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I thought I would be fine.
My works was getting busier.
I missed critical deadlines and I felt miserable for not performing well enough.
So I started dropping one mid-morning pumping session.
I was able to catch up with my workload and got the acknowledgment that I desperately needed (I was in the fence of quitting btw, things were tough).
My pumping output was fine initially, but after a few weeks, I saw a huge drop in my supply.
Whaatt?!?!
I freaked out...
Just like any other pumping mom whom milk supply suddenly drops.
And again, I was coming back to Google, searching ways to replenish my milk supply again.
But do you know, skipping pumping session is only one among several reasons of sudden milk supply drop.
One may be easier to identify and fix, while some others are not.
Are you worried if your milk supply would suddenly drop? Or have you experienced milk supply drop before but having no clue what causes it? Sometimes, mothers thought they are having insufficient milk supply when they are actually not.
In today's post, I would go through with you 8 Things That Cause Milk Supply Drop and what you can do about it.
More...
This post is part of MILK SUPPLY series. You may check out other posts in this series:
- 20+ Things I Did To Boost My Milk Supply
- 10 Ways To Increase Milk Supply Naturally
- How To Increase Milk Supply While Pumping
- 10+ Herbs to Increase Your Milk Production
- 10 Foods To Boost Your Milk Supply
- Protein Powder to Increase Milk Production
- My Milk Supply Suddenly Drops After Returning To Work | What To Do
- How to stop Supplementing with Formula
- How to Stop Supplementing For Working Mom
1. You breast pump needs a tune up
Do you notice any difference in the vacuum strength?
Does it feel weaker?
Some pumps start to create this problem if they are overused.
If you are still under warranty, it's not harmful to get your pump checked for any possible issues.
When was the last time you change your breast shield's membrane or valve?
If it's been more than a few months, it's time to get them replaced.
Check the tubing. Do you notice any condensation there?
Tubing condensation may interfere the auction strength, so if you do, change to a new tubing while you are trying to get the condensation out of there.
SEE ALSO: Best Hospital-Grade Breast Pumps To Increase Your Milk Supply
2. You frequently skipped pumping sessions
If you are regular pumper, frequently skipping pumping session may hurt your milk supply.
Why I said, 'may', but not 'definitely'?
This is because every mom has different breast milk storage capacity, that is the amount of milk that can be stored inside your breast.
Example:
Mom A used to pump 3x at work and could collect up to 600 ml (so around 200 ml in each session).
Then she dropped her session into twice at work, but still managed to get 600 ml consistently.
This is because her breast can store up to 300 ml breast milk (roughly), so even with the pumping schedule change, her milk supply is still stable.
Let's compare with mom B.
She also got 600 ml of milk with 3 pumping sessions at work, but when she reduced it into two, she could only get 500 ml total.
Why is that?
Because she has smaller breast storage capacity.
Perhaps her breast could not store up to 300 ml of milk, but only 250 ml.
So the moment her breast is full and her next pumping session is not due yet, her breast slows down the milk production, no more storage!
Which one are you? Type A or B?
Only you can answer this question, but for me, I'm type B mom.
But.., how can you know how much milk your breast can keep before it slows down?
Well, honestly, I don't have the exact answer.
But you can find the clue from your baby's feeding pattern.
If your baby nurses pretty frequently, that may signal that you have small breast storage capacity.
But if your baby nurses, say, every 3 hours or even more, it may signal that you have larger breast storage capacity, and thus, you can afford to pump less frequent.
Now, the most important question.
What can you do to bring back your milk supply?
1. Bring back the skipped session
By bringing back the skipped session, you essentially tell your breast to produce milk more frequently, because you empty it more frequently, too.
Remember the golden rule of milk production:
"The emptier the breast, the faster milk production is, and the fuller the breast, the slower the milk production would be."
If your work is very busy and you barely have time to pump, consider doing hands-free pumping with a portable pump, such as Freemie Liberty. A lot of moms love it because you can multitask while pumping. Check out my latest Freemie Liberty review here.
2. Power pumping
It may take some time to bring back your depleted supply.
To make things faster, I recommend doing power pumping to boost your milk production.
