https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 00:43:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2883750 Wed, 08 May 2019 16:32:55 +0000 pachamama 2883750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: I didn't have to buy formula, it was a miracle. I think I am staying home with DS for the year so maybe I won't with him either. I'm not hell bent on no formula but breastfeeding for me has always been easy- literally the ONLY easy thing in terms of me having babies (actually, I delivered really easily too but that's it). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882670 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 16:49:24 +0000 Sams Mom 2882670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My supply went to crap (was never an over producer at all) around 10 months. By 11 months I quit and switched him to WCM with his pediatrician's blessings. I know 12 months is recommended, but it wasn't going to happen and he turned his nose up to all formula... Sooooo WCM it was. 🤷🏼‍♀️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882669 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 16:46:02 +0000 periwinklebee 2882669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: What did help my supply was moringa. I ordered it on Amazon. I'm not a person to take random supplements, but it came highly recommended by a LC consultant who gave really good advice, and when I didn't take it I'd get an ounce or two less. Never noticed any side effects at all. </p> <p>Thanks for the sympathy on food allergies :heart: It's fine in our day to day life as we've just gotten used to not being able to eat out (except pizza, with thank goodness is usually nut and sesame free). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882666 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 15:46:19 +0000 crazydoglady 2882666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Instead of getting 8 oz for the day, I was getting about 12. It didn't last but it's gotten even worse since I stopped the pills. I'm not opposed to DD getting formula per se, it's just that we've gone so long with out it and we are so so close. If the pills don't work, I won't have much choice tho.</p> <p>Also, V is not STTN. :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882664 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 15:32:36 +0000 LCTBQE 2882664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@crazydoglady: how much did that stuff help? Like, were you getting 5 oz instead of 3.5, that kind of difference? I actually just found some leftover fenugreek in my desk drawer at lunch today, so going to give it a whirl. Are you worried about introducing supplemental formula, or just averse to the idea? For me I think even adding more sessions would still not get me anywhere close to where I was before :meh: BUT I’m sleeping at night and if that’s the price of the ticket, so be it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882663 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 15:28:59 +0000 bhbee 2882663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: yes my hair has also kind of gone back to normal! As for the cycle I had some ewcm that could be random but made me think it could be happening. No idea really. My first it came back at 7m, she had been STTN for a while so I think it was solids maybe that changed her eating? My second it came back at 13m, probably because he ate at night pretty much until he weaned. This one started STTN over a month ago so seems possible ... and I just stopped pumping the tank up about a week or so ago and she’s finally getting the hang of solids. Anyway makes me think it’s about the right time. But with my first I had zero heads up on the cycle, just could see it tanked my supply in retrospect. I hope you figure out a plan that works for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882650 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 14:33:22 +0000 crazydoglady 2882650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is the stuff I ordered again. Crap thats a big pic. </p> <p>[attach=8671/19/pqsgzm.348x600.pink.jpg] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882649 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 14:31:18 +0000 crazydoglady 2882649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Yes and I am trying not to panic. I assumed DD would eat as much as DS during the day and didn't make pumping that big of a priority. Well, she takes an extra 4 ounces a day than I pump and my freezer stash is going to last me until the end of this week and then I don't know what I will do. I can't add any more pump sessions to the work day. I took some pills that helped initially and then flat lined, so I am going to start taking them again to see if they give me a boost. DD hasn't had any formula and I just have 5 weeks until summer break, so I really want to try to make it work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882647 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 14:20:57 +0000 LCTBQE 2882647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: I gave away 275oz of my frozen stash back in December 😖 it was taking over our freezer and I think it was kind of lipase-y and she wasn’t crazy about it, but damn I wish I still had it. Did you never have to buy formula?!</p> <p>@agold: I haven’t heard about those two! Tell me if you try again and do think they help. I tried fenugreek two years ago but I can’t remember if it really helped. And thank you for sharing your experience :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882625 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 12:52:20 +0000 pachamama 2882625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my supply did tank around then. No supplements helped. I was only pumping once at work though. I used up all my freezer stash, thank God I had a whole bunch of frozen! I think I literally had one 4 ounce bag left iver on his first birthday 😬 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882623 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 12:49:15 +0000 agold 2882623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: I did try basil and fennel essential oils last time. I'll probably do that again this week sometime. Not sure if it works, but it was what I thought was cool to try. Just a thought! