Breast Milk Decreasing - 6 month old?

Question

I am a full-time working Mom, but still breastfeeding. I nurse in the morning before I leave for work and then pump 3-4 times at work and continue to nurse after I pick him up from daycare. We went camping last weekend and I didn't nurse for 24 hours and now I can barely get 6oz of milk through pumping throughout the day and I can tell he's not satisfied when I nurse when I get home. He is also sleeping through the night 8pm-6am. I started taking Fenugreek yesterday and am nursing as much as I can when he's with me, but it doesn't seem to be increasing. Does anyone know approximately how long it takes for the Fenugreek to start working and since I have established milk supply will it increase more than what I was yielding before? Also I started my period about this time last month, will that cause decrease?

Answer 1

Your period can certainly cause a slight supply dip.  

Take this weekend easy--stay skin-to-skin with your baby a lot and nurse on demand (offer frequently, too!).  Your supply should ramp up in response to the increased demand.

And the next time you go camping, don't skip breastfeeding!  Take the babe with you and nurse, nurse, nurse!

Answer 2

i haven't got a clue what fenugreek is but if you don't breast feed for a while you need to build up the supplie but if your baby is content and starting solids he may be getting enough so your milk is just decreasing with him .i breast fed for two years and had periods and every thing was ok but as soon as my son started solids and sleeping through my milk decreased .

Answer 3

Besides extra nursing and pumping, your doctor can prescribe Reglan to increase your milk supply.  It works a lot better than Fenugreek.  Also oatmeal and drinking more non caffeinated fluids will help.

Answer 4

Fenugreek works right away for some and for some it takes a while. Breastfeeding as much as you can is the right thing to do. Also try to stop stressing about it. The more pressure you put on yourself the less milk you will make. Your period can cause a small dip in production just while you are on it though, you might just notice your baby eating a bit more often.

Try to decide to pump/feed every 2-3hrs and what happens happens. That might take the pressure off of you, reduce stress, and help you make more milk. Also remember to drink lots of water.  I have a friend going through the same thing and this is what she did and instantly started producing time and a half what she was before.

Answer 5

Nurse & pump more frequently. Tandem pump & nurse every hour, if possible, when you are home.

Fenugreek didn't work for me. Drinking lots of water did.

Once a wk pump for 10min, rest for 10min, pump for 10min, rest for 10min...so on & so on  For 1 hour. Helps keep your supply up.

Been there, done that.

After 1 wk of doing this my supply sky-rocketed & it's now better than ever.