You can either set aside an hour a day to do 3 short 10-min pump with 10-min break, or do the 2-hourly pump for 48 hours.
SEE ALSO: The Complete Guide to Power Pumping (How, When, Case Studies, plus Tips and Tricks).
2. Power pumping
It may take some time to bring back your depleted supply.
To make things faster, I recommend doing power pumping to boost your milk production.
You can either set aside an hour a day to do 3 short 10-min pump with 10-min break, or do the 2-hourly pump for 48 hours.
SEE ALSO: The Complete Guide to Power Pumping (How, When, Case Studies, plus Tips and Tricks).
3. Your baby starts sleeping through the night
Ahem,
This is such a big milestone that every parent are waiting for.
When the baby starts sleeping through the night, the parents also get the rest they desperately need, too.
However, from milk supply point of view, there's a long gap the last feeding at night and the first-morning feeding.
If your breast is not emptied at all throughout the night, it may start thinking to reduce the milk production.
And that's why your milk supply drops.
Also, another similar thing that may cause milk supply drop is your baby is still nursing throughout the night, but she's just comfort nursing.
She's nibbling at your breast, but NO milk is actually drawn out.
What to do:
1. Offer your baby to nurse again
This may sound counter-intuitive, but it is the easiest to do.
Your baby may sleep a few hours earlier than you, and the moment you are ready for bed, just arouse her a bit to nurse on.
Most babies would happily accept the offer, and nurse for a few minutes.
2. Wake up to pump
Yeah, if you prefer letting your baby sleeps through the night but you don't want your milk supply drops, then wake up to pump.
Research has shown that sometime between midnight and early morning is the best time to pump, because your prolactin level (the hormone responsible for your milk production) is at the highest, and therefore if you pump during that time, chance's are you will get quite a good amount of milk.
If you are unable to wake up to pump (I know, we all need sleep, haha), then at least try to squeeze one more pumping session, choose the time that works best for you (and you know you can be consistent with it).
Say, if you are comfortable waking up a little bit earlier then pump, just do this.
Else, if you feel you better off pumping after your baby sleeps, go for this.
The main point of this extra pumping is to replace the missed feeding that you used to have before your baby started sleeping through the night.
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Also, still related to this, but in general, if you are reducing the number of feeding and pumping you do throughout the day, there's a chance that your milk supply may drop.
Every mother has this magic number that corresponds to how often her breast should be emptied throughout the day (learn more about magic number and milk production here).
If the you pump / nurse less than your magic number, your milk supply will start to dwindle down. So it is important to keep the frequent feeding / pumping to keep your supply up.
4. You are having your period
Period usually causes a temporary drop to your milk supply.
It can be a few days for some moms, while others have it for one full week.
What to do:
Personally, I didn't do anything about it.
I know it is temporary and my milk supply would bounce up again once the period is completed.
However, if you barely has any stash and you are a pump-today-for-tomorrow-feed type of mom, this temporary drop may freak you out because you may not get enough milk for tomorrow's feeding.
Here are some suggestions (excerpted from exclusivepumping.com):
- Take Calcium / Magnesium supplements
- Attempt more let-downs while pumping
- Consume lactogenic food or herbs (or drink a nursing tea)
5. Are you pregnant?
Are you possibly pregnant?
With pregnancy, there are hormonal changes occurring in your body that cause a decrease in milk supply.
The supply drop typically begins by mid-pregnancy, but some mothers experience it as early as the first month of expecting.
As your pregnancy progresses, the milk will turn into colostrum for newborn consumption later on.
Some nurslings react to the supply and taste change by self-weaning, while others keep nursing until past birth .
What to do:
This is a natural process and it's best just to let it happen naturally.
If your baby is less than 6 months old, you may need to watch her weight gain and supplement if needed.
If she's older than 6 months old, typically increasing her solid intake helps her to stay full while still enjoying the benefit of breast milk.
Should you wean your baby?
I guess it depends on your personal choice and whether you experience pain / contractions while nursing. I suggest you talking to your gynae to decide what's best for you and your baby.
6. Introducing solid food
In most cases, introducing solid food to babies should not reduce your supply.
