Milk Supply Sems to Be Drying Up

I would try using Mother's Milk tea. It's made by Traditional Medicinals. It's helped lots of women I know.

Best,
D. Stambler
www.betweenparents.org

You may feel like you have less milk,perhaps less let down feeling, less full... but your milk composition changes around this time. Your milk is more condensed as she gets older perhaps that's what you're experiencing. Don't wean her, let her self-wean, that's the healthiest thing for her. Look at Le Leche League International website or books.

Great job on breastfeeding as long as you can. Your body naturally makes what it needs so I wouldn't worry as long as your daughter is drinking fluids. Is there any chance you are pregnant? That did it to me last time. What a shocker LOL! But it might explain things.
Best to you and your family,
M.

If she's still nursing four times a day I don't think she's ready to give it up. I remember my milk feeling like it was really limited when my son hit about a year old, but he still nursed happily until 19 months old. I would say, just keep up the healthy eating and lots of water that you're doing and as long as she doesn't fuss while nursing then it's going just fine. Even if your milk supply is lower and she's getting less than before, if she's satisfied then it's fine. Just continue to let your baby be your guide! :)

I'm going through the same now..I'm taking fenugreek. I havne't seen much of a difference.

Sounds like nature is taking is course with your milk. The more food your baby girl eats, the less breastmilk she needs. I would work with the sippy cup, offering it often and not putting much urgent energy into it, because she will sence it and react to it.

good luck
S. Wolcott, LM RN CLC
www.homebirthwaterbirth.com

at 9 months i noticed that i wasn't making as much milk so..there is this stuff called Motilium aka DOM a lot of mom's
use this ..it's for reflux but it builds up your supply.. you can
read about it on Kellymom.com http://www.kellymom.com/newman/19a-
domperidone1.html
and you can buy it here... http://www.inhousepharmacy.com/general/
motilium.html
i used it for 2 weeks..noticed a huge difference..i only took 2 a day..my son is now 3..so we're done..but it helped me.

Same thing happened to me at about ten months and that is also when I got my period back. Anyhow... the lactation consultant told me to pump for five minutes after every feeding - I only did it a week and a half and everything was back! Good luck!

I think, just because the breast is not full feeling, does not mean it is drying up. Your body still works on supply and demand. It is there.

My son is 4yrs old and my breast seem no different to me than before he was born and yet there is still milk even though I limit him to twice a day (he is a milk-a-holic). When I had him down to once a day, it still did not dry up. He nags me, so I am back up to twice a day and HOPING I do dry up before he is 5. And I don't drink tons of water and stuff.

So that is why I think it is there, based on me. Squeeze your own nipple to see if it squirts out, watch her swallow, is she drinking? Otherwise check with nursing organizations to see what natural stuff you can take to increase the flow, and let me know what they are so I can STOP taking it...LOL

Good luck...

I never had this problem but when I returned to work and pumped (I wanted my little one to have ONLY breast milk) I was concerned that I was not producing enough so my pediatrician recommended taking Brewer's Yeast as a supplement (Wild Oats/Whole Foods). I saw a significant increase after that and was able to produce more than enough. I took it in conjunction with Mother's Milk tea and the combination worked well for me. I was able to pump until I weaned him at 19 months.

Good luck and good for you for keeping it up!

You may not actually be drying up. As your baby gets older and your body adjusts to nursing, you won't always get that strong let down feeling, and your breasts won't stay as big as they were in the earlier months. By the time my kids were each a year, I was not filling up the same way but still making lots of milk. Also, she may be takdrinking less but getting all that she needs given the amount of food and other liquids she's getting now. I would just watch to see how much she is swallowing.

You can also try letting her use a straw cup... some kids like this better and do better with it. It does not 'have to' be a sippy cup.

Your body and what you are feeling, may just be your body adjusting to her nursing only 4 times a day. Maybe.

Is your girl actually 'nursing' at your breast and STAYING there and SWALLOWING? If she is, then you must have milk. If she is only there for a few seconds then pulls off...then there may not be a lot there, or she is just out of habit, 'pacifying.'

If she seems to complain at your breast... then maybe this can indicate that you don't have milk, or a lesser amount.

Is she drinking water at all? If she is, then you don't have to worry about her getting dehydrated.

You could also try and squeeze your nipples... see if anything squirts out. It takes time for milk to dry up, completely. But I imagine, your body is just adjusting to the 'supply and demand' frequency that your daughter is on now, at her stage.

If anything, ask your Pediatrician about your concerns. Before it is too late.

If she is weaning, and on her own, then that is fine. Remember, that weaning can take time. It will not just happen in a couple of days. So figure this into your timeline, with your trip.

