Breastfeeding Mothers Losing Milk Supply

“I have an 8 month old and just returned to work this week, 9-5ish M-Th. I will exclusively breastfeed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Will my supply decrease if my pumping output does not match my baby’s milk intake while I am at work? I currently have following schedule and not sure if I can pump more at work. I luckily have a freezer stash that we can use to supplement and hopeful as my baby gets to 9-10 months, milk consumption will decrease a bit. I have currently blocked off 9-10, 12-1 and 3-4”

“I’ve been pumping after motn feeds for 9 weeks and this last week or so it seems like my supply has dipped. I am doing so to create a stash for back to work, as well as to (hopefully) be done bf before a year but continue to feed pumped milk. Has anyone been through anything similar where their motn supply has dipped around 8-10 weeks? Advice for improving? I still feel full sometimes so I’m wondering if it’s more of a letdown issue. I have become growingly anxious about it which probably does n”

“I’ve just found out that I’m pregnant with baby no2 and I’m nervous because my 17 month old is still breastfeeding. So my worries are technically two fold, how would pregnancy affect my milk supply and quality of breastmilk for my firstborn? I don’t want him to have to experience discomfort because of this. Is it at all possible to wean before our second arrives or I should just let him wean naturally? I’m just worried he might continue to bf way past I give birth and I don’t even know how one c”

“Hi, sorry for this being all over the place. (Short story if you don’t want to read - I’m questioning milk supply while on BC (mirena iud) I am a first time mom to a beautiful little boy. He just turned 4 months the other day and so far has been exclusively breast fed- as in no bottle, strictly from the tap. My boyfriend (of about 4 years) and I tmi didn’t really get intimate while I was pregnant and then after my son I assumed we would again since my body was “back to normal” in most ways. Howe”

“Hi I’m a FTM and totally shocked my period randomly returned today 7 weeks PP I thought periods don’t return till much later on My supply also randomly dropped too Is this normal? Anyone else go through this? submitted by /u/lavenderclosets [link] [comments]”

“Hi I’m a FTM and totally shocked my period randomly returned today 7 weeks PP I thought periods don’t return till much later on My supply also randomly dropped too Is this normal? Anyone else go through this? submitted by /u/lavenderclosets [link] [comments]”

“Is there anything I need to know or plan for now that my period is back? I exclusively breastfeed, will this have an impact on my supply? And to confirm this means I’m back to being fertile again too? submitted by /u/DuchessOfConcord [link] [comments]”

“I’m exclusively breast feeding and got my period a week ago. I was quite shocked I got it so soon. It’s over now and I’m still producing less milk. I was pumping 6-8oz in one session in the night when my husband gives a bottle but the past week I’ve pumped maybe a half oz from each breast. My breasts don’t feel full of milk anymore and are soft. When he’s breast feeding though I can tell he’s definitely getting milk and he will spit up a ton still. I can feel the milk come down and when I pull h”

“Help! My supply has completely tanked after 9 months without any warning. LO is taking in more solids, but our nursing sessions and my pumping schedule hasn’t changed. Is there something I can do to work it back up?! submitted by /u/Dry-Helicopter692 [link] [comments]”

“Because this bleeding/ periods my supply keeps dipping and i am just so frustrated my dr said this is normal but whoever i discussed this with said it didnt happen to them. I had to introduce formula to my baby because of under supply and my baby not gaining weight as per his chart. submitted by /u/lahorikuri1401 [link] [comments]”

“I’m pretty sure I started my period at almost 11w pp. I am combo feeding and pumping as well. Is this normal? Any specific things I should do to ensure my milk supply doesn’t drop? submitted by /u/soul_in_an_earthsuit [link] [comments]”

“I am 6 weeks postpartum with my second child. With my first, my period returned at 14 months. We have been ebf on demand, contact napping, co-sleeping (not bed sharing). My lochia bleeding stopped at 4 weeks pp. Yesterday I had some cramping that I assumed was from doing too many pelvic exercises as I did a lot yesterday. Today I have had some spotting. Is this my period returning? Should I be concerned? submitted by /u/Banana_Pow [link] [comments]”

“TLDR: will one missed pump to replace feed ruin my supply? Almost 5 months pp. I mostly breastfeed, with one bottle of pumped milk right before I lay her down for the night- it’s the only time I pump usually. Otherwise she feeds on demand. Our AC has been out since Sunday. It was 105* here today and she has fed more than usual, she also has had a slight fever. Between her and my older son I haven’t slept in like… well however many nights that is. She’s had her bottle from last nights pump. I hav”