This is because the very first solid food is meant to 'compliment' breast milk, NOT to 'replace' it.
However, some babies really like eating solid food to the extent that when it's time to nurse, they may nurse less than usual.
If you are worried that your baby may not get the sufficient amount of breast milk, see if this meal routine would work for you.
Nurse your baby first, then an hour later or so, feed your baby her food.
This way, your baby won't overeat and still gets the usual amount of milk from your breast.
Kellymom has a great explanation on how to introduce solid food without decreasing your milk supply. Head over here to read the full details.
7. Consuming anti-lactogenic food
Perhaps you didn't realize this...
Or perhaps it was a festive event...
But if you accidentally eat milk-reducing food such as sage leaves or parsley in large amount, your milk supply may suddenly drop.
I remember reading the book "The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk"and there's a real story of how a mom stopped producing enough milk for her first babies, and finally engaged a lactation consultant to help her after the second birth.
She told the LC that her milk came in, but then suddenly stopped.
Turns out, her husband has been diligently serving her a chicken soup every day, heavily sprinkled with sage, a popular herb known to reduce milk supply!
Of course, he didn't have any idea that this herb can kill the milk supply.
The lesson here is:
Pay attention to what you have been eating.
In general, milk-reducing herbs can still be consumed BUT in small quantities, but if you keep experiencing supply drop without any other cause, it's good to stop it for a while to determine if it is the culprit.
SEE ALSO: 10+Herbs to Increase Milk Supply
8. Stress and fatigue
Stress oh stress..
This is a problem that frequently occurring for a pumping mom.
While a little stress may not affect your milk supply, a huge stress will.
Not to mention the insufficient rest due to the need of taking care of the baby, pumping, and more.
What to do:
I think saying 'don't be stressed out' won't work here.
1. First, I want you to take care of YOUR self.
Yes, you.
I've been there before.
When you feel like racing all time, dedicating all your time and effort for your family and loved ones.
And you are left with little or no time to take care yourself.
You are burnt out, but you don't know how to stop the race.
And you just keep going.
::
Do you know?
Adequate protein intake is necessary for healthy milk supply and also helps to combat fatigue and emotional distress. For easy protein boost, try consuming protein powder. Yes, there are some made uniquely for breastfeeding mothers. You can read more info about breastfeeding-friendly protein powder here.
Take a break.
If you used to take care of your baby by yourself, ask your spouse to help you just for an hour and do things you love: watch some movie, read a book, hang out with your girlfriends, it's up to you.
You may feel guilty doing it at first, but trust me, you deserve it, and you'll be back to your family feeling refreshed and happier.
Happy mom -->> healthy milk production
2. Prioritize and delegate.
If you can't have all done, then be it!
Your house may be a mess and you feel guilty for not having time to clean it.
Or you may buy food for dinner most of the time and you are guilty for not cooking a healthy homemade food.
The list can go on and on.
Look..
Don't try to be a perfect mom. This is not a good time for that.
Rather, prioritize what's more important for you and your family.
And if someone can help you to complete a task, then by all means, delegate that job.
A little confession:
When I was still working and pumping for my daughter, I had a live-in helper who helped me a lot with my household tasks, including cooking.
But you know, the inner me sometimes want to cook a meal for my family, my own cooking.
So I told myself, ok, you may not be able to cook every single day, so you should cook on the weekend.
The reality?
I was still busy pumping on weekend, we tried to take the kids out to have fun with them, and I tried to catch enough rest so that I wouldn't fall sick easily.
And my desire to cook was pushed down to non-existent because I prioritized other more important things.
Did I regret it?
Not really.. I love cooking for my family but I know this time I need to prioritize for other things first.
When this phase of life has passed, I would have more time to cook for my family.
And as everyone say: This, too, shall pass...
::
SEE ALSO: My PUMPING 101 series, all things you need to know about pumping (10+ articles included)
There you go.
If you are currently experiencing milk supply drop, I hope you can finally find the reason behind it and do the action needed to bring back your supply.
Now onto you.
Have you experienced any milk supply drop before?
Were you able to find the cause and how to deal with it?
