How to know if supply is decreasing?

User - posted on 08/02/2012

You dont get hard engorged breasts because your body is finally making milk more efficiently. If you looked at me you would think there is no way that I am completely breastfeeding my baby. there is nothing there!!! At least for me it is not fun when my breasts got huge and engorged. your body is doing you a favor. I know it is scary thinking that you might not be providing properly for your child. but i assure you that you are. Your body adjusts to what your baby is doing. If he is sleeping through the night now then your body catches on and makes milk according to when he does it. It is a supply and demand thing. If your son randonly decided he needed to eat 5 times a night, your body would supply that for him just fine :) Mine take an entire night to feel full. Sometimes I dont even know how she is still getting any food out of my breasts. Also your body makes foremilk and hinkmilk. Foremilk quenches their thirst and hinkmilk makse them fat. once is seems like all the milk is drained from your breasts, what is left is all the fatty good stuff. you might not know its there but he does:) Oh and also your baby is getting better at getting the food he needs in a shorter amount of time. that combined with your body making milk more efficiently could definitely start to seem like a low supply. as a newborn it took him about 40 minutes to get 2 oz. now it takes him 20 minutes to get 8oz. (not exact on my numbers, but something like that)

Casey - posted on 07/10/2012

Hes happy. Thanks so much, Ill check it out!!

Celeste - posted on 07/09/2012

Well, thanks :)

"I am bringing my pump...but will my supply decrease any due to that amount of time?"

Nah, your supply will be fine. You may be a bit uncomfortable though.

" If I only pump once through that time frame?"

Maybe see if you can try to pump another time, but if not, your supply should be fine.

" My son eats every hr and half to 2 hours normally.And then also, the night issue....do I pump overnight?"

I'd just see how you feel. If you feel OK, it'll probably be fine to not pump overnight.

"So, after he feeds normally around 1-2 AM, he is very restless and wants to be held. IDK what to do?! "

Well, I may not be of any help on this issue LOL My twin boys didn't sleep through the night til they were almost 2 and when they woke up, I'd nurse them and go back to sleep (I partly co slept).

"Last ques...does breastfed babies spit up a lot? Mine spits up often...at least 3 feedings a day and its thick & white..and smelly. LoL. Jw if this is normal? Hes only been doing it a few weeks."

Hmm..Is he happy? Or is he cranky? Here's a good link about what could be causing it and what you can do about it:
http://kellymom.com/health/baby-health/r...

Casey - posted on 07/09/2012

Last ques...does breastfed babies spit up a lot? Mine spits up often...at least 3 feedings a day and its thick & white..and smelly. LoL. Jw if this is normal? Hes only been doing it a few weeks.

Casey - posted on 07/09/2012

Thanks Celeste! You're very helpful. One more question for you (for now) LOL. Friday, I am going to a wedding..my son is being watched. The wedding is a hour away and so I will probably be gone a total of 5-6 hours. I am bringing my pump...but will my supply decrease any due to that amount of time? If I only pump once through that time frame? My son eats every hr and half to 2 hours normally.And then also, the night issue....do I pump overnight?? I stay at home so the only reason I pump is to store milk. Or can I go throughout the night. He only sleeps about 4-5 hours right now and then wakes up to eat. OH, and lastly!!!! HaHa! So, after he feeds normally around 1-2 AM, he is very restless and wants to be held. IDK what to do?! Any suggestions? I am going to make a new topic with this question too but you have been so helpful, thought I would ask. :)

Celeste - posted on 07/09/2012

" first of all ,i pump only once a week on Sunday after we got back from church other than that i breastfeed him every 2 to 3 hours"

Perfect!

" but now a days my breast is not hard rock and licks like it used to be"

You don't want your breasts to be hard. That will slow supply because a full engorged breasts signals your body that milk isn't being needed. So, it will slow production in response with that. Floppy breasts=GOOD!! Exactly what you want.

" i drink about 4 litters of water beside other fluids and oat meal to keep up of milk supply i don't know i am super worried"

Drink to thirst. Honestly, I don't see anything here that says low supply .

" also he has a BM every other day but he has 6 to 7 wet dippers in 24 hours"

Perfect!!

" how often do you guys pump in a day?"

After we got our issues worked out, I didn't pump.

"? and after you pump does your breast full again for the next round of feeding?"

No need to wait for your breasts to "fill". Think of them like factories. Milk is made as baby is nursing (supply and demand).

