsy and then pick her up and nurse her. I also went in her room in the morning and fed her before she was totally awake.

You could do the same thing at his daytime nap let him get sleepy in his bed then pick him up and feed him.

It gets very hard to nurse an older child. I dont know how some moms keep it going for 2 years.. My daughter was ready to be done at 9 months.. I kept her nursing till she was over 10 months. My son is 8 months.. He would prefer bottles. (he gets bottles one day a week from my sitter) He is probably about ready to quit nursing.. But I will keep him going a bit longr.

S.,

It sounds to me that your son is ready to go to the cup. If you havent used a bottle then go to cup and skip the bottel its hard habit to break. As for your milk your body knows when its time to stop making the milk. Your body will and is adjusting to your childs needs. And from what I read your child is ready for the next step in life. I know its heart breaking, but it has to happen sometime. I'm honestly not trying to hurt your feelings I know what you are going through my milk dried after only 3 months. I know you would like to keep up with the breast milk because its the best for you child, but maybe its time for him to move up to the cup. When they become active as toddlers do giving them a cup can help them with their independance. I wish I could help you to increase your milk but I dont know if it can be done. I wish you all the luck in the world and I hope you and your family have all that you dreamed and dream of.

Sincerly,

P.

To boost my breast milk, I have successfully used healthy nursing tea by secrets of tea.

Are you using an electric pump, if not rent one and see if that makes a difference. Drink at least 4 bottles of water a day. Decrease your stress level. Stress is the number one reason for decrease in milk supply after lack of stimulation. Good luck!

R.