“I had twins in June via C-section at 32w and 5d. They were in the nicu for 28 and 39 days and they were on breast milk up until the day I brought my 2nd twin home. My milk came in and tons of it but from the c section, stress, and having to exclusively pump so they could have their milk fortified, my milk slowly dwindled my nipples cracked and damaged from the constant friction and bled. I started using my nipple butter and powered through to try to stop my supply from dipping any further and I”

“STM Also had a fast flow, slight oversupply issue with my first one, but successfully breastfed for a year My second one is 7 weeks and a few days and since last evening seems to be REALLLY offended when let down happens. I tend to spray (no matter the time of day) every time let down happens. In the past she would make do, and pop off, I would catch the excess in cloth but had to latch back on quickly cause she was impatient. But she still managed to feed. Since yesterday in the evenings she’s”

“TLDR: supply dipped after clogged ducts in my « good » breast Baby was transferring well, gaining weight, and had lots of dirty diapers, but I quickly got nasty crevasses. I powered through and improved latch with the help of my LC, and baby was doing well. Last weekend, I got some clogged ducts in my left breast. Unfortunately, it’s my breast that produces about 85% of what baby needs. I also had chills, a headache, and mild nausea. I just didn’t feel well at all. I started ibuprofen. About 24”

“Currently 14 months postpartum and still no period. We cosleep and he still nurses a couple times a night. Just curious when others got their periods back and if that’s normal? submitted by /u/Maui_Monk_91 [link] [comments]”

“My LO is 5.5 months and yesterday I woke up to one breast almost pre-pregnancy size and the other feeling significantly smaller. I’d been breastfeeding and pumping so my partner could feed when needed. I typically get 3-5 ounces but now I’m getting 1-2 sometimes and other times I only get a few drops. LO is getting frustrated and I’ve had to dip into my little freezer stash. I’m trying not to panic…is there anything I can do?! Breastfeeding has been such a journey and I’m finally at a place I fe”

“My baby is almost 2 months old long story short when she was born she spent sometime in the nicu and I pumped to get my supply in. So anyways my partner and I and our baby went away for the weekend we have 3 cats they were left with plenty of food and water. My partner got home an hour ago a day before us to our fridge and freezer open all our food on the ground most of it ripped into and all my breast milk including when my milk first came in and I cried to my daughter saying I did it, gone all”

“I haven’t nursed or pumped at all since around January/February of this year, and had NO drops or leakage or signs of lactation since then (at the end of our journey, pumping was a drastic drop in supply that tapered everything off for like a month). I haven’t had a drop, even when I’ve tried lightly hand expressing out of curiosity, since early February. Out of nowhere today, I had a few clear drops leaking from my right side and a small ache in my breast. Don’t think I’m pregnant. Just getting”

“I’m 3 weeks postpartum after a C-section and really struggling with low supply. My baby had a shallow painful latch that caused nipple trauma, so I switched mostly to pumping. I was once getting 40–60 mL in some sessions, but after more nipple/areola pain my supply dropped a lot. I’m now pumping about 7*/day with a Spectra S1 on low suction. I’ve tried 15, 16, 17 and 19 mm flanges and currently use 17 mm. My left breast is producing almost nothing, right produces a little, and I sometimes get pi”

“Has anyone successfully kept breastfeeding after their period started back up? I’m 6 weeks pp and EBF and my period started yesterday. I want my supply to stay the same/increase and hoping my period doesn’t change that. submitted by /u/Big_Construction_389 [link] [comments]”

“Hey! I EBF my twins and have noticed in the last few days they are very unsatisfied after feeds and my boobs don’t feel like they’re producing. Any ideas why this might be happening? And what can I do? I’m continuing to latch them both but ideally don’t want them to start bottles again. Could they possibly be having a growth spurt? Thanks submitted by /u/Infinite_Spot_2491 [link] [comments]”

“I’m a SAHM with my 4mo girl, I’ve always fed on demand with the occasional bottle of expressed milk given by her dad or grandma. About a month ago I got a kyleena IUD inserted and two weeks after that my supply started tanking (non stop spotting). Baby has been fussy at breast because she isn’t getting a lot, we’ve had to start supplementing feeds with a bottle after because she’s no longer gaining weight:((( I’ve been power pumping and seeing a lactation consultant as well as a ped nurse for he”

“Has anyone successfully gotten their milk supply back on a breast after an I&D for a breast abscess? I had a severe case of mastitis around 4 weeks pp and ended up needing an I&D on my left breast. I wasn’t able to nurse or pump on that side for about 6 weeks. I’m finally cleared to start pumping and trying to relatch, but I’m getting less than 1/4 oz when I pump. My right side is producing around 2 oz, and we’re currently 40/60 breastmilk/formula. I’d really like to reduce the formula i”