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882614 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 11:51:39 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2882614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@poppygirl15: Yes, I had the exact same experience! I stressed so much with my first LO trying to take fenugreek, chugging water, adding pumping sessions. I finally started supplementing with formula as needed at 9 months and was able to relax a bit. </p> <p>My second LO is 7 months and my supply has dipped noticeably too. No sign of my period either but he is starting to eat more solids. I am doing more supplementing and using my freezer stash as needed. My goal is still at least 12 months of breastfeeding but will see how it goes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882607 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 10:51:45 +0000 LCTBQE 2882607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: this exactly—right now I’m doing my morning pump and getting 3oz :meh: so notsuper excited to pump again at 3pm and get 2 measly ounces. I think I’m going to follow your lead and drop down to once at work and once before bed, my boo also goes to sleep early. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882606 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 10:48:44 +0000 LCTBQE 2882606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you for the replies, everyone! So good to know I’m not the only one. </p> <p>@kayla0416: @agold: @bhbee: nope, haven’t gotten my period back yet—mayyybe it could be coming this month but supply started taking a dive back in March and I have a feeling it’s not going to come back until I wean completely. That’s what happened with my first baby, weaned at 12 months and got my period a month later. @jennlin821: does oatmeal really work? Thought I had heard it had to be a specific kind, like not instant ?<br /> @bhbee why do you think yours is coming back? And ps my hair loss finally stopped! Now I’m re-growing all those sad little hairline whispies, are you? </p> <p>@graceandjoy: @MrsADS: @Kitkat: @poppygirl15: yep, all of this. I think I wrote this post to get cosmic permission to *not* go nuts doing what you did the first time poppygirl, and just go with the flow here. Or trickle, as the case may be :) agree that it’s probably a lot to do with laziness about the pumping regimen, but also (DUH) just now realized this also aligns perfectly with the girl finally STTN, and me STTN, which I would trade good supply for in a freaking heartbeat. </p> <p>@periwinklebee: yep, I think I’m going to ride out nursing as long as she wishes like you’re doing now. My son was basically done nursing around 10-11 months and me “weaning” was just quitting my 4x/day pumping regimen. The allergies you guys are dealing with sounds so stressful :heart: I know you manage it like a pro though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882593 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 08:02:39 +0000 MrsADS 2882593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same here, my son is 11 months and my supply has been dwindling for the last 2-3 months or so. I had an oversupply at the beginning, so thankfully I have still had enough in the freezer to use and I think I will be okay till 12 months at this point. I am just pumping once at work now. I pump like 3-4 oz in my one pump. I also pump at night because he goes to bed early (like 6pm). I usually pump around 8-9pm and get 3-4 oz. So I'm getting like 6-8 oz total a day from pumping. </p> <p>I could do more to increase my supply, but I'm burned out and since I still have some in my freezer stash, I'm like whatever. I probably stop pumping at work in the next month or so but keep nursing AM/PM/weekends for a while - I nursed my first till he was 2y3m. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882539 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 16:24:55 +0000 poppygirl15 2882539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, my supply started decreasing around that point with both kids. Totally sucked. With my first, I freaked and did everything under the sun to maintain getting the needed amount each day. With my second, I refused to stress myself out. I think I had *just* enough in the freezer to make my supply last to twelve months. That being said, I wouldn't recommend you do what I did with my first. It wasn't worth the physical or mental stress. I say, give her as much breast milk as you can, and then supplement if you need to. As you said, she's eating solids, so that could be it, too. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882521 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 14:42:43 +0000 autumnleaves 2882521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My supply tanked at 10 months with my second but I think it was work stress and cutting the pumping down from 3 times to 2 times at work. I gave up because my goal was 12 months and I didn’t feel I had the stamina to work on building it up just to hit that 12 month mark. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882502 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 13:27:01 +0000 periwinklebee 2882502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>p.s. mine declined quite a bit even well before my period came back (that didn't happen until I was down to only nursing at bedtime and wakeup, with no pumping...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882501 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 13:25:33 +0000 periwinklebee 2882501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found I had to pump more and more to get the same output. I did pump more and more when my work schedule allowed it - i.e. lots of desk work where it didn't matter if I sat there pumping a lot - but that wasn't always possible. I think around 10 months or so even with lots of pumping it dropped off a fair amount. I just topped off with formula and didn't sweat it. My kid has fairly severe food allergies, after having to administer an epi for an anaphylactic reaction, and worry that exposure to tons of very common foods can be really serious for him, I honestly don't get how I could have ever had a second though about formula. Anything that he'll eat that won't literally potentially kill him is golden :silly: </p> <p>FWIW, my LO is very comforted by bf and still feeds as much as I let him at 15 months (and would spend much longer if I let him) even though I think he's basically getting drops. So if your LO loves bf for the comfort, even if your supply dips way down she may continue to love it... