https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:16:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1327451 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 08:43:15 +0000 Adira 1327451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sotofamilia: That's what I keep saying to everyone - if he's hungry, he'll wake up to eat! But no one believes me, haha. I think it's other people that make this parenting gig even more stressful!</p> <p>Ugh, and I don't even want to THINK about potty training! Especially with a boy! I'm scared... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1327443 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 08:36:23 +0000 sotofamilia 1327443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I'm sure he'll be fine! You'll know he's hungry if he starts waking up to nurse at night!!</p> <p>Parenting, huh? If it's not one anxiety it's another. I'm seriously currently looking at potty training books for when my 11-month old needs to be potty-trained in two or so years...so yeah. It never ends!</p> <p>@Beyond2: and yeah, what if you're pregnant!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1327439 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 08:33:43 +0000 Adira 1327439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beyond2: haha, I WISH! But the decrease started right around when my period showed up, so I don't think pregnancy is the cause!</p> <p>@sotofamilia: I actually sent 6 oz bottles today because I didn't have enough milk in the fridge to send the normal 6.5 oz... I've done this before in the past and haven't noticed a difference with him, so I'm sure it will be fine... I just feel bad he's not getting his normal amount! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1327434 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 08:28:21 +0000 sotofamilia 1327434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I'm not familiar with being concerned about weight, because my LO has always been big....maybe that's part of the reason why I don't mind that he's getting less milk. He also gets up once per night and nurses, so he's probably getting a chunk there too.</p> <p>But if you do start giving less milk, maybe he'll up his solids? Also, maybe you could just send 6 oz bottles to start to see how he does? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1327421 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 08:23:05 +0000 Beyond2 1327421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had huge supply dips the week or so before my period. Any chance you could be pregnant? ;-) That would cause a possible decrease in supply too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1327416 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 08:19:53 +0000 Adira 1327416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sotofamilia: Well, he used to have 5 oz bottles (which I thought was PLENTY, but people kept saying it wasn't enough, so I felt pressured to keep it up), but then I weaned him of our dreamfeed and I was worried he wouldn't be getting enough milk, so I upped his bottles to 6.5 oz to make up for what he was missing in the dreamfeed! I'm not sure if he actually was even drinking much during the dreamfeed or needed the milk, but he's such a peanut, so I didn't want to deprive him of anything!</p> <p>Sounds like our output is similar!! I used to get 15-20 oz and was able to freeze the extra, but now I'm lucky if I get 15 oz! I don't really know that he needs 6.5 oz bottles, but I'm nervous to give him less! Ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1327412 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 08:14:43 +0000 sotofamilia 1327412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: wow, he drinks 6.5 oz bottles?! Props to you for keeping up with that! My LO used to drink 4-5 oz bottles and lately has been getting 3.5-4.5 oz bottles. A good day for me is 12-15 ozs now, whereas I used to get 15-20 ozs (and would freeze 1-2 extra 5 oz bags).</p> <p>But i want to wean off the pump at a year, so I'm happy with the gradually reduced output. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1327351 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 07:29:21 +0000 Adira 1327351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AprilFool: That's a good idea! I'll ask them tonight how much he usually drinks and if they say he finishes them, I'll try sending bottles with less, but an extra one just in case, and see how that goes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1327224 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 01:27:31 +0000 AprilFool 1327224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: He might be finishing them at day care because they're there. Kinda like how I keep eating the french fries after I am full ;) You could try sending one bottle split into a 4oz and a 2oz and see how he goes as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1327079 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 22:15:26 +0000 Adira 1327079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: @Corduroy: I guess I'll have to ask my daycare if he really is finishing all his bottles. They always write that he drinks all 6 oz that I send in his bottles, but the other day, he slept past his last bottle and we ended up giving it to him at home and he only drank 4 oz! I had been assuming he was finishing them at daycare since they always wrote that he was, but maybe they're just being lazy and writing the amount in the bottle and not how much he actually eats... I'll ask!</p> <p>@sotofamilia: @Purpledaisy: @Corduroy: I'm so nervous about only leaving what I pump! I normally send 6.5 oz bottles (so 19.5 oz), but today I only pumped 15 oz!! I'll try to remember to ask daycare tomorrow if he really finishes his bottles because maybe he really doesn't need that much... he's just a little peanut though, so I'm worried about him not getting enough!</p> <p>It's definitely encouraging to hear that you all have gone through this and that it sounds normal! I was kind of assuming it was normal since he often only nurses 3 times a day when we're together, but I was nervous that it was just me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1326288 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:44:16 +0000 AprilFool 1326288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like he is just naturally weaning himself and drinking less milk. This is a good thing, he is doing what he is supposed to do. Just send what you pump to daycare and see how he does. You might be surprised, especially as he was nursing less frequently from you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1326159 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:57:05 +0000 Corduroy 1326159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our LOs are close in age and I've noticed a dip lately too. My LO is also not finishing all her milk at daycare. Last week I started sending less milk (closer to what I pump in 3 sessions). I think it's just that time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1326116 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:43:29 +0000 dagret 1326116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had the same dip, and started adding WCM to his bottles, with