“My baby is 9.5 months old, exclusively breastfed. He sleeps through the night (mostly) and nurses 5 times a day. I had my first period in June when I was 7 months postpartum. Seemed like a completely normal period. Now it's September and I haven't had another one. Is that normal? I know cycles can get messed up when breastfeeding but I'm almost on cycle day 90 now. Is this something I should contact the doctor for or just wait it out until I wean? With my first child I got one period”

“If you get your baby, got back to breast after six 6 weeks or later, did you see any drop in their percentile submitted by /u/Prestigious_Jelly875 [link] [comments]”

“Has anyone experienced anovulatory cycles while breastfeeding? I’m 14 m PP and still breastfeeding ALOT through the night and at naps. My cycles have been so weird. I typically “ovulate” according to my Oura ring on cycle day 27ish and have been starting my period anywhere between 6-9 days later. That impossible to be a real period and from what I’ve gathered from reading it’s probably an anovulatory cycle. Has anyone experienced this? Did it get better? We want to try for baby number 2 in 6 mon”

“I’m 11 months pp and still haven’t gotten my period back yet. I’d like to wean at 1 year so I can hopefully get my period and start trying for #2 since we had to do IVF for first baby. I’m torn because I want to keep breastfeeding but I don’t want to waste any time as I’m older as well. When did you wean and if you didn’t get your period back yet how soon did you get it? Any regrets of weaning too early or too late? submitted by /u/Front_Cucumber_5815 [link] [comments]”

“7 months pp and wondering if re-lactation can happen? I was down bad after a terrible spinal headache landed me in the hospital soon after my C-section. I could not breast feeding after; not sure if it was stress or lack of experience to be honest. It’s now just a thought, but is re-lactation possible so late in the game? submitted by /u/Effective_Hearing703 [link] [comments]”

“My baby has not been taking milk the same since I’ve been in the hospital. I went in for emergency surgery and I was fine for a few days. I had to be on antibiotics while in the hospital but my doctor assured me it was safe to resume breastfeeding as soon as I returned home. I haven’t taken any of the pain meds as I only had gallbladder removal and I haven’t had any issues with pain. He’s been extremely fussy. I didn’t eat for several days and my milk supply plummeted. I’ve been making just enou”

“I’m six months postpartum and had a major open abdominal myomectomy on Friday to remove an almost 19 cm fibroid. Before surgery, breastfeeding was well established and I could typically pump around 6 oz and was exclusively breastfeeding. Since surgery, my output has dropped to closer to 2 oz, my letdown is slower, and my baby sometimes gets frustrated at the breast. I’m back to triple feeding—nursing, offering a bottle, and pumping—but I’m still recovering from a large abdominal surgery, exhaust”

“So recently I got my period back and I have noticed that my supply is dipping during my evening feed (and even day time pumping) - the one where he feeds after I get home from work and he is about to sleep! He’s so frustrated. I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried power pumping at work 1-2x a day for the last couple of days (4-5days) but I am getting so exhausted and so tired. Anyone with tips on how to fix this? I pump in morning when I’m going to work at 7am, then at 10:30, 1:00, 4:00 on the way”

“hi all, i hit 12 weeks on monday and have noticed my pump output dropping since last week. i replaced the duckbills and membranes and things got marginally better, but im still like 1oz shy of where i used to be (now pumping 3oz a session, used to do at least 4 and sometimes 5 each time). i dont pump all that often because i am still on maternity leave and nursing on demand most of the time. my LO has great diapers and weight gain and always seems satisfied after nursing. tonight we gave her a 3”

“I’m three weeks postpartum and originally thought I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed due to a surgery I had. Today I pumped to try again and got a tiny bit. Is there a way to build up a supply? I’m not sure what to do moving forward! submitted by /u/No_Addendum_7741 [link] [comments]”

“So recently I got my period back and I have noticed that my supply is dipping during my evening feed (and even day time pumping) - the one where he feeds after I get home from work and he is about to sleep! He’s so frustrated. I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried power pumping at work 1-2x a day for the last couple of days (4-5days) but I am getting so exhausted and so tired. Anyone with tips on how to fix this? I pump in morning when I’m going to work at 7am, then at 10:30, 1:00, 4:00 on the way”

“I had my 6 week follow up today with an older midwife whom I had never seen before. She seemed nice enough but I explained that i need to be done pumping. I had a lot of complications postpartum, postpartum preeclampsia, pulmonary edema, blood clots in my arm. I didn't get to enjoy most of the first 3 weeks and with my husband going back to work this week and me shortly after, I need to be done pumping for my mental and physical health. I feel guilty but I've come to terms with it. But w”

