How come my breast stop producing milk? ?

Question

I've breast fed my son from the beginning and he eats alot so i didn't have any problem with my milk produ... but when my son is in his mid 3 months i had some alcohol so i didn't feed him for 1 day..i became engorged and when i feed my son it was back to normal. (I feed him formula too but only if we are going out, he is mainly breast fed) than about 3weeks ago (my son is 3 1/2 month) My milk just stop producing like it used to it only produce a little bit, so i still have milk but not enough for a feeding...I feel really bad cause i want to breast feed him. I've tried breast feeding him alot so i can have milk again but it's just not enough...What can i do? or what is going on? can anyone shed some light? Thanks!

p.s. i have a doctor apt next week...so please don't tell me i need to see a doc.

Answer 1

Lactating herbs can help quality and quantity of milk supply:

http://www.birthingherbs.com/breastfeedi...

Answer 2

I'm not sure why this happened to you, but it happened to me too! Mine dried up within a few days of me bringing my son home from the hospital,and the doctors had no answers for me.  I even rented a breast pump and was pumping several times a day in addition to feeding him but I never got the "let down" it was mostly just colustrum and the milk was very pale/clearish looking.  I'm not sure why, I did everything right.  The wierd part is, with my first pregnancy the milk came in when I was only 6 months along and was hard to get to go away!!

Answer 3

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/14more_mo...

2. Breastfeeding mothers' milk can "dry up" just like that.

Not true! Or if this can occur, it must be a rare occurrence. Aside from day to day and morning to evening variations, milk production does not change suddenly. There are changes which occur which may make it seem as if milk production is suddenly much less:

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      An increase in the needs of the baby, the so-called growth spurt. If this is the reason for the seemingly insufficient milk, a few days of more frequent nursing will bring things back to normal. Try compressing the breast with your hand to help the baby get milk (Handout #15, Breast Compression).

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      A change in the baby's behaviour. At about five to six weeks of age, more or less, babies who would fall asleep at the breast when the flow of milk slowed down, tend to start pulling at the breast or crying when the milk flow slows. The milk has not dried up, but the baby has changed. Try using breast compression to help the baby get more milk. See the website www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html for videos on how to latch a baby on, how to know the baby is getting milk, how to use compression.

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      The mother's b*****s do not seem full or are soft. It is normal after a few weeks for the mother no longer to have engorgement, or even fullness of the b*****s. As long as the baby is drinking at the breast, do not be concerned (see handout 4 Is my baby getting enough milk).

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      The baby breastfeeds less well. This is often due to the baby being given bottles or pacifiers and thus learning an inappropriate way of breastfeeding.

The birth control pill may decrease your milk supply. Think about stopping the pill or changing to a progesterone only pill. Or use other methods. Other drugs that can decrease milk supply are pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), some antihistamines, and perhaps diuretics.

If the baby truly seems not to be getting enough, get help, but do not introduce a bottle that may only make things worse. If absolutely necessary, the baby can be supplemented, using a lactation aid that will not interfere with breastfeeding. However, lots can be done before giving supplements. Get help. Try compressing the breast with your hand to help the baby get milk (Handout #15, Breast Compression).

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumpi...

What is normal when it comes to pumping output and changes in pumping output?

Most moms who are nursing full-time are able to pump around 1/2 to 2 ounces total (for both b*****s) per pumping session. Moms who pump more milk per session may have an oversupply of milk, or may respond better than average to the pump, or may have been able to increase pump output with practice. Many moms think that they should be able to pump 4-8 ounces per pumping session, but even 4 ounces is an unusually large pumping output.

It is quite normal to need to pump 2-3 times to get enough milk for one feeding for baby (remember that the pump cannot get as much milk as a baby who nurses effectively).

Many moms are able to pump more milk per session when they are separated from baby. Milk pumped when you are nursing full-time is "extra" milk -- over and beyond what baby needs. Don't get discouraged if you are trying to build up a freezer stash when nursing full time and don't get much milk per pumping session -- this is perfectly normal and expected.

It is very common to have more milk than baby needs in the early weeks, which regulates down to baby's needs over the first few weeks or months. When your milk supply regulates (this change may occur either gradually or rather suddenly), it is normal for pumping output to decrease. For moms who have oversupply, this change often occurs later (6-9+ months postpartum rather than 6-12 weeks).

It is normal for pumping output to vary from session to session and day to day. Having an occasional low volume day is not unusual.

During a growth spurt, don't be surprised if baby drinks more expressed milk than usual, making it harder for mom to provide enough expressed milk. Growth spurts are temporary - try increasing nursing and adding a pumping session or two at home until the growth spurt is over.

Menstruation or ovulation can result in a temporary drop in milk supply. You might also notice cyclical dips in milk supply before your period returns, as your body begins the return to fertility. Hormonal changes also cause milk supply to decrease during pregnancy.

Remember that the amount of milk that you pump is not a measure of your milk supply!

What can cause a decrease in pumping output?

First, consider the possibility that baby is being overfed when you're apart. If this is the case, you may actually not need to be expressing as much milk as is being requested. This is certainly not always the case, but it is not at all uncommon. See How much expressed milk will my baby need? for additional information.

When you do need to pump more milk, the first thing to check is your pump:

    * Are you using an appropriate pump for the amount of pumping that you do?

    * How old is your pump? If you have an older electric pump (particularly older than a year), or if you are pumping more often than the pump was designed for, the motor may be wearing out.

    * Many times a decrease in pumping output is because pump parts need to be replaced. Have you checked your pump and replaced any parts that are worn or that haven't been replaced in the last 3-6 months?

    * Do you have a type of pump (like the Avent Isis) that benefits from occasionally boiling the boilable parts?

    * Switching to a larger pump flange makes a difference in pumping comfort and/or output for some moms. See Choosing a Correctly-Fitted Breastshield for more information.

Supply-demand cycle:

    * Have you reduced the number of pumping or nursing sessions recently, or cut back on nursing/pumping in other ways? Milk production is a demand-supply process. More nursing/pumping results in a greater milk supply. If you consistently decrease nursing or pumping for several days, your overall milk supply will decrease and you can expect to see a decrease in pumped amounts.

    * Has baby started solids recently? As baby eats more solids and takes in less milk, overall milk supply naturally decreases and you may see a decrease in pumping output. You may not notice a change in nursing pattern, as some babies nurse just as often, but take in less milk during those sessions. If baby started solids early (before around 6 months) or is eating lots of solids early on, you are more likely to notice a drop in supply. A very gradual start to solids around 6 months or later is less likely to affect milk supply.