our ped's OK, around 10.5 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1326069 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:33:02 +0000 septca 1326069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Purpledaisy: You make a good point. At my ped's suggestion, I started giving DD a bit of WCM at 9.5 months just to get her used to it. The fact that I did is helping our weaning process now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1326033 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:25:16 +0000 kiddosc 1326033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your supply is adjusting this is about the time where I started feeding E more solids and he got less BM at daycare. It seems pretty evident by the fact that he only nursed 3-4 times a day while you were together that his intake needs are decreasing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1326014 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:21:55 +0000 Purpledaisy 1326014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with maybe your supply is just adjusting. I know that in about the past month or so J has definitely started nursing less. Maybe just try leaving what you pump plus a bag of frozen milk as back up? Also maybe possibly adding milk alternative a little early? Maybe at 11.5 instead of a year? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1325947 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:06:46 +0000 sotofamilia 1325947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septca: totally agree. Your supply is adjusting to an older baby. I would just leave what you pump and try not to stress about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1325942 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:06:25 +0000 Adira 1325942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septca: I hear you! I can't even begin to count the number of times I've been stressed about pumping, which only hurts your supply!! I'm TRYING to be more chill about it now that we're nearing the one year mark, but it's so hard!!! I really should just try to be thankful for having made it this long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1325904 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:59:33 +0000 septca 1325904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I wouldn't stress. Hindsight is 20/20 on all matter BFing. :happy: I was a total wreck when I went through this - my ped made me feel soooo much better, and she was totally right.</p> <p>I have wasted a really unfortunate percentage of the last few months stressing about my pumping output. :crying: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1325840 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:50:22 +0000 Adira 1325840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: @Alivoo01: I do have a freezer stash, so if I have to supplement, I will be able to with that. I'm just not sure how long it will last me! Though if I only need 2-4 oz a day, I think it should last me a while... hopefully!!</p> <p>@septca: Ugh, my supply dipped when AF showed up last time and NEVER recovered! And I hear you about nursing exclusively NOT boosting your supply! I just went a week+ with Xander nursing him exclusively and he ate so infrequently (only 3-4 times a day) that my supply is down even further after that! UGH! But maybe he is transitioning to solids and it's not a huge deal... I guess I shouldn't stress about it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1325669 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:24:34 +0000 Alivoo01 1325669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have a freezer stash? If you're wanting to prolong his BM intake, supplement with that? He's 10 months so you're almost there! Bravo for a job well done! 10 months is no easy feat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1325543 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:02:13 +0000 septca 1325543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Two things:<br /> (1) Based on your chart, you could be getting AF soon, so your supply could be dipping to account for that; and<br /> (2) He is exactly at the age when babies start getting more nutrition from solids and he is likely telling your body to produce less milk.</p> <p>Until DD was about 9.5 months old, I would pump 14-16 ounces a day. After that, I was lucky to get 7-10 ounces! I was home with her for three weeks around that time and nursed exclusively, thinking that would boost my supply. Nope. I talked it over with her pediatrician, and she said that what I was experiencing was totally normal and natural because weaning starts when you start to offer solids. She said to leave (for my nanny) what I pumped. So I did. We went from four 3.5 ounce bottles a day to three 3 ounce bottles and kept the solids the same. No issues and DD never seemed hungry. Now, at 11.5 months, we are starting to cut feedings and DD is getting a straw cup of milk instead of one bottle. I have noticed that her hunger for her solids is increasing as we make this change. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1325458 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:44:24 +0000 mediagirl 1325458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found pumping longer than 20 minutes never got me anything extra, other than sore boobs. Perhaps your supply is going down because he doesn't need as much anymore! Around that time, my supply started taking some serious dips. I supplemented with freezer stash and formula, when I had to. I would just keep doing what you're doing and supplement when you have to. You've done SO WELL so far! Congratulations!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supply-is-tanking-gahhh#post-1325447 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:41:57 +0000 Adira 1325447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, I'm totally depressed! I've been soooooooo blessed to be able to breastfeed and pump and supply enough milk for Xander, but ever since AF showed back up at 9.5 months post-partum, my supply has been kicking the bucket!</p> <p>My routine used to look like this:</p> <p>5:30 a.m. - nurse<br /> 6:00 - pump<br /> 11:00 - pump<br /> 3:30 p.m. - pump<br /> 5:30 - nurse<br /> 9:00 - pump</p> <p>and I was able to get 20+ oz from those pumping sessions. But lately Xander's been skipping our 5:30 nursing session (we haven't done it in a month I think), so I've been pumping then instead and I even added a pump session at work, so my day looks like this:</p> <p>5:30 a.m. - pump<br /> 6:30 - pump<br /> 9:00 - pump<br /> 12:00 p.m. - pump<br /> 3:30 - pump<br /> 6:00 - pump<br /> 9:00 - pump</p> <p>And I'm lucky if I can get 15 oz TOTAL! Not even enough for Xander's bottles the next day!!!!</p> <p>Xander's over 10 months and I'm planning on switching him to milk (not WCM because he's allergic) when he turns one. Ideally, I'd like to continue to nurse in the mornings until he wants to wean, but stop pumping (though this might not be an option). Should I even bother trying to boost my supply at this point or is it basically all over?? I've tried Mother's Milk Plus (tincture) in the past and it did NOTHING for me. I eat oatmeal every morning and I usually pump 20-30 minutes.</p> <p>What do you all think?? </p>