I've told my story and now it's your turn to tell yours!
Taqia says
Hi there, I’m experiencing the same problem. I was sick for more than a week and my milk supply just dropped to almost nothing now. I’m pumping every 2-3 hours but accumulatively I only get 10 ounces tops. My baby is only 5 months old. Have tried power pumping, taking fenugreek etc but nothing works. I’m super stressed but I don’t want to give up breastfeeding just yet…
Rina says
Are you EP ing or also direct latching?
What about a nursing bootcamp during the weekend (I remember reading about this in Kellymom).
Also, try to get some sleep? Perhaps get a 4-hour stretch sleep at night and do 2-hourly pumping during the day. If cannot, try to catnap during the day. I notice that my breast feels fuller after a short nap (even if it is just 10-15 mins of sleep).
Jahnavi Gaduputi says
Hi Rina
I am experiencing low milk supply and am able to provide only 30 percent of my baby’s requirement.. i started supplimenting when my baby was 5 days old..
I am 7 weeks post delivery and my prolactin levels are 60ng/ml.. i read that u experienced the same with ur first born.. how long could u maintain the milk supply?
Thanks
Jahnavi
Rina says
HinJahnavi,
I was able to nurse him until 2 years old. Yes, he might not get a lot, but still, any amount of breast milk is wonderful. As Long as you keep nursing your (or pumping if you are working), your supply will stay.
Good luck!
Amber says
Hi, I’m a first time breast feeding mom, 3 child but first time pumping. I don’t breast feed I only pump at first it was going great I was getting anywhere from 6 to 8 ounces every time I pumped even though I was struggling to stay on a schedule and pump as often as I should. Slowly to I was able to really pump less and less but I was still producing and then all the sudden my supply is just gone I had one day where I was driving on the road most of the day and was on a road trip visiting family I didn’t get a chance to pump and the next day when I went to try there wasn’t even half an ounce between the two of them! Now I’m freaking out, if rather not get into all the details publicly but my son has to have at least some of my breast milk every day. I’ve been trying to pump like every hour even though like barely anything is coming out…. I’m worried sick and I’m very inexperienced with breast pumping. If my supply does go dry can I get it back and how can I get my supply to come back even a little? please help
Rina says
Do power pumping (pumping 2 hourly for at least 2 days). A Friend of mine did this when she only got drops of milk.
During the 2-day power pumping, she got only 75 ml all combined. The next day, magically she got 50 ml in just one pumping session. You can read her story (search in my website – breastfeeding chronicles : from 1000 oz to 0)
Give it a try!
Marielle smith says
Hi Rina! I have had my regular menstruation 2 months after giving birth. My milk supply gradually dropped. Now my baby is 5 months old and I dont produce milk anymore.
Is there anyway that I can get my supply back? My baby has been sleeping 6 hrs at a stretch at night so the first thing I do when I wake up is pump but I have been spending 20 minutes to get 50 ml milk.
What should I do? I still want to breastfeed…
Rina says
My first suggestion is to do more frequent pumping / nursing. Perhaps offer breast more frequently during weekend. Can you count how many times you pump / nurse during the whole day?
Typically one needs 6-8 nursing / pumping sessions to maintain a healthy supply. Say, if you pump twice at work, and nurse once in morning, once at night, that’s only four times a day, and likely your supply is decreasing because it does not have frequent enough stimulation.
Veena says
Hi Rina, my son is 3 months old. My milk supply was low from the beginning itself and was supplementing with formula after every feed. I tried hard constantly and managed to wean off the bottle and made the top feed only once a day (instead of after every feed). Weight gain was normal and I was so relieved and happy. During the last week, he shows an aversion to my breast. He was screaming a lot. I thought it might be nipple confusion, so I stopped bottle and fed the formula through spoon only. Now he is drinking breastmilk only for 5-7 mins per breast and then crying after that. Again the old days are back where he needs to be supplemented after every feed! I am near to depression due to this. I don’t know the reason why this happens. I bought a breast pump yesterday and pumped after a breastfeed session. Got 25ml in total.
Can you please help me out, I have nobody to seek advice from. 🙁 Thanks!!!!