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882495 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 13:17:52 +0000 Kitkat 2882495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS2 is 9.5 months and my supply has also tanked recently. I think partly because I’ve been supplementing with formula this time around so I’ve been lazier about pumping, especially since he’s been eating solids. I was also sick last week and basically didn’t eat for 3 days, which killed my supply even more...it seems like it’s coming back from that a little though. Just going with the flow and nursing morning and night and pumping once at work. I don’t really love nursing though, so I’m not doing anything to try and get it back up, especially since I’ll been weaning at 12 months anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882494 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 13:14:05 +0000 bhbee 2882494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was going to ask about your period too. I freaked out with my first because before my first pp cycle it tanked and I couldn’t pump enough for work like usual. But it came back ok after that for me. Just keep doing what you’re doing I think! I’m pretty sure my cycle is coming back and it sucks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882469 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 12:00:37 +0000 agold 2882469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My littlest is 11 months and my pump supply has tanked the last month and a half or so. I would normally pump 12 ounces, and I am now pumping about 8-10 ounces. So, not enough for what she needs. I have a freezer supply that I'm quickly running through, but I think it will help me get to 12 months. (I really was crazy to a fault about guarding the freezer stash) I never did supplement, but I don't think I would take any extreme measures to get your supply back up, if I were you. You are already supplementing, so just keep doing what you are doing. Pump on your schedule. I found that if I nursed my baby on one side in the morning, then I could get to work and pump right away; the other side would give me a ton of milk that would help. The baby didn't need to nurse both sides because she's eating a full breakfast shortly after she wakes up. You are already doing great by making it to 8 months. Keep doing what you are doing and don't stop until you have to or feel you want to. ETA: my period just came back last week. So maybe my supply tanked as I was gearing up for that. I'll bet yours is coming back soon since you are supplementing already. I'm still nursing twice at night, so I just figure its because my girl is eating so much solid food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882468 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 11:54:24 +0000 jennlin821 2882468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My supply tanked right before I got my first PP period, (6 mo pp) and then anytime going forward during ovulation. It was stressful that first time because we were on vacation and I couldn't pump enough! I though I was dehydrated and stressed, but then when my period started and my supply tanked again the following month, it all clicked. </p> <p>Once I became aware of the patter AND DD started taking solids, I had to pump more frequently to keep up my supply. I started drinking oatmeal smoothies and had to pump every two hours during the work day. I kept that up till 12 mo! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882465 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 11:30:13 +0000 Ajsmommy 2882465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My supply tanked pretty quickly when I returned to work. It was just something about the pumping that didn't do it for me. I was able to make it last for about 10-11 months with a little supplementing here and there but I never made the 12 month mark </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882463 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 11:24:02 +0000 graceandjoy 2882463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my 1st it was decreasing early on so that by the time DD was 6 months I had to start supplementing with formula to stretch out my stash. At that point I was already sleep deprived, tired, and I WOH. I decided it just wasn't worth me chasing my supply so I did what I could and supplemented. Pretty much my supply dried up by 9 months and I had used up all my stash so we went full on formula. No regrets. It was my 1st and I just wasn't in the head space to fight for my supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882461 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 11:19:23 +0000 kayla0416 2882461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: have you gotten your period back? My supply tanked after getting my period again. After that I would always have decent supply during the first half of my cycle, but between ovulation and my period, it was cut to about half of usual. Then when I got my period it would go back to normal again. So maybe if this just started happening, you'll get your period soon! Super annoying, but it happened with both my babies. I fought it as much as I could with additional nursing/pumping, but didn't see much of a return. I had a pretty good frozen stash so I supplemented from that until it ran out a little after 11 months, then I supplemented with cow's milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-supply-tank-before-12-months#post-2882457 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 11:06:31 +0000 LCTBQE 2882457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My baby just turned 8 months, she was EBF the first 4 months--I had oversupply and then perfect supply. Then I returned to work and started supplementing a little, then more and more. I typically pump twice at work and get 10-ish oz, and pump again before going to bed. In the past couple weeks my supply has just started tanking, made worse by the fact that we were on vacation last week and I just nursed and didn't do my typical supplemental pumping. Another factor could be that I haven't been eating or drinking well (anxiety/travel/etc). I'm back at work today and I typically nurse her in the morning and then do an 11am pumping and get about 6oz--today I got just under 3. She has started eating solids with gusto in the past couple weeks, so maybe she's not nursing quite as much and I haven't noticed?? </p> <p>So I'm wondering: if your supply started tanking, what did you do? Did you fight it and pump/nurse more and take fenugreek and focus on maintaining a good diet, etc, or did you just go with the flow and supplement and ride it out? I'm kind of disappointed but not totally sure what to do. My loose plan had been to wean at 12 months like I did with my son, and I love nursing and my daughter is very soothed by it, but I'm not at all averse to formula. Experiences/advice?? </p>