After 9-Months My Milk Is Suddenly Drying Up!

My daughter can't nurse directly so I am pumping exclusively and have a low supply. Frequent extra pumping helps some and so do Fenegreek capsules 3x a day (working up to 3 capsules at a time 3x a day for 9 total). You can also make yourself a treat of lactation cookies. They are basically oatmeal cookies with 1 tablespoon of brewers yeast and 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal mixed with 4 tablespoons of water. I can send you a complete recipie if you want it.

It can sometimes take a few days to jump start your milk production. After your daughter nurses, does she still seem hungry? My doctor told me that pumps are less efficient at getting the milk, so even if you're not pumping much milk, that doesn't necessarily mean the baby isn't getting enough. Good luck!

Hi A.,

I have to echo the comment made about the difference between pumping and nursing. I went back to work when my son was five months old and I could not pump. At all. Nothing. I was thrilled when I got more than three or so ounces from each side. Meanwhile my son was healthy, happy and thriving, so I knew he was getting enough from me. We had to supplement with formula at daycare because I couldn't pump enough, but that didn't seem to harm him or our nursing relationship. There is a huge difference between the breast pump and a nursing child. The pump can't replicate exactly how a baby nurses, so it is not 100% reliable.

I also have to assume that your daughter is starting to eat some solid food at nine months, so the amount of breastmilk she needs to sustain her will slowly decrease. A woman's body recognizes how much milk a baby needs and will change the supply accordingly. Our bodies are pretty amazing machines!

Don't fret. My pediatrician father-in-law always joked with me when I would get uptight about nursing and tell me "Go have a beer and relax!" Of course, the hops/yeast in the beer are good for breastmilk production, so it would have a two-fold effect. I would chill out by having a beer, and it would also help my milk supply. :)

My best to you!

try adding oatmeal to your diet and drinking a dark beer before bedtime. You can also try taking the herb fenugreek. Good luck- sometimes it taakes a while to rebuild supply- keep up the good work!

there is a homeopathic mixture at wholefoods that works woncers. it has fenugreek and anise and some other herbs. you take an eyedropper full 3x aday. check it out. called lactation support.

A.,

Congratulations on breastfeeding your baby girl! You are doing the best thing for her!

Don't give up!

How did the tea make you sick?

If you haven't gotten the reply already: try Fenugreek & Blessed thistle together. They work better in tandem. Follow the instructions.

If after a couple of days those don't work (and I would contact your OB first to get the script just in case) there is a med out there for something else that has a side effect of increasing milk flow.

Also make sure your vitamins are on the + side. Don't over do them, but make sure you're getting enough for you.

I suggest getting the script from the OB (I'm sorry I can't remember the name of the med) beforehand because sometimes it can take a while to either get the appointment or just get their attention, and if you wait days or weeks to see the OB, you will only feel more frustrated - which is stress too - and feel like your baby is losing out (more stress).

I felt the same way - around 5-6 months though! I still have that feeling that I don't give enough milk to my son.

One thing I discovered was: drinking during nursing helps a lot! My son will finish on one side, then want the other, and by the time he's done there, will be ready to go back to the first side (sometimes we go back and forth 2-3 times) and there will be enough for him to drink.

Good luck, and I hope you have time to let me know how things go!
M.

My milk dried up after taking allergy medicine. I didn't realize an antihistamine that dries your sinuses would dry your milk. Could that be it?

could your menstrual cycle be coming back/ is this the time of month that you would be getting your period? that might create a slight problem

also eat plenty of oatmeal and take fenugreek tablets (buy them at your local health food store/pharmacy) and dont be discouraged, it will return - remember stress makes it worse

great website is kellymom.com for all your breastfeeding questions

a little about me
i'm a mom of a 22 week month old boy who i breastfeed exclusively until he was 11 months old - had to stop when i got pregnant with number two who is now almost three months old

Hi A.!
I have a 3-month old who I've been breastfeeding since the day she was born, and I, too, pump and have a low output. I got only 2 ounces today, and that was from BOTH breasts! However, I read that pumps cannot replicate the way a baby suckles, and so the amount you pump doesn't necessarily reflect your production. My daughter has enough soiled and wet diapers each day (yes, I'm still counting them!), so I know she's getting enough even though I hardly get any milk when I pump. I suggest you try the LaLeche League website and see what they say.

Don't get stressed. Supply seems to change suddenly sometimes, at times due to your period, etc, or due to her demand changes (which may be imperceptible to you).
As long as she is getting what she needs, don't sweat the amount in the pump bottle. I got nervous once, too, b-c it seemed so abrupt a change. I didn't do anything different at all; I just kept nursing as my daughter needed, and we were successful. Good luck!!

Hi A.,
Habe you gotten your period yet, since the birth? If not (and 9-10 months is a common time for it to happen), it's probably coming this week. It's typical for your milk supply to tank in the week before your period. Keep drinkning plenty of water and eating lots of protein, oatmeal, nuts. Remember that your baby stimulates milk better than a pump, keep nursing whenever she wants. It's a good idea for moms who work and pump to try to keep a freezer stash to help get them through period week. Good luck!

Have you talked with a lactation consultant? Are you taken any new medication? I had a friend that took allergy medication and had a similar problem. Certain herbs could have this effect also, so I've heard. I would definitly speak to a lactation consultant or someone from La Leche League. I am still nursing my daughter who will be 3 in June and I still have a ton of milk, but every women is different. I wish you the best of luck.

I don't think anyone else has suggested this and many people will frown, but have a beer or two.
It did miracles for my milk supply, plus it has the added benefit of making you feel more at ease and relaxed. I would have a beer or two at night after the last feeding.

Also, if you are still worried about your daughter getting enough to drink, you can give her plain whole milk yogurt (water it down a little and put it in her bottle). I did that with my daughter around the same age, as I was back at work and traveling and my milk supply was starting to dwindle. We lasted with breastfeeding until about 12 mos, which I felt was good enough for both of us.

I just thought of something else, have you started taking birth control again? The pill apperently has a negative effect on milk supply (that's why i didn't want to start on it until i was totally done breastfeeding, and I ended up getting pregnant again, so be careful there :))

good luck!

I have to agree that one beer can do the trick. Wait until your daughters last feeding and have a beer right after. You can then wait 2 hours and pump.

I did this twice and it helped my milk so much that I did not have to drink beer again!!

I also tried the Mother's Milk tea - it is gross but if you can stomach it you will see some improvement. It is more tolerable the more you drink it.

Good luck!

How much you pump is not a reflection of how much milk you are producing. If you started out with oversupply or a more than plentiful supply then your body my just now be regulating itself to its "perfect" level. I was actually surprised when I reached that stage, but my daughter was nursing well (she did not start solids until later on) and gaining weight on a healthy curve, so I didn't worry too much.

Also if your daughter is going through a growth spurt or has recently started/increased her consumption of solids your body may need time adjusting to that. If you really need to increase your supply, the best thing to do is increase the amount of skin to skin nursing time. When possible give your daughter free access to your breast. The easiest way to do this is in bed/on the sofa while you're reading/watching TV or sleeping. Or you can carry her in a sling while you are topless or wearing a tube top or other easily access top.