It sounds like things totally fine. Your supply probably has regulated which is totally normal! As long as your baby is having plenty of diapers, your supply is fine!

Tutu - posted on 07/09/2012

thanks for posting this question casey. my situation is the same as yours. my son is going to be four month next week and i am so worried that my milk supply is getting low. first of all ,i pump only once a week on Sunday after we got back from church other than that i breastfeed him every 2 to 3 hours but now a days my breast is not hard rock and licks like it used to be. i drink about 4 litters of water beside other fluids and oat meal to keep up of milk supply i don't know i am super worried. also he has a BM every other day but he has 6 to 7 wet dippers in 24 hours. how often do you guys pump in a day ? and after you pump does your breast full again for the next round of feeding?

Celeste - posted on 07/09/2012

Forgot to address this:
" I just pumped this AM and I got only a ounce from both breast, but I did just feed him about 30 min ago from my left."

Totally fine! Never look at pump output for an indication of supply. Having said that, average output is 1/2 to 2 oz from both breasts for a missed feed and you got 1 oz *AFTER* a feed!! There's nothing wrong with your supply!

Celeste - posted on 07/09/2012

"He has a ton of wet diapers and BMs daily. At least 3-5 BMs and over 6 wet diapers"

Your supply is FINE! That's what you need to look at, not behavior of your baby or how your breasts feel.

". IDK how to get him to feed longer either!! He is a biggg "snacker". He eats for about 10..maaaybe 15 minutes on one and wont go to the other. "

That's totally fine. He's getting enough diapers so nursing 10 min is totally fine. One of my twins was a pretty efficient eater too.

". I probably need to stop worrying so much and let everything run its course"

Yeah LOL Give yourself some credit! You're doing perfect!

"Just re-read floppy breast = working breast!!! SO that makes me happy!!!!!!"

Yup! Like I said in my previous post, hard full breasts aren't good because that will slow production.

Casey - posted on 07/09/2012

Just re-read floppy breast = working breast!!! SO that makes me happy!!!!!!

Casey - posted on 07/09/2012

He has a ton of wet diapers and BMs daily. At least 3-5 BMs and over 6 wet diapers. I just pumped this AM and I got only a ounce from both breast, but I did just feed him about 30 min ago from my left. I just feel like I am stressing over it because I don't know what I should feel like or how this works. I am kinda just playing a guessing game and hoping for the best!! My boobs do feel soft and flatter than normal. My son is 3 months, so is this normal for this happen?? They use to feel hard and full all the time. I don't get engorged as quickly as I use to either. IDK how to get him to feed longer either!! He is a biggg "snacker". He eats for about 10..maaaybe 15 minutes on one and wont go to the other. And lastly he doesnt seem to be eating as much as he use to. Maybe I am just SUPER paranoid right now or maybe I am just so use to feeding him at this point I don't even notice it or count it. Anyways, as always your comments help me out tremendously. I probably need to stop worrying so much and let everything run its course. Any advice is appreciated!!! ;)

Stephanie - posted on 07/05/2012

Sounds like everything is going great! Just keep feeding him and you'll keep producing. Sounds like it's working great for the both of you!

Celeste - posted on 07/02/2012

How are his diapers? As long as your baby is getting enough diapers, your supply is fine. And 3 months and almost 18 lbs! You have super milk!! Way to go mama!

As far as feeling full, you DON'T want to feel full. This will slow production because baby isn't removing milk and letting your breasts feel full. Floppy breasts = working breasts.

You would know if you're drying up by seeing a decrease in diapers. You won't necessarily feel it. Never look at the behavior of baby, pump output, feel of breasts as an indicator of supply. In general, milk usually doesn't just dry up unless there are other circumstances (like estrogen birth control)

Lastly, you're doing MUCH better than you think you are! You are doing FANTASTIC. No need to stress or worry :)

Rebecca - posted on 07/02/2012

I went though the same thing with my boy, i don't get much out when i pump so i use a breast shield as my boy won't feed from just the breast. He seems to get a good feed from both, i stuck to it and his 8 months on solids and breast. Hang in there it's so worth it, only one cold since birth, he seems to be healthier then the babies around him :) ♥

Casey - posted on 07/02/2012

Oh, and I am also pumping in between (sometimes). It's hard when I am alone but I try to pump at least 3 times a day!!