“I got my period 4 months postpartum and my supply reeally drops during it. When I pump I get at least 30% less and my baby will feed for less than 5 minutes. Yesterday I fed her 9 times and she was still hungry (at this age 6/8 times are enough) What do you guys do to increase supply during your periods? submitted by /u/GullibleWarthog7081 [link] [comments]”

“Hi everyone, Im a little over 6 months PP and EBF, I’ve been having what seems to be a period for the last 12-13 days and I just was wondering if anyone else experienced this too while exclusively nursing. Baby has started solids but is still nursing the same frequency as before solids. My cycle is still irregular and this would only be my second period postpartum. My first period postpartum seemed normal and similar to pre baby periods in terms of flow and length, but this time has been differe”

“I am feeding my daughter who is 11 months old, she still feeds A LOT. Anywho, this weekend I went out without her for the first time, other than brief periods where no feeds would be missed. I left when she woke up from her nap, and she refused a feed before I left. By the time I got back, it had been 6 hours without feeding, and I didn't pump. I bought my pump and intended to. I asked my fiance to let me know if she had a bottle of breastmilk at all, she usually won't take a bottle. Any”

“So I’m having a total hip replacement next month and I’ve been stressing about what I’m going to do with breastfeeding afterward. I exclusively breastfeed and have been trying to pump/ Hakka and build up a small freezer stash because I assumed I wouldn’t be able to nurse while taking the stronger pain meds after surgery. I talked to my OB yesterday and she basically told me not to stress about it and that I can continue breastfeeding after surgery even while taking the pain medication they presc”

“I’m almost 6 weeks postpartum in my journey has been difficult from the start. I had gestational diabetes with this pregnancy and was induced at 39 weeks. I woke up engorged four days postpartum (supplemented with formula in the meantime) and when I hand expressed, I noticed I had colostrum so I latched my baby as much as possible. He never had any struggles with latching it anything. This was my first ever pregnancy, and I didn’t do the proper research on breast-feeding. To be brutally honest,”

“I am 17 weeks pp and back to work five days a week while LO is at day care. Currently over a 24 hour period, I pump 5x between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m, and nurse overnight and first thing in the morning. Current weekday feeding and pump schedule: 7 a.m. breastfeed 10 a.m. pump (baby gets bottle at day care) 1 p.m. pump (baby gets bottle at day care) 4 p.m. pump (baby gets bottle at day care) 6 p.m. bonus breastfeed, maybe — only if LO comes home hungry enough 7 p.m. bedtime bottle 8 p.m pump 10 p.m.”

“At 7 weeks, I have felt a large shift in my breasts/milk with a few things going on so I'm not entirely sure if it's normal or not. I went from needing breast pads on all day, to only at night. I went from needing a haaka catcher on non nursing side at night, to just keeping the pad on. My breasts feel soft all day, back to pre-pregnancy texture, and only feel firm at night. I lost the extremely painful letdown feeling and now feel nothing. I used to have to lay back while feeding to slo”

“At 7 weeks, I have felt a large shift in breasts/milk with a few things going on so I'm not entirely sure if it's normal or not. I went from needing breast pads on all day, to only at night. I went from needing a haaka catcher on non nursing side at night, to just keeping the pad on. My breasts feel soft all day, back to pre-pregnancy texture, and only feel firm at night. I used to have to lay back while feeding to slow milk and no longer feel the need to. Is this normal balancing at thi”

“Hey everyone! I had my boy 6 months ago in 2 days and was wondering whats normal for cycles. I got my period 6 weeks after giving birth, had it twice more and now for the past two months I haven’t had it. Is it cause for me to call the dr or should I let it ride out and let it do its own thing? Thanks! submitted by /u/Inside_Text_4286 [link] [comments]”

“I am 10 months postpartum with an EBF sweetie pie. She has been eating a lot more solids, so I do feel my supply slightly lessening, but still making what she needs. About a month ago I started feeling the emotions I normally do before my period. So I was bracing myself… When I tell you it was like NOTHING…. I’m meaning like milky discharge with the slightest pink/tan color. But then now I’ve still been such a cranky irritable mess, started cramping, and I’m still getting the same barely anythin”

“Hi all. I am 3 month PP and woke up this morning to my first period. I am currently EBF my little one, and I am panicking! I heard it can tank your supply? Is this true? Is it a bit early for my period to return? Thanks all submitted by /u/Cool-Insurance-9962 [link] [comments]”

