https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 22:32:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103674 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 10:37:49 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2103674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jessie_vp: Good! I'm glad you didn't take my comment as sarcastic! I really meant that you sound like you're doing all you can and just keep up the great work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103671 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 10:36:42 +0000 Jessie_vp 2103671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Thanks! It really does help to have some support as well. I'll just keep on going and hope I'll see a change for the better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103632 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 10:08:12 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2103632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jessie_vp: best of luck! Sometimes you just have to keep doing all you can and hope it improves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103628 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 10:05:07 +0000 Jessie_vp 2103628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I used to pump less and longer... lowest was 6 times/day, with variable length but usually around 30 or 40 minutes with the double pump; longer at the nightly pumping session since my production is highest then and it really does take a while for my breast to feel entirely "lump free". I changed to 8 (or more) sessions a day to increase production in the first place. Those take 20minutes (or 30min for the night pump). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103615 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 09:56:56 +0000 Anagram 2103615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jessie_vp: I know you recently said you went back up to pumping 8 times a day and you saw no increase...Can you cut down on pumps and pump longer for the pumps you keep?</p> <p>I found that my output didn't change when I went from 8 to 7 to 6 to 5 pumps a day--same output. Only when I went to 4 pumps a day and subsequently got a sinus infection followed by a stomach virus, did my supply really decrease and stay mostly decreased. When I was pumping 5-8 times I day I was producing about 40 oz a day. When I dropped to 4 pumps and got sick, I was down to 24 oz a day...a few weeks after getting well, I started taking More Milk Plus, drinking mother's Milk Tea and my supply went back up to 28-30ish oz a day, but I never added a pump back in.</p> <p>At that point, my LO was 7 months old and I was fine adding formula if necessary--in the end I didn't need it.</p> <p>How long is each pump now? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103597 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 09:46:17 +0000 Jessie_vp 2103597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all, thanks for the quick replies! </p> <p>I have been sick last week, however my steady decrease is from a couple of weeks before that (but being sick definitely didn't help either!). Some things I did not know, like certain foods can decrease supply. Guess I shouldn't have used that peppermint spray either then *sigh*</p> <p>No idea if my period is coming back, haven't had any stomach cramps or anything, but it could very well be. Although 5-6 weeks seems like an awfully long time?</p> <p>I know formula isn’t the end of the world (used it before to supplement a couple of times when I didn’t have a freezer stash yet), but I can’t help feeling a bit saddened by that fact. Especially since autoimmune disorders run in the family and I really want to give her the best start as possible. I know formula doesn’t magically undo all the good she got (and gets), but still :)</p> <p>@ANAGRAM I really do hope its just a decrease and not a forewarning to a total stop. It IS a lot of work! And my daughter has been sick a couple of times too now, so its not like BM is the magic cure for all things bad, unfortunately.</p> <p>I guess being stressed out about the fact that my supply is low doesn’t help either, so its kind of a vicious circle here :D<br /> As for the calming music: perhaps I can do that as well, especially in the evenings and nights (instead of checking every 2 minutes how much milk I’ve produced). Does a nagging baby count as relaxing music too? ;)</p> <p>If anything, its nice to have some support as well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103568 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 09:23:45 +0000 avivoca 2103568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm also wondering if your period is coming back. I pumped 2-3 times a day and always noticed a decrease in my output when I was ovulating and when I was on my period. As far as food, try eating some avocado if you can. That always helped to boost my supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103556 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 09:17:30 +0000 regberadaisy 2103556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, are you sick? Do you think your period is coming back?</p> <p>I regularly supplemented with my first. I firmly believe that was why we made it so long! We didn't wean till 25/26m. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103547 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 09:14:51 +0000 erwoo 2103547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Try looking at your diet to see if you're eating foods that decreases your supply. I remember when I was nursing I'd forget and eat chives. Hopefully it's just a temporary drop and will eventually get back up there again. If you can, listen to relaxing music while pumping? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103528 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 09:07:09 +0000 Anagram 2103528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jessie_vp: You seem to have most of the bases covered. You probably already know this, but make sure you are eating enough calories--I was eating probably 3000 calories a day when I was EPing, and I was still (very, very very slowly) losing weight. I was just ravenous, but some people don't feel that kind of hunger so you might have to make yourself eat more.</p> <p>Other than that--decreasing supply doesn't necessarily mean you are drying up entirely! My supply permanently decreased when LO was 6-7 months old and it stayed lower until we stopped at 13 months. I had just enough to cover her daily needs, but if you end up not having enough--it's totally FINE to supplement with formula. Really. You've already given her 4 months of exclusive breast milk and I have to tell you as a fellow EPer--it's a lot of work with none of the "reward" that breastfeeding gives like bonding.</p> <p>Annnnnd my LO was sick all the time her first year, so BM didn't help much in that regard either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103513 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 09:00:14 +0000 regberadaisy 2103513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a EPer but am running into the same issue.</p> <p>We'll just be repetitive in case I'm doing anything you haven't thought of?<br /> More water (like 80oz + daily), oatmeal, flaxseed in smoothies, lactation cookies, more milk plus pills helped me more than mothers milk tea, power pumping. After 4 nights of power pumping 30m + I finally got 2 oz. first night was only 1.5oz, second night literally 2 drips, third night 1/2 ounces. Looking at videos and pictures of LO helps. And I know this is way easier said than done but I think stress contributes too. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103433 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 07:58:20 +0000 blackbird 2103433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had this problem. I don't think it's uncommon with EPing. I ended up quitting once I was getting about 7 ounces a day (at week 13). Some bodies just don't respond well to the pump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decreasing-supply-no-matter-what-i-do#post-2103416 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 07:50:04 +0000 Jessie_vp 2103416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>I'm getting a bit desperate here... I'm an exclusive pumping mom since day one (my now 4 month old daughter had a very bad latch). My supply was never high, but up until a few weeks it was always enough, and I could even freeze some excess milk that way. I usually pumped 27-30 oz each day. Unfortunately, something changed (no idea what) and I've been facing a steadily decreasing supply since a couple of weeks, no matter what I do. I went back to 8+ pumps a day, tried power pumping, drinking water and mother milk tea, I've always pumped in the middle of the night, eating oatmeal, taking fenugreek etc etc. I have a double electric hospital grade rental pump and changed all the parts; to no avail. I use breast compression, warmth and massage... but my supply doesn't increase one bit, on the contrary. My daily output is now around 24 oz, a bit less every day. I have to supplement her bottles with my diminishing freezer stash and it won't be long till I have to use formula :( I'm getting desperate since I wanted to go for at least a year, but now it seems I'd be lucky to last 6 months... I don't really want to take drugs unless I really, really have to. Any ideas or should I just accept the fact that I'm drying up?</p> <p>Thanks! </p>