My Milk Supply Is Going Bye-byes...

There's nothing wrong with you and you're not selfish. It happens. I have a 10 month old too - born 8/23/06. I went back to work in March when he was 6 months and I lost my milk within a few weeks. I tried to pump at work but I'm not in the office too much (usually I'm in the field as I am a contractor and I drive to worksites). I was upset too and I thought I was the worst mom ever. My mom, however, convinced me that at least I breastfed for 6 months and stayed home as long as I could. Sure it would have been nice to say home until..... you can fill that in with anything you want, but in the end your income providing for shelter, medical visits etc. is just as important. From one working mom to another... if the milk has diminished, put your time spent pumping and worrying into something else for the baby. For me it's playtime when my son gets up... I go into work after we've had that extra special time in the morning to play and read books or just cuddle in bed. My son's been getting up earlier -- I think b/c of the Summer weather so at 5 or 5:30am I am ready to play.... that means I go to bed earlier. He goes down by 8 and I follow shortly after - usually by 9. Good Luck and I'm sure you've heard.. worrying over not having enough milk only makes it harder to let down... try to relax and remember she'll be taking in more solids soon and the breastmilk will only be a suplement.

I was in the same boat a few weeks ago but now successfully breastfeeding my infant with the help of an organic tea healthy nursing tea.

Hi V.,

I ran into the same problem, I work 3 ten hour days and my pump acutally died (it was a Madela Pump in Style) and I couldn't afford to go out & spend $300 on another double pump so I bought a single pump and it worked OK but I was not getting a whole lot of milk so I decided to stop pumping and just nurse mornings and evenings and then eventually I just stopped since my supply was really dwindling. Like you I felt guilty but Samantha adjusted fine to formula and it did make my life a little easier once I got used to having to take formula & bottles around.

Give yourself a break you've hung in there for a long time a lot of people don't pump / nurse for that long.

Good Luck.

S.

It is great that you where able to go for so long. But it might be time for you to switch. You are not being selfish. You gave your daughter the best. With your milk. It is ok to not beable to make any more milk. I was there and the transfer can be hard. But it is ok. Just take some deep breaths and just remeber that you have been doing a great job so far and that your daughter will make it on formula.

Sorry I dont have any advice, but I know how it feels to have guilt over breastfeeding. I didnt breastfeed my son at all (it just wasnt for me), but being an educated person and knowing the breastmilk is best, I did feel guilty about it.

So please dont feel bad. I think its very admirable that you've stuck with it for this long... many moms dont/cant. Also, dont you think its better for your daughter to have a calm and happy mom rather than a stressed and anxious one?

It is hard to maintain supply when you are working! Kuddos for doing it so long. I pumped for all 4 of my kids, so I know what work it can be.

Sometimes oatmeal helps with supply, as can Mother's Milk Tea. Morning is the best time to pump as far as milk supply, so if there is any way you can add in an extra session in the morning before you leave for work, consider that. Also pump on weekends.

Beyond that though...if there is any chance that you are pregnant, make sure you take a pregnancy test. That is what made my supply suddenly drop every time (well, except for the 4th time, when I managed to go a bit more than 2 years before getting pregnant again--miscarried though).

Good luck!

I just want to say that you should be very proud of yourself for sticking with nursing for 10 months. That is wonderful and you should feel really good about that, especially if you've been working too. I don't think its selfish of you to stop nursing at all. I don't think that you should sacrifice your sanity to keep it up. I agree that there are medicines that may help, but honestly, I think you should look at the positive side -- your daughter got the benefit of breastmilk for 10 months! That really is something to be really proud of. I know many people that could not nurse very long at all and they totured themselves over the decision to switch to a bottle. I made it 6 months and then weaned, but it was a hard decision for me. I agree that nursing is best, but going to formula shouldn't feel like we are abandoning our children. Please don't beat yourself up. All the best!

I have two boys and I breastfed both of them and this happened both times unfortunatly this is something that happens to most people when your milk has slowed down I tried everything to the only other thing I know of is mothers milk tea alot of people say that this works very well.

I too struggled with my milk supply after returing to work. I asked my pediatrician who actually recommended drinking a beer a day. I also heard from an amish woman to take Blessed Thissel. I went to the herbal store and also got Mother's Milk Herbal Tea. I would take the Blessed thissel, drink tea in the afternoon and a light beer (1/2 can) before bed. it worked miraculously. I am not sure which is was or if it was the combination...but it extended my nursing 7 months. At 10 months old my daughter completely lost interest in nursing. I was devastated. My pediatrian said that I could start to wean to whole milk. I started cutting back pumping and mixing half and half with my breast milk. My 11 months old she was completely on whole milk. She never had any formula. I am due with baby #2 in October and hope that it goes as easily for me. Good luck and I hope that these help you out!

Please contact your doctor right away. There is something they can have you take to help your milk supply. I'm sorry I don't know what the name of the medicine is but my cousin just went through the same thing and it worked for her.

The most important thing is relax. That's the big part in making your milk supply come back.

Y.