I have also heard, that drinking TOO much water, can actually lessen your milk production. You might want to ask a Lactation Consultant about that.

If you reach April, and she is not taking to a sippy cup, or straw cup, or even a bottle yet by then... then I would, AHEAD OF TIME, ask your Pediatrician about it, and what you should do. ALWAYS have a "plan B" in place, if that should happen and the need arises. With babies/children, you never know, nor can it always be predicted.
OR, ask your Pediatrician about if you need to supplement her, when you go on your trip... ask for any kind of scenario that might crop up.
ALSO keep in mind, that at 12 months, "cows milk" is introduced. Not earlier. SO, this is another 'transition' that she will need to make... but that is about the time of your trip? Ask your Pediatrician about this too. Some kids adjust to dairy milk no problem, some don't. So keep this in mind too.

If your daughter is nursing 4 times a day... and seems 'satisfied' afterward....then I would assume she "IS" satisfied with what is coming out.....

Always leave out the sippy cup and keep it around... just on a table etc., where she can reach it on her own, and to build familiarity with it. It does NOT only have to be accessible when it is feeding "time" or meal time. For me, I kept the sippy cups out ALL THE TIME in plain view and where my children could reach it... and they would. Then, they build 'practice' with it... and over time, then better usage with it. Just put water in it, or your pumped milk (if that is what you do). By now, she can have water.

Also, you might try nursing her BEFORE solids... when nursing 'after' solids, this is done in order to 'wean' the baby/child. But if you want to 'wean' her before your trip... then start to do so. You have 3 months. Just don't pressure or go cold turkey. Just my opinion.

BUT ask your Pediatrician, BEFORE your trip. Have a 'plan B' and make sure you have a course of action, in case your daughter is not taking to sippy or straw cups. Some parents even will, with an eye dropper, give their child 'liquids' this way...

take care, all the best,
Susan

Around 10 months is when I started to feel like there was a decrease in my supply too. But your baby will take what she needs and if you feel she isn't getting enough you can supplement with a feeding of formula (I used Earth's Best) And you can put that right into her sippy cup. You might also be drinking too much water. Unless you are working out heavily every day your body doesn't need that much. Also, don't worry about your trip-you can always pump if you and your daughter aren't ready to give up breastfeeding.

Good luck!

Bravo to you for keeping it up! Maybe you're preparing for the trip earlier than expected because it has been on your mind. The power of the mind is not to be underestimated. In this case you can try affirming your desire to nurse up to one year by saying "I make a lot of milk for my baby" any time you start having doubts. Physically, there are a lot of herbs and teas out there that are known to help stimulate a mother's milk supply. I recommend Mother's Milk Tea because it's delicious, affordable, and pretty easy to find.(most health food stores carry it.) Most important: Follow your intuition- If you feel this is happening because your daughter is ready- then you're probably right. I planned on breastfeeding both of my boys up to one year but just around nine months with each I honestly felt that it was time to move on from that stage. Regardless of what the experts say about how long everybody should breastfeed, nothing can replace a mother's intuition. Trust yourself and follow your heart. Best wishes!

I had the same experience with my daughter. At around 10 months my supply started to decrease, I didn't notice it when she was nursing, but I was working and pumping and I found that I wasn't pumping as much as before. I think it is just your body adjusting to your babies changing needs. As she eats more solids, she will drink less of your milk (she still needs it though, just not as much!). I was able to continue to bf until she was a little over a year, and I weaned her because I didn't want to have to pump at work anymore. Just keep feeding her as you normally would and your body will continue to give her what she needs.

What I did when I felt I was starting to dry up, was call the hospital I delivered at and asked for a Lactation consultation. She was able to help me figure out a combo of pumping and breastfeeding that helped me hang on longer, and pump to freeze for later use. My son was on a BM/Formula combo through almost 18 months.

Good Luck!

I agree with the other comments. This is probably just your body changing to adapt to meet your baby's needs. I'm still nursing my 15 month old, but you wouldn't know it from looking at my breasts! As the baby matures, the milk changes and gets more concentrated. You shouldn't expect to produce in the same quantities. I think that with my first daughter, by 10 months I wasn't pumping more than a couple of ounces at a time. But when nursing, both of my girls seemed plenty satisfied. I wouldn't see your decrease in quantity as a reason to wean. Good luck and keep up the good work in taking care of yourself.

I have a friend that increased her milk supply with food herbs. Also, please research before you give up easily. What are the options if you stop-Formula? Cow's milk? Go to drmercola.com and watch his clips about soy formula. Your milk is a gift to your child. You don't get to go back later and give it back if you take it away, so be sure you are making the right choice. Pray about it.

J.