“I’m 8 months pp and believe I just got my period (YIPPEE!! not) I’m so worried about my supply. I worked so hard the first three months on breastfeeding, baby didn’t latch so I pumped finally around 3 months we got it and it’s just been so nice. So I’m wondering— when did you get your period back, did it impact supply, how’d you handle? etc. the hormones are brutal. submitted by /u/lhg30 [link] [comments]”

“I'm almost three months postpartum and made the decision to completely stop pumping and breastfeeding because of side effects I was having. I was never exclusively breastfeeding, it was combo feeding because I had a very low supply. But now 2 days after stopping I feel like my side effects got worse, crying multiple times a day, nausea, intense headaches, tremors, body aches, light headedness, you name it. Did anyone abruptly stop pumping, how long until you started to feel better? Hoping th”

“I’m 7ish weeks PP and I’m solely pumping 10x a day for my baby. It’s been a few weeks at least since I’ve bled, I also wanna add really quick I had a c section. Anyways, it’s been quite a bit since I’ve bled. Today, I had a decent amount of bright red blood on my underwear. It stopped after like an hour and now it’s just brownish discharge. I’m a little crampy but now there’s no more blood? I’m so confused? Is this my period? If it’s not, why did I just randomly bleed a little after not for so l”

“I’m 7ish weeks PP and I’m solely pumping 10x a day for my baby. It’s been a few weeks at least since I’ve bled, I also wanna add really quick I had a c section. Anyways, it’s been quite a bit since I’ve bled. Today, I had a decent amount of bright red blood on my underwear. It stopped after like an hour and now it’s just brownish discharge. I’m a little crampy but now there’s no more blood? I’m so confused? Is this my period? If it’s not, why did I just randomly bleed a little after not for so l”

“I was so worried that birth control would mess up my supply and I’d need to stop nursing. Well, jokes on me because I’m 25 weeks postpartum, 5 weeks pregnant, and all I can find is that my supply will dry up during pregnancy. 🙃 I know there will be positives with having babies close in age (and I’ve had pregnancy losses previously, so I may be worrying for nothing) but I’m so so sad that I won’t be able to nurse my current baby as long as I hoped (current baby will be 14mo when new baby comes,”

“FTM and I pump for my 4 month old while she’s at daycare and breastfeeding at night/first thing in the morning. I’m having and upper endoscopy done on Friday and am worried the anesthesia will effect my supply. Google says it shouldn’t affect anything but I want to hear from real people. Has anyone had any experience with this? submitted by /u/mae0217 [link] [comments]”

“I am 6 months postpartum, had my first period 6 weeks ago and haven't gotten another one this month. im not pregnant. tubes tied, not taking any contraceptives. im just wondering if this was normal for anyone else? my cycle prior to pregnancy was very regular. im nursing a 6 month old and 2.5 yo! :) submitted by /u/Busy_Toe5792 [link] [comments]”

“Hi everyone, so the thing is my baby is three months old today. My period returned when she was two months old. I see a certain dip in my milk supply around my period and unfortunately she had an infection three weeks ago where she lost a lot of weight and since then even though she’s eating and feeding on the demand it doesn’t seem like she’s gaining weight properly. The Pediatrician now said that she has to get an additional half a litre of milk/formula every single day, so 10x50mililetres aft”

“So I am 7 months PP. I’ve had my period since 5 months PP but I EBF and pump when I’m away. My cycle re starting I think made my milk decline a bit but it’s up and down. I never really was able to keep up pumping with my baby, I pump about an oz less than his feeds, but I was able to keep up with pumping in the morning after nursing and before bed. I have about 300 oz in the freezer that I can pull from too. The past week I have noticed that my breasts aren’t as full in the morning. Previously I”

“WHEW y’all. 9 mo PP. Last week I noticed my supply steadily dropping. I’ve been working more and my baby has been sleeping a bit better so I figured that was why. Went from pumping 5-6 oz at a time. To 4 oz. To 2 oz. To 1 oz + a few drops. I started panicking. Picked up a few more pumping sessions. Still only getting 3 oz MAX, and that was with adding more time to my pumps, too. Usually only getting 2 oz total despite my best efforts. Baby was fussy on the boob. Never seemed satisfied. Let downs”

“I just had my gallbladder out. She is 16 months and eats solids well so we weren't concerned about a day-ish of solids and no breastfeeding. They advised me to pump and dump (I reviewed the meds used during surgery and it was unnecessary advice but whatever) for 24 hours and due to incision soreness afterwards I opted to just wait a full day to try and breastfeed her. She had a very little bit yesterday... And then has entirely refused it since. I'm very upset about it. I knew she'd”